The toddler toddled into her parent’s room that early Saturday afternoon. She was tired of playing with her dolls and climbed out her bed. Her tousled curly caramel hair shone in the sunlight beaming from her parent’s window as she grabbed her stool, set aside the bed for her little legs, and climbed in their bed.
She wiggled in between them and whispered, "Hi." She did not get a verbal response instead she was answered with a loud snore. She covered her mouth and giggled.
She crawled in between the men and stopped when she reached her destination, her Daddy's big tummy. "Hi," she whispered and poked it lightly. She zipped up to her once sleeping now awake parent’s chest and asked, "Daddy? Baby sleep?"
Josh slowly opened his eyes and smiled tiredly for his daughter's benefit. "Morning, well Afternoon Amy Baby. You talked to the baby?"
She kissed her father's cheek and nodded. "Uh-huh. Me say hi. Me hungry Daddy."
Joshua felt his stomach fluttering and he placed his hand over it. It seemed the unborn baby was ready to play this afternoon. He thanked God Amerie slept late like her parents and prayed for their new addition to follow the routine. "You wanna feel Daddy's belly? The baby's kicking, honey."
Amerie scooted down and quickly placed her hand next to her father's. She never passed up a chance to put her hand on the big belly especially when it moved. "Baby kick," she announced and Justin snored once again. The toddler giggled and then stopped suddenly. "Me have pee pee."
"Let's wake your Poppy and make him bring you to the bathroom, okay? He'll give you something to eat." Joshua yawned and smiled. He leaned over and tapped Justin in the head. "Justin honey wake up."
Justin turned over and buried himself deeper in the covers.
"Sweetie I think we are going to have to use our secret weapon." The little girl listened to every word her Daddy said and nodded along with the man. "You know what are secret weapon is?" Amerie nodded her head though she had no clue. Josh smiled and winked at the baby, "It's you. Go wake your Poppy."
That she knew and did well so the little girl crawled back up and placed her pudgy palm again the man's face. "Poppy? Up. Wake up. Poppy wake up." She pushed against the stubbled face and kept pushing, shaking the man's head and waking him up.
"Shit." He groggily called out, not even opening his eyes to see who was directly in front of him.
"Shit." Amerie repeated and smiled at her Poppy. Justin opened his eyes fast when he heard his expletive repeated. "Oops. Morning Baby Girl."
"Yeah, good afternoon," Josh called out sarcastically to his husband. "Would you mind keeping your language rated G this afternoon?"
"Sorry Ame." Justin apologized but the girl didn't care. She was playing with her Poppy's nose. Justin rubbed his hand across his husband's expanded belly good-naturedly.
"Blow Poppy." Her father complied and blowed his nose playfully for the girl. She giggled and then remembered her predicament. "Hafta pee pee Poppy."
"And she's hungry." Joshua smiled.
"So why did I have to be woken up?" He whined.
Joshua rolled his eyes and turned his back to his other half. "Amy, Poppy's gonna take care of you right now," he cooed over his shoulder to his soon to be three year old child.
Justin rolled his eyes and grunted. He slung his legs over the edge of their bed and sat up. He stretched and cracked his neck. Justin turned around to see Amerie imitating him and smiling brightly. Justin held out his arms to the girl he gave birth to and she hopped into his arms. He smelled her hair and told the girl, "I love you."
"Love you Poppy," she looked earnestly into the man's blue eyes as she told him. Justin playfully nipped her chubby cheek and walked around the bed looking back at his husband. The brunette looked like an angel, dark wavy hair surrounding his angular face, creamy skin and the ethereal glow that seemed to encompass the older man.
"Love you Daddy!" Amerie called out from her Poppy's arms.
Josh didn't open his eyes but said, "I love you too Sweet Amerie."
Justin turned around and told the girl, "C'mon. We're going to pee-pee and then have some cereal."
"Pancakes," Josh called out. That was for Justin cursing.
Justin frowned as Amerie happily jumped up and down and shrieked, "Pancakes! Pancakes! Pancakes!" He did not want to make any damn pancakes. Looks like his plans for cereal were shot to hell now that Amerie kept constantly gibbering about pancakes. He scowled at his husband who had a knowing smirk on his face but kept his eyes closed.
