Dexter

While life threw curveballs at our friends, I got to teach Julia to drive. Marla said a father should teach their daughter how to drive. I disagreed but got overruled by three females in my home.

I signed Julia up for driver's education and took her to an empty parking lot so she could practice. I couldn't believe my baby was driving. When did this happen?

"Dad, are you paying attention?" Julia asked from the driver's seat.

"Yes, pumpkin." I bobbed my head.

"No, he's not," Caspiam said from the back seat.

I turned my body to face Caspiam. "Why are you here?"

"I'm here for moral support for Julia and to avoid my demon brothers." Caspiam grinned.

"You wait until I talk to Odin." I wagged my finger at Caspiam.

"Go ahead. It's not like my dad won't have to deal with my driving." Caspiam shrugged.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and counted to ten before I lost my shit.

Marla leaned into the car window. "Would you like to get a move on before Julia gets married and has kids?"

I gave Marla an incredulous look. "Do you mind?" Then I looked at Julia. "You're never getting married while I'm alive."

Caspiam leaned in between the front seats. "I can ask Uncle Oliver to give you a nice funeral."

I glared at Caspiam. "You're not helping."

"And we're not moving."

"Do you mind?"

"Not at all." Caspiam shrugged.

"Casp, stop pissing off Dexter!" Odin yelled.

Caspiam shoved his head outside the back passenger window. "Dad, he won't let Julia move! I'm trying to speed things along! It's all about time management, which Dexter lacks! I'll talk to Grandpa for a more efficient schedule at the construction site!"

"You have one more year until you can step foot on the site!"

"Did you forget I'm advanced for my age?"

"No, you won't let me!"

"Exactly!"

"Can I drive now?" Julia asked.

"Yes. Remember what I showed you," I said.

Julia checked her mirrors, put her foot on the brake, and started the car. She put the car in gear and eased on the accelerator before driving. I instructed her on what to do. Surprisingly, she listened to me. That was a plus.

"You're doing great, pumpkin," I praised her.

"Driving a car isn't so bad. It's like driving a golf cart," Julia said.

"Except a golf cart doesn't have a turn signal or goes past twenty-five miles per hour," Caspiam said.

"What does that matter?" I asked.

"Oh, it matters. We're in a two-ton vehicle that can crush you to death with one false move."

Julia stopped the car and shifted into the park as we turned to look at Caspiam.

"What?"

"You're not helping, Casp," Julia said.

"Why? Did you want me to lie to you like our birth mothers did to everyone and almost wiped out most of our family?"

I facepalmed myself before sticking my head out the window. "Odin, come get your offspring before I wring his scrawny neck!"

Odin shook his head, walked to the car, and yanked open the door. He pointed at Caspiam to get out of the car before I lost myself. Caspiam exited the vehicle and argued with Odin while Julia continued her practice driving. Better him than me.

******
Odin

Casp and I stood on the grass while Julia practiced her driving with Dexter.

"Why must you rile Dexter up?" I asked.

"Because it's funny to watch the vein in his forehead protrude. It amazes me Dexter hasn't had a stroke since he's an excellent candidate for it," Casp remarked.

"Casp, stop it. No one likes a smartass."

"And no one likes a dumbass, either. You should talk to Thor and Loki."

"Why? I'm putting you in charge of your brothers when they get older."

"So you're punishing me?" He arched his brows.

"No, but it will teach you patience, which you need."

"In what universe? It's not like I have a lot going for me." Casp shrugged.

"Are you still being salty about Charlie?"

Casp glared at me.

"Son, she's five years older than you. By the time you turn eighteen, she'll have met someone."

"Over my dead body. Charlie is mine!" Casp turned on his heels and stomped away.

I swear my oldest had tunnel vision with Charlie. But then again, Troy wasn't a fan of the guy she was dating. But that's a problem for another day.

******
Julia

I focused on everything the driving instructor taught us and what my dad showed me. I wanted to pass my driving test so I could get my license. I couldn't do that with Casp running his yap.

Plus, I couldn't wait to rub it into Betsy's face since she failed her test five times. Don't focus on your appearance; you'll pass your test.

"So, do you want to discuss the massive elephant looming in the car?" My dad asked.

"What elephant?" I asked while driving.

"Jace."

I slammed on the brakes and threw the car into the park before looking at my dad. "Are you trying to get us killed?"

"Not particularly, no." My dad raised his finger.

"Then why would you mention Jace?"

"Because you called him if I remember correctly."

"Yes, I called and chewed him out for lying."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Are you okay?"

"Am I okay because Jace lied to me? No! Why would you ask me that?"

"Pumpkin, I'm asking because I'm your dad."

I looked at my dad. "Then you would know it doesn't matter. Jace will meet someone and forget about me. He did it once. He'll do it again." I turned and faced the front before putting the car into drive and moving.

I refused to let people see me cry. It's not like they care if I do. So, why give them the satisfaction of seeing my tears? I've accepted that Jace will never see me more than how I see him. It was a fact.

It was just a stupid crush.

*******
Jace

I spent a lot of time figuring out my shit since that's all I had. Talking to Dad made me realize one crucial detail. I had fallen in love with Jules when we were kids. Even if Lisa didn't cheat on me, it would have never lasted. I would have chosen Jules every single time.

It didn't help when I told girls my best friend was a girl. Dad was right. Girls felt threatened by Jules. I can understand why. If Jules had a boyfriend, he wouldn't dig knowing I was her best friend. Well, Jules didn't think I was her best friend at the moment.

My brothers thought I was crazy and let me know in no uncertain terms.

I stood in Darby, Emerald, and Charlie's living room while Dallas helped Darby and Braydon hang out with Emerald.

"You're insane, and that says a lot coming from me," Braydon said.

"What's insane about my friendship with Jules?" I asked.

"Jace, Julia is fifteen. You're in college. I doubt she'll wait for you to sweep her off her feet."

"I graduate in a few years." I shrugged.

"Then what?" Dallas asked.

"Then I show up at Jules' door."

Darby and Emerald exchanged glances.

"Jace, don't you think you should consider that Julia might not have feelings for you?" Emerald asked.

"It's a chance I'm willing to take." I noticed the doubt on Dallas, Braydon, and Emerald's faces.

"Honestly, at least Jace knows what he wants," Darby said, surprising us. "You view things differently when you're not sure if you have a future."

"Yeah, but the doctor said your prognosis for remission is good since you're responding to treatments," Dallas said.

"But I need to look at the situation realistically. I can go into remission. But the leukemia could come back. I don't want any false hope."

Dallas furrowed his brows while we said nothing. What could you say? You couldn't knock Darby for being realistic about her condition.

"Has anyone seen Charlie?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Oh, you mean the sister that spends all her time with that loser?" Darby asked.

"Yeah, that one."

"No, we barely see her," Emerald said. "I couldn't tell you the last time Charlie slept here."

None of us liked Kent, but Charlie couldn't see past the blinders she had for him.

"From what Dad said, Caspiam argues with Thor's dad about Charlie," Braydon said.

"How the hell does Dad tell you and not us?" Dallas gestured between me and him.

"Because Dad knows I like to gossip. It makes me feel more normal." Braydon shrugged.

"Define normal because you aren't it."

"At least I'm not pining over a girl hundreds of miles from me." Braydon smirked.

I rolled my eyes. Braydon was something else.

"Well, hopefully, Charlie sees the light," Emerald said.

"Doubtful," we all said.

If I had learned anything about Charlie, she wouldn't have realized what a mistake she had made with Kent until things got out of hand. And we would recognize how protective Caspiam would be, especially when he started working at the construction site and put on muscle.