“They are! And if you try them, oh man, it’s real bad. He wears contacts most of the time, but Mom says that he had a real rough upbringing so he didn’t even get those until he was older and with her. She made him get them before we were born because she didn’t want him to put us in the oven instead of a roast or whatever.” Romano joked (sorta). “I’ll get you a picture next time.” _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
It had been a few months since the Navares brood had all started their at-home schooling, and while it had been a relatively easy transition for them (albeit decidedly annoying), Spring Break was a more than welcomed guest in their home.
It was the first real day of Spring Break and Romulus had decided he wanted to celebrate the start of vacation with his family by hosting a little family BBQ. The menu he cooked up was extensive and with all that food, he decided the more the merrier and had extended the invite to his brother's family as well as his kid's significant others, which included Ava's rapscallion lover, Han, and Calloway's mild, doe-eyed girlfriend, Mila. The invitation was also extended to Romano's not-boyfriend (please), Jai and his mother.
Romulus was currently standing at the grill, eagerly cooking off an impossible amount of meat while Remedy finished off their piles upon piles of sides inside (though to be fair, he'd started most of them the night before). Romano and Venturo had set up their small wading pool, the same one they'd had since they were wee ones, and even put out the slip n' slide, though Remedy argued that it wasn't warm enough to have either of them out. Han was apparently vibing with the twins' spring breaker mode however and was perched in a folding poolside bed (one that had been thrifted for such events) with his shirt off and body sprawled out with just enough room for Ava to join him if she pleased. Meanwhile, Romano was standing at a table near the grill, husking corn for his dad to grill off while they waited for everyone else to arrive. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Roma and Jai had been looking out the window anxiously, watching the barbecue get set up. Jai had been over at Romano’s house many times by this point and he’d been over at his house too. Jai had met most of Romano’s immediate family, at least everyone he lived with. But Jai’s Mother Verona, hadn’t met Romano yet or likewise, a prospect that made Jai very nervous. Verona was a great mother, the best Jai ever had. But Verona was...Protective to say the least. He hoped the meeting would go over well.
“What are you so freaked out about?” Verona asked, stepping out into the hall, clipping in some large gold hoops. Verona is a detective in the city, she worked a lot of long hours and wasn’t home a lot. She tried hard to save her PTO for the big things in Jai’s life. Whenever he was adopted, when he attempted, his top surgery and now she was trying to earn time for Jai’s bottom surgery whenever that would be. Being so busy, she hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting their neighbors, though she was aware that Jai had befriended the neighbor boy.
“Nothing, Mama.” Jai feigned a smile. “Are you ready?”
Verona nodded, slipping on her sneakers at the door and holding it open for Jai.
~~
Next door everyone was filing in as well. Remedy was bringing out some of the sides to sit on the picnic table, some corn and pasta salad; Mila was inside helping reheat some things as she was more handy in the kitchen than Remedy. Ava couldn’t be bothered as it was Spring break, she flopped down beside Han; bikini top and exposed midriff, one of Han’s button downs open and slung over her shoulders. Before getting comfortable she gave Han a peck on the cheek and handed him a canned soda that she brought from the cooler for him.
Venturo was on his hands and knees, putting patches over any holes in the kiddie pool. It had survived a lot, and was definitely still usable by their math. But, it did need some help.
"Is Uncle Remus still coming? If he is, does he know the entry fee is some of Auntie Astrid's dessert?" Romano asked, glancing over his shoulder to his dad who was hard at work.
"I didn't get the memo we were charging an entry fee. I don't know if he's brought anything, he said your aunt has been tired lately." Romulus said, not looking up from his barbecuing.
Romano grimaced.
"I'll play bouncer and usher him and Lucita right out of here. Ru can stay though." He muttered as, as if right on cue, a slender arm was draped over his shoulder.
"What was that, primo?" Lucita asked, her classic lazy grin somehow playful as she proceeded to put him in a light chokehold.
Lucita Navares was the sort of beautiful that one could easily call "effortless". She was petite and thin, much like her mother, but still managed to have inherited some of her grandmother's finer attributes. Her hair was a long, dark sheath of black that she often wore down unless she was doing some sort of activity, which wasn't too often as her only real physical activity was the occasional ice skating or rollerskating. Her eyes were dark and had a slight angle to them, reminiscent of her paternal grandmother's lineage, not that she would ever know that. Her skin was fair, much like Astrid's, but she always seemed to have a lively glow to her. Some argued it was the illusion of make-up, some good blush and highlight, but if they actually knew Lucita, they would know she was much to lazy to go that far with her make up. Today, she was wearing a pair of shorts that screamed "risk it all" with the way they made her long thin legs even longer and her backside, well, also more extenuated. She had on a plain white button-up beach blouse with a sheer kimono over the top.