Joshua was the devil in disguise.
*`*`*`*`*`*
"You're going to make me late for the doctor's appointment, Justin." Josh called out from the den. He was perched on the sofa playing with the toddler. Justin kept flitting around the house, searching for God knows what. Justin was going to drop Amerie off at her Grandma Lynn’s and head back to be with his husband at the check-up.
“I found it!” The scurrying blonde held his cell phone in the air triumphantly. He made his way around the couch to help his husband and tripped over his daughter’s toy. Justin made a big splat on the floor after he fell on his face. “Damn it!” He tried to whisper over the pain.
Amerie however thought it was too funny. “Ooh Poppy! Do agen!” She clapped her hands and laughed with her Daddy.
Josh tried to cover his chuckles with his hand and asked, “Honey are you alright?”
Justin rolled over and groaned. “See if we ever have kids again. You keep on laughing Josh and the new baby will be it.” Justin playfully scowled.
“No it won’t” Josh smiled knowingly.
“Is that so?” Justin got up and held his hands out for the man.
Joshua grabbed the proffered hands and started to push forward as Justin pulled. “Oh it’s very so. You can’t resist my charms.” Joshua finally got some space between the cushion and his ass and pushed up, arching his back, which made his swollen belly protrude out in the air even more than usual.
“Daddy fat.” Amerie smiled at the couple. Justin grinned and then quickly wiped it off his face when he saw the full frown spread out on Josh’s face.
It couldn’t have gotten any worse but Amerie stood up on the sofa and walked to her pregnant father. She put her hand on his stomach and said. “Fat belly.”
Joshua was close to tears after he heard that. He quickly turned to Justin and pouted. “Am I really fat?”
“No, no, no.” Justin shook his head for emphasis. “Sweetie, you know you’re as skinny as a bean pole. Now that your pregnant it looks like you stuffed a beach ball under your shirt. Once you have the baby, you’ll be back to your usual weightless self.”
“But where did Amy learn fat?”
“I was reading her nursery rhymes last night and she really liked ‘Jack Sprat’. His wife had a big ass belly, man you shoulda seen her. I mean wow-” Justin cut himself off after catching Josh’s glare. He started meekly, “I told Ame that she was fat and I guess when she saw your stomach she remembered. Good memory, huh?” He smiled brightly.
Josh snorted and then lifted their child. “Let’s go.” He placed the girl on his hip and proceeded to waddle to the door.
“You look hot as shi- I mean as hell, Josh. I would so do you right now.” Justin leered from behind his husband. His husband’s ass cheeks seemed plumper to him ever since Josh got pregnant.
“You are nasty.” Joshua grinned and opened the door and made his way outside with the younger man trailing not too far behind him.
“Poppy nassee.” Amerie repeated and giggled as she stared at her Poppy.
Justin pinched the girl’s nose and she laughed even more. “I am Ame but your Daddy likes it. That’s why he’s pregnant now.” He winked to the girl as he opened the car doors with his opener on his key chain.
“Daddy purrgent.” Amerie repeated as Joshua placed her in her car seat. He bent over in the open back door.
“That’s right.” Justin drawled jovially. “I made your Daddy pregnant and he loved it. Yep. He’s so hot Amerie. I could just eat him up.” Justin dragged his hand down his husband’s back and cupped the man’s bottom.
“Eat up him.” Amerie chirped. Joshua swatted the man’s roaming hands and tried to buckle the squirming little girl. Justin continued and Josh was caught between laughing at his daughter's garbled message and groaning from Justin's ministrations.
“Justin, must you maul me in front of our child? She will be scarred for life because of her horny Poppy.” Josh said as he finished buckling the toddler in. He gave her a doll to play with and slowly dragged himself out of the car and turned to glare at the man.
“Poppy orny! Orny Poppy? Poppy orny!” Amerie announced out loud to the car and her doll.
