“Hey little brother can you put some lotion on my back. I don’t wanna get burnt.”
“I’m sorry little brother but you don’t look like Sarah or Marco,” Going down slowly he sat down beside his twin and pushed him over slightly to make space. “So put it on yourself.”
“That’s cold Jack,” he said raising his sunglasses to smirk at him. “I bet Sarah would do it.”
Brushing his hand through his hair, Jack played with the green streak in it, “Sorry Jason but we can’t trick her that way anymore.”
“Such an odd fashion statement bro,” he said noting the hair then rolled back onto his stomach. “Anyway thought you loved teasing Sarah.”
“I do. And I didn’t really choose the hair change. Just kinda happened.”
“After you came back to life?” he shook his head. “Still hard to believe that you died. Or that it was you guys in the city.”
“Its wild for me too and I was a part of it.”
The twins stared out at the ocean watching the waves eb and flow against the shore. There were a bunch of other people on the beach enjoying the sun and the air. The salty air from the ocean was very different from the air that came from the lake. Not unpleasant though.
“So where are your boyfriend and girlfriend?”
“With mom back at the house.”
“Trusting your significant others with mom? That’s bold.”
He snorted, “It’s been years. Pretty sure all my dirty laundry has been uncovered.”
“Fair enough.”
Jason got up slowly moving to a sitting position and glanced over at his brother. “You know I’m kinda glad you guys didn’t mention anything to me before now.”
“About what?”
“You dying.”
“Oh. Yeah well,” he scratched the back of his head. “I didn’t ask them to keep that to themselves. My guess? They were barely processing it themselves let alone wanting to tell my family about it. Plus Marco barely knew about the whole moonlighting as alien fighters then.”
Jason laughed, “Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“And now it’s all over? You’re just a regular guy for real?”
Jack raised his hand showing his ring. It was a simple band with the gleaming green gem winking back at him. Whenever he looked at it for long periods of time it was like it knew and stared back at him. Tapping it he felt the smoothness of the gem and mild warmth. “Since that day it hasn’t shined or vibrated. No major threats. No reason to suit up.”
“Do you miss it?”
“The super powers and armor stuff? Definitely. But fighting killer robots for the fate of humanity? Not so much. Though my scythe is super cool. Baller. Maybe I should show it to you.”
Jason hit him lightly and they laughed together. The pair stayed on the beach together just enjoying the atmosphere of the other people around them. It had been a long year for them. Sarah had finally found a job writing that she enjoyed and she lucked out in the fact that she could do it from home. Marco got a promotion at his job and that meant way more income for them as a group and Jack had just managed to maintain the job. Things were finally settling down and they could just live life.
“You know mom has been wondering right?”
“Wondering what?”
“When or if you guys are going to get married.”
“Married?” Jack repeated, his face reddening finally. “Where’d that even come from?”
“You serious? You guys have been together for like four, five years. And unlike me and my girls you guys are actually serious.”
Jack puffed out his cheeks, “I thought you guys were serious.”
“Not really. We’re poly but it’s more casual. Our group is kinda biggish.”
“Two’s enough for me. I can barely handle the two to be honest.”
“But you have been. And mom’s not getting younger. She’s gonna start wanting grandchildren soon.”
“Oh come on don’t put that on me.”
Jason started laughing again and waved his hand back and forth. “It’s definitely not going to be me. I think I’d be a horrible father.”
“And you think I wouldn’t?”
“I think you’d be a great second dad to Marco’s primary dad. And Sarah as a mom.”
“Ha right. Cause that’s a thing too,” Jack looked down at the towel and shook his head because he had thought about it before. He’d thought about having a son or daughter with Sarah and Marco. Taking care of it and watching it grow up with the three of them taking care of it.
But marriage. That was something that he was beyond apprehensive of. He and Marco talked about it once but never talked to Sarah. Neither doubted that she had thought about it a few times as well. And after Cal and Ben’s wedding he didn’t doubt that it was really on her mind now.
“What do you think?”
“About what? You guys getting married?”
“Yeah.”
“Aside from legal hurdles I’d like to see it,” he smiled warmly at his twin. “If all three of you want it go for it. Just keep it in the back of your head, just in case. But don’t think too hard. I’ve seen your head go up in smoke a few times now. Ain’t pretty.”
“Shut the fuck up. Pain in my ass.”
He wrapped an arm around his brother’s shoulder and grinded his fist into his forehead as his twin tried to shove himself off and they just laughed fighting one another. His future with Marco and Sarah was one thing but for the time being he could just enjoy the mini vacation.
The Harlequin Library 