SafetyInNumbers-Final by Jessie G

and finally settled on the Flipfury. “Okay, is there like a bet or something?”
    “Tonight’s winner gets to pick dinner.” Chris eased up the stairs and glanced back just before the second floor landing. “I’m counting on you to have my back.”
    He meant for more than just this little Nerf war to decide dinner and hoped that Owen got the message. They all had this impression that he could somehow make their lives better, and he’d do his best, but he really needed Owen to do the same for him.
    “I won’t let you down,” Owen whispered seriously.
    He nodded and continued up the stairs, but his head wasn’t in it. They’d been coasting along until a few days ago and the slow burn had been frustrating. The days following his decision to break his silence had been a rollercoaster, first with Liam and then with Billy. Both encounters had been necessary and promising, but it kept him from working on the much-needed connection with the man currently following him into battle. Then, instead of taking Owen to some fancy restaurant and wooing him with hearts and flowers, he took them on a playdate with a pair of five year olds.
    “Duck left!” Owen called and he instinctively rolled into the bathroom doorway. He looked at Owen who was in a similar crouch across the hall and saw the rush of excitement in his expression. “Get your head in the game. You almost got taken out by a girl.”
    Ava’s giggle gave away her position, but Chris loved hearing it. He’d never given thought to kids of his own until he started hanging out here, which seemed to be a growing theme in his life. Everything in this house made him want something for himself. It was a real family with loving parents, amazing kids, fun, love...kind of what he thought he had before his real dad died. Or what Liam thought he had before Chris ruined it all.
    “Chris?” Owen belly crawled across the hall, taking a dart to the ribs before tucking in behind him. “You with me here?”
    He looked down and saw the concern in Owen’s eyes. Did Owen want children? Even without relationship experience, he knew it was probably too soon to bring it up, but he’d been afraid to dream of his future for so long. Their future didn’t hinge on a yes answer because his desire for a life with Owen would always be paramount, but little green-eyed Bishops would make that life just a little sweeter.
    “I’m with you.” As much as he wanted to know, the kids were only a few feet away and had big ears. Last thing he needed was to give Ty ammunition to tease them with later.
    “Okay, good.” Owen judged his expression for another second before sharing his intel. “Luc’s standing on the dresser in the guest room, taking aerial shots. Ava’s behind the door in the master bedroom, shooting through the crack under the door.” Owen leaned out, took a quick look, and ducked back in as a Nerf dart came whizzing past. “That little five year old girl can precision shoot through a two inch gap under the door. What’d you get me into?”
    “You’re having fun.” It wasn’t a question. Some of the concern was still there, but there was no denying that Owen was enjoying himself. Maybe fun made a good date.
    “Well, yeah. I can’t remember the last time I played. We gotta get some of these for the house.” Owen held up the gun and waggled his eyebrows. “Imagine the epic battles we could have. That house needs a few epic battles and a whole lot of fun.”
    That was a huge understatement. Winning their own battles hadn’t allowed Saul to truly relax. Could something as simple as playing like children lighten the mood? “We’d have to hobble Saul a little. He’d have an unfair advantage otherwise.”
    “Agreed.” Another dart sailed past and Owen squared his shoulders. “First we gotta survive Ty’s minions. You ready to get back out there?”
    Chris snorted out a laugh and rechecked his ammo. “Okay, here’s what we gotta do. Ava’s got the best eye, but