Justin smiled and reached under Josh's eight months pregnant tummy to grope the man. Luckily Amerie saw none of his play. “What can I say?" Justin smirked and licked his lips. "Ame does have a point." Justin couldn’t resist licking Joshua’s lips.
"You're incorrigible." Josh sighed and rolled his eyes. "You will make me so late for the doctor. They're new and I wanna make a good impression and you will mess it up." Josh turned away from Justin's wandering hands and opened the front door. He held out his hand and Justin knew the deal. Josh needed an extra hand getting into the SUV.
Justin's face was expressionless as he waited for Josh to get settled. He closed the door for the man and went to the driver's side. "You have a new doctor? What happened to my doctor? Doctor Bucknor?" He buckled his seat belt and looked at his husband.
JC sighed and rubbed his stomach. “I told you already. She’s gone on vacation for six weeks. So I have a new doctor for the time being. Do you not listen to me when I talk? You know this isn’t the first time I caught you not listening. I mean…”
Justin nodded at the appropriate times as Joshua talked. Ever since Josh touched his sixth month, it was like his mouth could not close. Joshua talked all the fucking time especially when Justin tried to sleep. How in the hell was he supposed to remember everything? He hoped the chattering wasn’t a reflection of their new arrival or he’d never get any sleep for years to come.
“Are you even listening?” Josh had stopped speaking for two minutes and Justin was nodding his head like an idiot.
“I’m driving. I can’t do two things at once.” Justin tried to pacify the fussing man.
“Daddy. Dolly dwrop.” Amerie pouted and pointed to the floor.
Josh tried to turn as best he could and stuck his arm between the front seats. He grabbed the soft doll by her hair and gave it back to the child. “There you go, Amy.”
“Tanks Daddy!” She went back to gibbering with her doll.
Josh turned back and glared at his husband. He opened his mouth to start back again but Justin cut in. “You’re pretty fussy pregnant you know Josh. It’s not good for the baby. Luckily, I was a dream when I was pregnant. Maybe you should take a page from my book.”
Joshua blinked twice and stared at the driving man in disbelief. “Are you serious? Do you think before you talk?”
Justin took his eyes off the road to look at the other man. “Of course I do. Baby, you tend to go off at the mouth a bit. I think it’s cute though.” He looked back at the street and made a turn.
“Don’t talk. Just drive.” Joshua instructed and folded his arms. He could not believe that Justin actually though that he was a dream when he was pregnant. “Go off at the mouth do I? At least every second word out of my mouth isn’t fuck, shit or damn,” he grumbled.
“Dam!” Amerie repeated from the back.
The two ignored the baby’s cursing. “Okay so I have a bit of a potty mouth.” Josh snorted loudly to which Amerie imitated. “I was just offering my opinion. I mean you have to admit, other than the delivery, I was a breeze.”
“Didn’t I tell you shut up?” Joshua snapped calmly.
“Shut up,” Amerie smiled in the back.
“So I guess this means no quickie after the check-up?”
“Finally something comes out of your mouth that was correct.” He didn’t say anything for a minute and then looked back at the blonde. “Do you seriously think that you were a breeze?”
“Are you implying that I wasn’t?” Justin asked.
Josh said nothing. He wasn’t in a talking mood.
“I was right, Josh?” The blonde implored.
Still Josh didn’t answer.
Justin scowled as he turned onto the designated street. “Are you saying I was terrible?”
Joshua turned his head to check on their daughter but ignored Justin.
“You know the silent treatment is pretty immature.” Justin pulled into a parking spot and turned the engine off. “Isn’t it, baby?” Justin asked his daughter.
“Issin it baybee,” the girl lisped back.
JC rolled his eyes and opened his door and moved to get out. “Wait baby. I’ll help you roll out.” Justin jetted through his driver’s side to help his husband.
“You further my argument Justin. You think I’m fat.” Josh pouted and tried to remove his leg out of the SUV before Justin came.
“Need any help there?” A voice called out from beside the vehicle. The voice sounded like raw sex and the person it came from was hot as hell. He had inky jet-black hair and golden brown eyes and a body to die for. The tall, dark and handsome man offered his hand to Josh and after the pregnant man blinked his eyes a couple of times he grabbed onto the proffered hand. Josh got out of the car with ease.
