Everyone arrived, minus Nala's dad.
"He had a date planned. Really likes Eve", Kris said.
Mark nodded.
"He deserves to be happy", Mark said.
The guys nodded.
"What do you know about him? You only met him twice", AJ snapped.
Everyone looked at him. He rolled his eyes and looked back at his cards. Roman took a drink of his beer.
"He loses his wife, hasn't dated since because he doesn't want his kid to feel like he's replacing her mom.", Dean said, defending his friend.
"You don't know him like that either Ambrose", Joe said.
"No, but I know what its like to lose my mom and how sad my dad was. I remember thinking, no one could ever take my mom's place. He started dating, married the woman, and I was a complete shit head to her.", Dean said.
The only ones who didn't know this were Joe, AJ, and Kris.
"Do you still talk to them?", Kris asked.
"I got into some trouble a few months after leaving home. I called them and she answered. Told her I needed help, and she helped. Didn't even tell my dad because she didn't want him to yell at me. I confessed though, asked her to forgive me for being an ass to her and she said she understood. I call them before bed just to check in", Dean said.
Roman smiled.
"He's divorced and is afraid to date because he has a kid. He doesn't want Alana to feel like her mother is replaceable. Although he can replace the witch if you ask me", Dean said, smirking at Mark.
Mark chuckled.
"Oh I think he's replacing her", Joe mumbled.
Mark raised a brow in his direction. Joe glared at him.
"Who wants another beer?", Randy asked, noticing and feeling the tension.
"I'll help", Seth said, who was sitting between the men.
"I love pizza", Nala said, taking a bite and moaning.
The girls giggled. Nia and Tamina had found out about Nala's pregnancy from their parents, but the secret stayed between the family.
"Would you like to be alone with that pizza?", Sabrina asked.
"Please", Nala said.
They laughed.
"So prom, are we all going together or just meet there?", Naomi asked.
"I think I might be skipping out on it", Nala said, placing her hand on her stomach.
"Same here", Kathan said.
"We don't even have to go with dates. We can make it a girls prom. Jimmy doesn't want to go", Naomi said.
"I actually like that idea. No pressure, just us having fun. You can go too Nala, baby bump and all", Serena said.
All the girls agreed. They've gone to every dance together, whether they had boyfriends or not.
"So this Eve lady your dad is dating, is she nice?", Tamina asked.
Nala shrugged.
"Haven't really spoken to her. She tries to talk to me, but I'm just not ready to be there", Nala said.
The girls nodded.
"Your dad seems happier", Nia said.
All the girls had noticed it in his smile and his excitement. Nala nodded.
"He is. I'm happy for him", Nala said.
Kathan wanted to change the subject. She knew Nala didn't like talking about her dad dating.
"So baby shower planning first", Kaye said.
"I don't want to plan that till I tell my dad about the twins.", Nala said.
Kathan nodded.
"So can we talk wedding then?", Nia asked.
"Yes and you will all be bridesmaids", Nala said.
"I'm your maid of honor right?", Kathan asked.
"Do you even have to ask that", Nala said.
"Colors?", Tamina asked.
"I want something light and elegant. So, I was thinking Mint, Ivory, and Gold. With touches of light pink and Brown", Nala said.
The girls nodded.
"I was thinking having each of you wear a color", Nala said.
"That would be cute", Sabrina said.
"Outdoor or indoor?", Naomi asked.
"Outdoors.", Nala said.
"You know, I was thinking, Mark's lake house would be perfect for your wedding", Kathan said.
They had shown pictures to the girls and they all agreed.
"Yes", they all said.
"Ok, hold on. Let's ask him first before we even get too excited about this.", Nala said.
"I'll ask him", Kathan said.
"When do you plan on getting married?", Serena asked.
"I would like to wait till these babies are out of me and I have time to really plan this wedding", Nala said.
"Have you guys picked baby names?", Sabrina asked.
"Not yet. I kinda want to wait till we know what we're having", Nala said.
The girls nodded.
Kris finally remembered what he had told Trish, about his single friends.
"So are you guys single?", he asked out loud.
"Married", Glen said.
"Same here, with a baby on the way", Randy said.
"I know you two are single", Kris said to Joe and AJ.
"You are AJ? I could have sworn I saw you with a woman the other day. Looked pretty cozy if you asked me", Roman said.
AJ clenched his jaw. Roman raised a brow. Kris smiled at AJ.
"Dude, why didn't you tell me?", Kris asked.
AJ looked at his long time friend.
"Its not really a relationship", AJ said.
Kris nodded.
"Do I know her?", Kris asked.
AJ cleared his throat.
"Not really", AJ said.
Kris nodded. He looked over at the other four men who hadn't answered yet.
"I'm seeing someone, have been for a few months actually.", Roman said.
