Page 13 of Dad Next Door

“Fixing the walkway?” Nick took back his hard hat from Zane.

“I don’t see anyone fixing anything.” The woman glared at Nick. “Especially not dressed like that.”

Nick hung his head. His sense of style was unique and quirky, exactly like him. My blood boiled at his crushed expression. I counted to five so I didn’t cuss these assholes out for making him feel bad for being his awesome self. Zane and River stepped closer to each other, blocking Nick from view, as Gray and Noah stepped up to his sides, closing ranks around him.

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding.” I stepped closer to the couple, hoping to de-escalate things before they got out of control.

The woman pulled out her phone and pointed it at me. “Don’t come any closer,” she practically shrieked. “I’m recording you.” She fiddled with the phone screen. “I’ve got you on camera!”

“Recording us for what?” Noah asked. His tone was conversational, but his posture was stiff with tension.

“I’m going to show this to the owner.” She pointed the phone at Noah and sort of waved it at him. “I’ll show everyone. What company do you work for? You have to tell me.”

“No need to show the owner anything because I’m him,” I said icily, the last of my patience gone.

The woman stopped waving her phone around. “You live here?”

“I do. This is my house and my yard. So thank you for your concern, but there’s nothing to worry about here.”

“Do you have a permit for that?” the man asked.

“A permit for fixing my walkway?” I asked.

“We should report you. Who knows if what you’re doing is safe,” the woman added. “Do you even know what you’re doing?”

“Chill,” Gray warned the twins under his breath. “They’re not worth it.”

Noah subtly put his hand on Zane’s lower back.

River and Zane were the most loyal and protective men I’d ever known, and right now, they were seconds away from losing their shit on my neighbors.

“Quinn!”

Turning away from the couple, I saw Leo hurrying toward me from his driveway, a big smile on his face. “Hi!”

“Hi.” I waved to him.

The couple looked between Leo and Tristan, who was trailing behind his son at a slower, but still purposeful, pace.

“How are you doing?” Leo asked as he came up to me, ignoring the couple. “Hi, Quinn’s friends.” He waved to the guys.

“Hi,” several voices chorused.

“I like your shirt.” Leo beamed a smile at Nick.

Nick glanced down at his bright green shirt with gold writing that said “Sparkle On” across his chest. “Thanks. I like yours too.”

Leo grinned and puffed his chest out, showing off the solar system printed on his shirt. “I picked it myself.”

“Michelle, Kevin.” Tristan came to stand with us. “I see you’ve met Quinn, our new neighbor.”

The couple exchanged a look, then turned their ire on Tristan.

My blood boiled again at the judgment in their eyes.

“Your dog took a shit on my lawn again.” Kevin lifted his head and stared down his nose at Tristan.

“Language,” I said automatically.