“Thank you,” Josh politely blushed.
And what the fuck? Justin grimaced and quickly made his way to Josh’s side. “Yes thank you,” he interjected a little more forceful than usual and held an arm around Joshua’s shoulder, which Josh shrugged off. He was a little pissed still.
“Aren’t you Joshua Chasez?” The man beamed.
“That’s Timberlake-Chasez,” Justin stuck in. He didn’t like the looks of the handsome man. He especially didn’t like the way he kept smiling at his husband.
“Oh that’s right,” the man looked at Justin. “You’re Justin Timberlake. I loved you guys so much. My boyfriend and me used to go to all your concerts. He was an avid Justin fan and I…” the older man looked at the brunette and blushed. “It doesn’t matter. But I was and still am a fan.”
Josh smiled shyly and rubbed a hand over his stomach. “It’s ok. You can tell me. Was it Chris?” He joked and winked jovially.
Justin frowned from seeing the other man blush at his Josh, his pregnant Josh. And damn the Chasez wink. “So you and your boyfriend still listen to our songs?” He wanted the man to get off the subject of crushes and back onto to the safe path of his boyfriend.
The golden-eyed man smiled. “Oh I broke up with him years ago. I’m afraid I’m a single doctor. So you are my patient for today, Mr. Timberlake-Chasez. I was kind of hoping that it would be you as my patient.”
“Oh a fan of mine definitely can call me Josh,” he smiled toothily. “So you are Doctor Wilkes? Well then good. I don’t have to be nervous about meeting you.”
Damn Joshua and his polite ways, Justin thought and cursed in his mind. This motherfucker was his doctor? “Nope we don’t have to be nervous at all,” Justin said calmly but inwardly stewed.
“Justin you weren’t nervous. Dr. Wilkes, he didn’t even know your name until just now. Would you like to meet our daughter, Amerie?” Joshua grinned.
“I’d love to. Dr. Bucknor told me stories about the delivery. Justin was almost banned from the hospital from all of his cursing.” Dr. Wilkes smiled in Justin’s face as he looked at him. Justin wanted to smash each and every one of those shiny ass teeth out of the young doctor’s mouth.
Justin was quick to correct the doctor. “Actually, you can call me Mist-”
Josh had moved from the mini group and took the little girl out to say hello to the nice doctor. He interrupted the scowling blonde man. “Amy, this is Dr. Wilkes.” Joshua introduced.
“Well my first name is Thaddeus but you can call me Thad. You can see why I want to be called Thad. Hi Amerie. I’m Thad.” He said and beamed at the child.
Justin smirked. The girl was friendly to an extent. She didn’t talk to people she didn’t know so quickly. He knew he could count on his child to make the doctor look like a jackass.
The girl batted her big blue eyes and shyly said, “Hi Tad” and she buried her in her Daddy’s shoulder.
Unbelievable! Justin held out his arms for his daughter and called her by her nickname, “Ame, c’mere.” The girl jumped from one man’s arms into the other man’s. At least she didn’t forget me, Justin thought sourly.
“Well Thad,” Josh said in a chipper tone. “I guess we should get going before we are late for our appointment.”
“You know how about we join you?” Justin asked. He didn’t like the way the doctor looked at his husband. He raised Justin’s ire.
“Justin, you know Lynn is dying to see her granddaughter. You two have fun okay?” Joshua kissed his daughter’s head and ran his hands those her caramel curls. “Bye Amy baby. Be good for your Poppy okay?”
The girl raised her head when she heard her father say “bye” and pouted. “Daddy?” The little girl didn’t like it when either of her parents were away from her.
“I’ll see you soon baby. Poppy is going to be with you and you are going to see Grandma. She’s going to spoil you rotten.”
“That is so sweet,” Thad gushed. “Bye Amerie. I hope to see you soon, Sweetie. It’s been nice talking to you Justin.” The blonde man felt a fist forming when the man called him by his first name. “Well Josh shall we go and check up on the baby? From the looks of everything, you seem to be glowing and healthy from your pregnancy.”