"That's cool", Kris said.
"Same here. Just have to get rid of the ex wife and get full custody of my kid before I could go any further with this girl", Mark said.
"Oh yeah, Kaye and Paul told me. If it helps, she doesn't have any valid proof.", Kris said.
Mark nodded, hoping that was true.
"I actually just started seeing someone", Seth said.
"Same here", Dean said.
Randy chuckled.
"Dominate Ambrose has a girlfriend?", Randy asked.
"We don't call it that. Its casual hangs", Dean said.
"Casual hangs?", Kris asked.
"Yeah, Dean's more of the whips and blindfolds kinda man", Glen said.
Kris nodded, surprised.
"Nice", Kris said.
"Only if you can find someone who's submissive enough", Dean said.
"So how does that work? Once you get tired of the girl, you break it off?", Kris asked.
"Here's the thing, there are two kinds of submissive women. The natural sub and the trained sub", Dean said.
Kris, Joe, and AJ were listening. The other men already knew Dean's fetish.
"I like the natural subs, because you don't have to waste your time training them and they won't talk back to you. They'll be up for anything and everything", Dean said.
The guys nodded.
"The trained ones aren't use to being submissive. They'll question every move you make and argue about why they don't want to do as you say", Dean said.
"Interesting", Joe said.
Dean shrugged.
"How long have you been doing this?", AJ asked.
"Since I was twenty.", Dean said.
"So back to my question. What happens once you get tired of them?", Kris asked.
"I don't. The ones I've had lasted for more than a year. The problem is, they want more from me. I can't give them that. You could either be with me in this dom/sub relationship or walk away. They choose to walk away.", Dean said.
"What happens when you find your exception?", Kris asked.
Dean looked up from his cards. There was that word again. Roman looked at his best friend.
"I don't know", Dean said honestly.
Kris nodded.
"Doesn't it get lonely?", Joe asked.
Dean shrugged.
"Sometimes, but that's why I bug these guys with poker nights or Sunday football", Dean said.
His friends laughed.
The girls were talking about which schools they were going to and Nala tried not to break down. She didn't want to bum them out.
"We need to make a pact now. At least once a year we plan a trip together. Whether it's coming back here and going to dinner or coming over to wherever we end up living", Nia said.
"Says the woman going to USC", Naomi said.
"Hey, we can hang by the beach", Nia said.
The girls nodded. The front door opened and Chance walked in. He liked hearing the house with lots of chatter. Each of the girls said hi to him.
"We saved you pizza", Kathan said.
"Well thanks, but I'm full", he said.
"How was it?", Nala asked.
"Fun. We actually planned a family dinner for Monday. So don't make any plans Nala", he said.
Nala nodded. Her dad walked into the kitchen and she followed.
"Dad", she said.
He looked over at her.
"Are you happy?", she asked.
He smiled and nodded.
"Yes", he said.
She nodded and walked over to him. Hugging him. He kissed the side of her head.
"As long as your happy", she said.
"Are you ok? Anything you want to talk about? You look exhausted", he said.
"I'm fine", she said.
Glen and Randy had gone home right after the game.
"Hey, Chance told you about poker night at his place right? Next Friday", Kris said.
The guys nodded.
"Ok, so I'll see you guys then? I've got to go", Kris said.
Mark walked him out.
"Kris", he said.
Kris stopped and looked at him. Mark wanted to tell him that he was seeing Kathan.
"Should we bring anything?", Mark asked, changing his mind.
"Not that I know of, I'll ask Chance and then I'll text you", Kris said.
Mark nodded. He watched Kris drive off and sighed. He heard a commotion from inside the house and ran in. Roman had AJ pinned against his fridge.
"What's going on here?", Mark asked.
Dean was eating popcorn while watching the guys. Seth was trying to pull Roman off as was Joe.
"Don't act like you don't know", Joe growled.
"She is never going to want you, especially after she finds out that you're fucking her worst enemy. Don't think we don't know about your little flings with Emerald", Roman said.
AJ laughed.
"Go ahead and hit me. Nala will be running back into my arms asking if I'm ok. You'll be doing me a favor", AJ said.
"Enough", Mark said loudly.
"Daddy", Alana called from the hall.
"I gotta go check on my kid. You all know where the door is", Mark said, before making his way to his daughter's room.
He tucked Alana back in and kissed her head. Closing her door after she had fallen back to sleep. Roman, Dean, and Seth were still here.
"Sorry about that", Roman said.
"All good", Mark said.
"He knows that mentioning Nala sets me off and I hate him", Roman said.
Mark nodded.
"I'm with you", Mark said.
"This makes me happy no one is after my girl", Seth said.
"Then who's Jason Jordan?", Dean asked.
Seth's shoulders slumped. The guys laughed and Dean patted Seth's back.