"...and then Lucas got sick so we decided to keep him home from school."
"Tyler had something last weekend, too. It was probably something they caught from that little snot-nosed kid they played with at the park."
"That's what I thought because Lacey didn't get sick until she caught it from Lucas."
"Neither did Tyson or Tyra. I guess it's good..."
Mitch rolled his eyes as he walked passed his wife and sister-in-law and heard a portion of their conversation. Even though they were all good friends and lived close enough to see each other nearly every day, sometimes he couldn't believe the things the women talked about. They never seemed to recognize how nice it was to not play parents and just enjoy adult company. Granted, it often had to be on a limited scale as their kids were usually with them, but that didn't stop him from putting the children out of his mind when he talked to his brother, Miles.
Hearing the wet, barefoot slap of his brother's approach, Miles quickly glanced over to Mitch from where he sat at the edge of the pool keeping an eye on the group of children playing, specifically his four year-old son and three year-old nephew. He reached out for the beer that was offered to him and took it gratefully.
"How're they doing?" Mitch asked as he squatted down next to his brother.
"They're fine right now," Miles responded after taking a swig from his bottle. He didn't meet his brother's eyes and remained focused on the boys. "But Tyler looks like he wants to do something. He keeps looking over at me to see if I'm watching."
Mitch chuckled. "That kid's sneaky."
"Just like his dad," Miles said, teasing his brother.
"Speaking of which --" Mitch lowered his voice and gave his brother's shoulder a squeeze. "Wanna let the girls watch the kids for a minute?"
Miles kept his face neutral but asked with more than a little surprise in his tone, "Now?"
"Why not? Everyone's occupied and I'd like to spend some time alone with my baby brother since he canceled on me last week."
"You're crazy." Despite his words, Miles got to his feet and followed his brother as they moved toward their wives.
Mitch leaned down to give his wife a quick kiss. "I'm going to take Miles in so he can take a look at that shelf in our bedroom."
"Thank you," she said with exaggerated relief. To Miles she said, "I've been asking him to have you look at that thing for weeks."
Miles stood upright from where he had kneeled next to his wife to kiss her. "I know. I was actually supposed to come by last week but had to cancel."
"I'm just thankful there's someone in the family who knows how to use a hammer," Mitch's wife teased.
As he and Mitch moved toward the house, Miles advised, "Keep an eye on Tyler. He's up to something." They heard their wives' acknowledgement as they entered the house.
"How in the hell does she still think you can't do stuff around here?" Miles asked his brother. At thirty-one, Mitch was five years older than Miles. From an early age, Miles had looked up to his oldest brother and emulated him in most things. Along with a brother who was two years older than Miles, the three brothers were close, but Miles and Mitch had a special bond. "You taught me most of what I know."
Mitch shrugged as they climbed the stairs. "I fix things without telling her then leave the easy, noticeable stuff for you. It's simple, but it works."
They continued to the master bedroom in companionable silence. As they walked, Miles admired his brother's form.
Mitch was a muscular six feet five inches tall. Having been a football player in high school, he maintained his bulky body with regular visits to the gym. Unlike in his youth, he had let his light brown hair grow out and the thick, wavy locks now reached the middle of his back. On his full, rounded face was a short, pug nose resting above thick, full lips and a full, neatly trimmed auburn beard. His light brown eyes were always filled with mirth and good-natured mischief, being the type of outgoing person who could talk to anyone.
Two inches shorter than his brother, Miles had a leaner, but no less fit, body that hadn't changed much since his years on the high school's basketball team. He kept his slightly darker hair at a medium length and parted on the side. His clean shaven face held the same shapes as Mitch's making them noticeable as brothers, though his eyes were a darker brown.
Once inside the room, Mitch walked over to one of the widows that overlooked the pool in the backyard. He felt Miles's body press against his back as they peeked through the closed blinds. "Looks like they're all suitably occupied."
Miles remained close to his brother as Mitch turned around. He didn't resist when Mitch grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. It was possessive and dominating. When his lips weren't being bitten, his mouth was filled with his brother's probing tongue. His hands moved around to Mitch's ass and he pulled their crotches together and began to gently hump his brother. When he was allowed to come up for air he said, "Fuck man. Miss me that much?"
"Maybe." Mitch continued to pepper Miles's lips with kisses as his hands roamed his brother's tight back. "You got a problem with that?"
"Not at all." Miles loosened the drawstring on Mitch's swim shorts then stuck his hand inside. He wrapped his hand around the hardening piece of flesh and began to give it slow, short strokes. "I missed you, too."