That was definite proof to Justin that the dark haired man was checking his husband out. Didn’t that big ass diamond wedding band on the slender man’s hand show that Joshua was off limits? The stomach was an obvious off limits sign. Justin was going to offer once again to come along for the supposed checkup but Josh pecked his cheek and walked along with the doctor, the two chattering like they were old friends.
Would it be bad if he waited for his husband to finish and skip the visit to his mom’s altogether?
*`*`*`*`*`*
Justin was a little late. Amerie didn’t want to leave her Grandma’s because she wanted to help the woman make cookies. He even offered for her to see her daddy but she wanted to stay. He drove back into the doctor’s office parking lot and saw his husband- decked out in gray sweats, a white t-shirt and his jeans jacket and the doctor- in his causal khaki pants and dark blue shirt. He didn’t even dress like a doctor. The two were sitting on a bench and laughing. The two continued to smile as Justin pulled up in front of them.
“Hey baby,” Josh called out once Justin got out of the car. “Thad here is very funny. He and Chris should meet.” Justin stood in front of his partner and bent down.
Justin smiled briefly at Thad and planted his lips on Joshua’s mouth. Josh was surprised and he opened his mouth. Justin made sure to stick his tongue in there for good measure. Josh pulled away and pinched the man’s hand that was on his face. “Hi.” Justin smiled and licked his lips. Justin knew that Josh wasn’t a big fan of public displays of affection but he had to mark his territory.
“Justin,” Josh blushed and looked at his stomach, embarrassed.
“That’s so cute.” Thad exclaimed. Justin lost his sense of dominance when Dr. Thad said that. He ruined his high.
“C’mon let’s go.” Josh said.
“Do you need any help?” Thad offered.
“No I have it just fine.” Justin near sneered. Thad was being a little too helpful. He intertwined their fingers and helped the man rise. Thad still put a helping hand against Josh’s back and pushed gently.
Justin wrapped his arms around Josh’s shoulders and kissed his neck. He distinctly told the man that they did not need his help. “I guess we’ll see you in the next two weeks then, Dr. Wilkes.” He turned and headed to their black SUV.
“Actually next week, Justin.” The doctor smiled. “It’s been a pleasure Josh.”
“As were you, Thad. See you.” Joshua waved and waddled along with his partner.
“Oh and kiss Amerie for me.” The doctor reminded the man.
The two men got settled into the big jeep and the doctor saw them off. “You missed me baby?” Joshua asked. He really was talking about the French kiss he got back on the bench.
“What? I can’t kiss you?”
“Of course you can. I’m just wondering. You know I don’t like making out in front of people.”
Justin knew the man didn’t but he had to make sure Thad- a fucking stupid name to him, knew that Josh was off of the market. He decided to change the subject. “You know Ame was helping mom make oatmeal cookies? She helped with the raisins. Just looking at her, I sigh. She’s going to be three in thirteen days. Our baby is going to be three and then our new baby will be here next month, give or take a few days. Isn’t that great? We’re going to be four instead of three.”
Joshua glanced at the man and smiled from his exuberance. “I know. Actually, Thad let it slip today about the sex of the baby. We’re having another little girl! Isn’t that great? He said the baby felt well developed-”
Justin scowled. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! He felt the baby? And we’re having a girl? Great.” He smiled outwardly while inwardly he was pissed. He got back to the matter at hand. “You said he felt the baby? Exactly where?”
Joshua ignored the last question and looked dreamily into the window. “A girl. Amerie will be a big sister but she’ll have a little sister to play with. I’m thinking we can leave the baby’s room cream but we’ll add some pinks in there. In fact Thad told me about this new shop downtown to try out.”
“He can decorate too?” Justin asked sarcastically.
“Actually his friend opened it recently and I’d do anything to help a friend.”
Justin had to stare at Josh incredulously. “Thad’s your friend now?” Josh always took time to warm up to new people.
“Well not my best friend but he’s so cool. We talked the entire time about the baby and our old songs. He really was an avid fan.” Joshua started to laugh out loud and then started a story about how the man tried to play off paying for *Nsync bubblegum from a teenaged girl cashier.