Romano immediately reached up to pry Lucita's arm from around her neck, grimacing at her.
"I believe your entry fee is three desserts, you hag." He said to her, only earning a chortle of laughter from Lucita as she stepped away from him and went to cling to her uncle instead.
"Hola, tio. Thanks for having us over." She stretched on her tiptoes to give Romulus a kiss on the cheek.
Romulus smiled and reached up to pat at Lucita's arm around his shoulders.
"Of course. Go say hi to your aunt." He said to her, to which she released herself from him and went to do just that.
Meanwhile, as Romano recovered, he glanced over to Jai's house and promptly lit up with a grin when he saw Jai and his mom heading over.
"Jai!" He waved. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Remus had walked up with baby Ru attached to his front in a baby bjorn. He looked as though he was going to look similar to his sister though he was still a big eyed baby, so it was hard to assume yet. His eyes appeared thin in shape, his hair thin and black like his sister and their grandmother before them. Remus chuckled a little, watching the children interact before greeting his own brother. He gave his shoulder a little squeeze and his back and pat.
“It’s a good day for a barbecue, good idea. Astrid sends her love, she wanted to be here but you know how it goes with pregnancy.” Remus explained sincerely.
“Lu!” Remedy greeted, nudging the screen door open with her hip, Mila filing behind her with arms full of ceramic dishes covered with tin foil. “It’s good to see you guys, can you help carry stuff out?”
~~
Jai saw Romano and lit up, even more so when he smiled and waved at him. He waved back with enthusiasm.
“Hey!” It wasn’t a long walk obviously as they were literally next door. Jai was opening the chain link gate for him and his Mom who he let enter first.
Verona was a tall and athletic woman, though not as tall as Remedy. It was very apparent that Jai and her weren’t of blood relation. Verona’s skin was smooth and dark with pink palms. She wore her hair natural, big and bouncy curls adding definition to her oval face. While normally she dressed for work, today she was wearing a racer back tank, exposing her broad shoulders and sculpted back muscles. A beautiful and striking woman, she did have a unique scar under her right eye. It was pale and a long crescent shape, starting under her eye and curling around to her temple; the hair parting around the scar tissue.
“This is my Mom, Verona.” Jai announced proudly, earning a weak wave and unsure nod from Verona.
Jai didn’t really make friends, he kept to himself mostly. The only person Verona had ever met that Jai brought home was his ex girlfriend, and that wasn’t a positive experience. So this was uncharted territory for her too.
"'Course." Lucita said to her aunt before heading in once the doorway was cleared out.
"Oh, I'm sure. We'll pack leftovers to take home for when she's feeling better." Romulus nodded, pausing in his cooking to reach over and squish little Ru's cheeks. "How is this little troublemaker?" He teased.
Romano quickly wiped his hands off on his shirt and stepped away from his corn husking. He offered up his usual cheeky grin as he approached Jai and Verona before offering his hand out to the woman.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Jai's friend, Romano." He introduced. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“I’m Jai’s Mom, Verona.” She replied with a nod. He seemed harmless enough. “Thank you for inviting us.”
~~
“He’s great! At least for Lu. Anytime he gives us trouble we pass him to her and he’ll do whatever she wants.” Remus laughed. “He’s her pet, he just puts up with me.” He said, but he smiled widely as he said it. Proud and happy about his babies being close.
"Yeah, of course." Romano continued to grin before gesturing for the little picnic table where everyone was bringing out food. Calloway was meticulously rearranging everything to make it all fit. "Food's almost done, but the drinks are over there in the cooler. Or I can get you something from the kitchen. I think Dad made sangria." He explained. "There's also chairs if you wanted to take a seat."
---
"At least he listens to someone. I feel like my kids are just feral." Romulus joked. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
"Sure." Romano bobbed his head. As he and Jai turned around to head into the house, he playfully nudged the other boy with his elbow. "Glad you came. Now I'll have someone to hang out with that isn't my annoying cousin, Lucita." _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
"Nah, I think that's it. Ava's boyfriend Han, Mila, and my uncle's family were the only ones we invited outside of you and your mom. Dad's just gotta finish up the meat and the corn and we can all sit down and eat." Romano explained as they headed to the back door, just as Lucita came out with a tray of fruits in one hand and a beer in the other. She took the tray to the table first before going over to her dad to trade him the beer for her baby brother.
Romano and Jai continued inside the house, the backdoor entering right into the kitchen. Sure enough, there was a whole punch bowl of sangria on the counter with a few beers that were fresh from the fridge of the condensation was any indication. Romano grabbed a glass from the cupboard and went to fill it for Jai's mom.
"It's exciting your mom was able to come. It's a little weird that I've been over to your place so often and haven't really met her until now though." Romano joked as he fixed the glass up before handing it over to Jai. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
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