Justin’s mood went from bad to worse. He loathed Thad and his shitty name.
*`*`*`*`*`*
“Yeah the magician will come at about one thirty.” Joshua informed their party coordinator. He and Justin switched the clown because of the mishap at their daughter’s second birthday party. Amerie took her wooden building blocks and constantly threw them at the man for the entire hour he was there. Josh and Justin would take them away but somehow the girl would find something else to throw at the clown.
“How are you feeling baby?” Justin wrapped his arms around the pregnant man from behind. Josh sat down in an ottoman while the caterers were moving the food outside and surveyed the final touches. He kissed the man’s head.
“I’m hot and uncomfortable. Thad said since I’m so soon to my ninth month I should feel this way.” He played with his white cotton shirt and itched his tummy.
“Well I could have told you about being pregnant. I mean that was me three years ago. You don’t have to go to Thad.” Justin sneered the man’s voice in a higher tone.
Joshua laughed. “Why do you always say his name like that?”
Justin decided to use the dumb card. “Like what?” He changed the subject. “That dress looks really pretty on Ame. Her grandmothers are cooing/fighting over her. She’s basking in the love. Can you believe they actually argued over who bought the biggest present?” Justin rolled his eyes.
Both of the men’s parents came early to their house and offered their help but the couple had that covered. The grandfathers headed for the den to watch some sort of sports game. So the women had to turn their attention to their favorite thing- Amerie. “Amerie aren’t you the sweetest thing?” Lynn chirped animatedly from the kitchen where the grandmothers were situated.
“Amy you’re going to be a big sister soon. You’re Daddy,” Karen emphasized, “is going to have your sister soon.” She was so happy her son was pregnant this time around.
Amerie sat on her Grammy Karen’s lap, in her yellow silk, pink and light blue striped dress. Her chubby legs adorned in white ruffled socks and black Mary Janes. “Baby Chris Ana.” Her parents have been talking about the baby to her from the get go but now they taught her the newest addition's name.
“Right baby Christiana,” Karen corrected for the little girl. She couldn’t wait to have another little girl to spoil, as did Lynn.
“That’s such a beautiful name. Why I believe that Justin came up with it,” Lynn smiled garishly.
Karen uncoiled a golden brown lock in Amerie’s hair and replied, “Oh no I do believe that Josh came up with it. He should, carrying the baby and all,” she smiled a little too brightly.
Lynn, who sat next to Karen, reached over and ran a hand down Amerie’s hair and then kissed the toddler’s cheek for good measure. “I don’t really think so, Karen. I mean since I live so close to the boys, I think I should have my facts right.”
“Well I’ll be staying here when Joshua hits his ninth month so I’ll be the one with the most accurate information.” She smiled like the cat that got the cream. “And I’m pretty sure that Joshua came up with Christiana.”
Lynn opened her mouth to argue politely with the woman when the doorbell sounded. “I’ll get it. I guess I should help the boys host since they are busy.” She quickly ran to the door before Karen could even prepare to rise from the chair. Lynn placed a warm smile on her face and opened the door for a man whom she swore was one of the most handsomest.
“Well you sir I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting. I thought I knew everyone of Justin and Josh’s friends but I see they kept you in hiding,” Lynn drawled with a southern twang.
“You must be Mrs. Harless,” he smiled and kissed her hand. “I’m Thad Wilkes.” Karen opened the door with Amerie on her hip and beamed. “And you have to be Josh’s mother. He talks about you all the time when we chat during our check-ups.”
“Tad!” Amerie announced and jumped onto the man unexpectedly. He hugged the birthday girl to his chest and she hugged him back. “Hi Tad!”
“Hi Amerie. Aren’t you the prettiest little girl I’ve ever seen?” The golden-eyed man kissed her on the top of her head.
“Well she has taken to you,” Lynn remarked. “With looks like that you must have all of the women swooning.”
“You must come in and have a cookie with us. Lynn and I were just talking about Joshua’s pregnancy. Doesn’t he seem to glow? The two lovebirds even came up with a name for their newest child.”
Thad, who held Amerie with one arm, had each woman wrap an arm around him and lead him to the Timberlake-Chasez’s kitchen. “Oh yes. Josh told it to me among some other choices. I told him that Christiana Jordan was really perfect.”
The ladies, doctor and child sat in front of the kitchen table, facing the open patio doors. “Isn’t it?” Karen gleamed. They didn’t notice the new arrival.
“I thought that I heard the doorbell ring. I didn’t even know you would be here Thad.” Justin placed a fake smile on his face. Just taking in the scene before made his blood boil. He wouldn’t allow himself to think further. His mother and mother-in-law were talking vivaciously to the man he hated most. The doctor had his child that he gave birth to on his lap. Josh didn’t mention that the doctor would be here.
“Thad! How long have you been here?” Joshua waddled to the dark haired doctor. Thad got up with Amerie clinging to his shoulder, and met Josh half way. The two hugged and Amerie joined in as well. The scene was sickening to Justin. He wanted to snatch his family and keep them away from the fucking perfect Thad. Damn, did he detest that name.
“You should sit down, Josh.” Karen told the man.
“Oh yes Josh honey, sit down. And you too Thad. You’re a guest today and I’d love to hear from the man that’s taking care of my babies,” Lynn cajoled. Thad sat down next to the seated Joshua. Justin couldn’t take any more of this.
“Honey? Wanna come walk with you Poppy?” He held out his hands for the girl to come into. The three year old shook her head negatively and preened in Thad’s lap. Justin dropped his hands back at his side. Traitor.
Lynn and Karen tittered. “Looks like Amerie’s made a new friend,” Lynn smiled.
That was the final straw. Justin silently left the group and walked back outside. He picked up a white foldout chair while walking briskly away from the house. He made sure he was a good distance away from anyone and swung at the nearest tree trunk. “That stupid motherfucker!” Thwack! “Comes into my fucking home and treads into my family!” He broke two legs off the chair. “Smiling his bitch ass teeth and batting his fucking eyes and holding my daughter!” He heaved the chair against the thick bark and the bottom half of the chair shattered. “And pushing up on my fucking husband! Touching him! And laughing with him! Motherfucking talking and looking at him! Fucking pussy assed husband stealer!” He cracked the back of the chair and kept swinging. “Amerie is mine!” He cracked the chair back even more. “My mom and Karen are mine!” The chair chipped under the man’s hands. He held a piece of wood pathetically in his hands. It was all that was left. He used it to the jab the trunk angrily. “Josh is mine.” He kneeled down and tried to calm him heavy breathing.
It felt like everyone forgot about him and took Thad in as the fucking replacement. He wasn’t as smart. It felt like Josh subliminally told him that after he would rave about what he and Thad talked about that day. And Amerie is jumping into the man’s arms like he was her damn father. He was her Poppy. He was the one who slaved through labor. Well before he got the epidural. He was the one who lugged the nine-pound weight around. It wouldn’t have been bad if Josh’s doctor was a woman or some old, happily married man. But no, his Josh had to have some young, handsome as sin doctor who also used to be a fan and for all Justin knew, the man still did. Thad probably loved feeling Josh up. It was probably the highlight of his fucking day.
Justin pouted and continued to have evil thoughts about the doctor. He was so pissed he was quaking in front of the tree. He didn’t move until he heard a faint “Justin” being called.
He knew his Josh wouldn’t forget him. It was Thad that he didn’t trust. He wondered if Josh wished he married a smarter man. He then thought about Joshua walking such a distance from the house and lugging the added weight. He hoped his face wasn’t as surly as he felt. Justin smoothed his causal clothes. He hurried to help the man walk back to the house.
*`*`*`*`*`*
“What a day, what a day.” Joshua sighed as he laid against the stacked pillows. The party was over hours before but the clean up and calming down of a hyper, sugar filled Amerie was time consuming. She played with everyone at her party and damn near dove her parents up the wall.
“Yeah.” Justin said as he took off his shirt and sat on the bed in his red boxer briefs. He watched his husband in his stretched out white tee and felt a little twitching in his underpants. He then remembered Thad and sighed heavily.
“What’s wrong?” Joshua turned toward the blonde man.
“Nothing.” Justin said in a monotone .
“Nothing?” Joshua reached over and rubbed his hand on Justin’s thigh. “You haven’t been talking much today. In fact you’ve been quiet ever since your supposed walk. Thad asked me if you were shy.”
“Damn Josh. Why do we have to talk about Thad?” Justin asked heatedly. He punched his pillows a couple of times and turned his back toward Josh.
“We weren’t. I just brought him up.”
“You always fucking bring him up. Thad said this. And Thad said that. And Thad’s so great. Why don’t you just marry his ass and take Amerie with you? The two of you seem to take to him so well.”
Joshua slid over across the bed to touch Justin’s back. “Are you jealous of Thad?”
Justin turned rapidly and glared at his husband. “Does it seem that I’m jealous of Thad?” He mocked the doctor’s name. “What kind of shit name is that anyway?”
“You are jealous of him.” Joshua widened his eyes and laughed. Justin sighed in frustration and folded his arms against his naked chest. Joshua laughed so hard, he cried.
“It’s not funny. You talk about him all the damn time. And Amerie goes to him like she knew him for ages. Why shouldn’t I be jealous?”
“Look at me.” Joshua told the younger man once he stopped chuckling. “C’mon look at me Justin.”
Justin turned and looked up at Joshua who still sat up against the pillows. “What?”
“Do you see me?”
“Duh Josh. Aren’t I talking to you?” He said in a bored tone.
“Do you see the ring on my finger? The daughter we made? My swollen stomach we created? You know I love you and only you. Why would I just suddenly dump you and move onto Thad, whom by the way is a friend and Amerie’s as well.”
“Well look at him.” Justin pouted.
“What? He’s good looking. Okay, he’s fucking sexy but he can’t touch you in the looks department. I’m not going to deny that Thad isn’t ugly but it’s not like I’m going to jump his bones.”
Justin asked in a little voice, “So that means you never thought of it?”
“Of course I did.” He said with a straight face.
“What?” Justin shot off the mattress.
Josh laughed. “I was just kidding. Damn can’t take a joke baby? Where’s the sense of humor?”
“I don’t like how he looks at you. He’s too friendly. I think he still has his crush on you and wants you to act on it.” Justin said in a rush.
“It wouldn’t happen. Besides if you ever listened to what I said about him, you would have known that he’s dating someone new.”
“He is?” Justin asked hopefully.
“Yes.” Joshua smiled.
“I hope he marries him.” He said earnestly.
“You are terrible,” Josh chuckled.
Justin moved over to Josh and hugged the man. “I’m terribly in love with you. And Amerie. And Christiana Jordan.”
“Did you know that my mom and yours fought over who came up with Christiana’s name? Thad told me during the party. The two dragged him into their quarrels when they couldn’t get a definite answer. The poor man looked peaked.”
Justin could smile with ease now that he knew Thad didn’t want to take his role. “No one deserves that.”
“No they don’t. I told them I wanted to name her Christian and you wanted Anna so we just joined them together. They stopped mid cluck and then apologized. It only lasted for half an hour.”
“That I know. Mom kept raving about coming over here tomorrow. I think she wants to move in Josh.” Justin looked worriedly into his partner’s eyes.
“Let’s not worry about them.” Joshua smiled like he held a secret. It shone in his aquamarine eyes.
“Then what should we worry about?”
“Well you should worry about my predicament under my belly.” Joshua winked.
Justin was definitely game. “Oh I didn’t know that there was one.”
“Hmm. Seems to have shown up after thinking about your jealousy. Made me all hot and bothered.”
“Well I also beat up a tree.” He added.
“Did you?” Josh’s eyes smoldered.
“Yep with a chair. Are you any harder?” He kissed Joshua’s full lips and pulled back to look in the man’s eyes.
Josh nodded. “And drooling. Why don’t you come mount me and help me out?”
And Justin giggled and did just that. The two made love all through the night.
The End