Page 80 of The Recovery Coach
Jake didn’t budge from his spot.“Not a chance, man.”
Connor jutted his lower lip out in an exaggerated pout.
“Aww, snuggle with the poor baby, Jakey!”Valentine said.
Jake rolled his eyes but scooted closer to Connor.“Fine.Thisonetime.”
Connor dragged Jake closer, an arm around his shoulders.Jake really committed to taking one for the team.Physical touch was not his love language.Jake’s stiffness had Olivia’s shoulders shaking in silent laughter, but she didn’t dare comment for fear of ruining the adorableness of it all.Her two favorite men snuggled up, albeit uncomfortably.Only one of them knew it was meant for her benefit.
They pressed play on a movie, and as the story progressed, Jake melted into Connor.Valentine stroked Olivia’s hair, and she almost fell asleep, despite the rampant violence on screen.
When the movie ended, they all stood and stretched.Something occurred to Olivia.
“Hey, Jake?”she asked.
“Yeah?”
“What are you doing on Friday?”
Jake shrugged.“It’s a day off.I’m enjoying some peace and quiet.”
“You should come over.We’re having game night.”
“Yeah, you should stop by,” Valentine said.
Connor took longer to agree, but with a pointed look from Olivia, said, “We’d love to have you.”
It wasn’t believable at all.But it was enough for Jake.He grinned and said, “Cool, I’d love that.”
As he gave Connor a bro hug, he winked at Olivia over his shoulder.
Chapter 28
Hazy
Lessthananhourinto game night, Hazy wanted to kick everyone except Livy out of his house.He hadn’t seen her for more than a few minutes all week.
Between his training, attending home games, physical therapy, and her job hunting, dates with Lover, and evenings spent at Jake’s place doing who knew what, they were like ships passing in the night.
She sat across from him at the fancy dining room table he’d paid way too much money for, considering the use it got.Lover had a possessive arm around her, as usual.It fueled Hazy’s irrational anger.
He might not be as upset if they bothered to include him.They were his people.His snuggle buddies.And he was pathetic for a good cuddle.He tried to ignore the jealousy.To be happy for them.Truly, they deserved the world.It would have been nice if they hadn’t insisted on takinghisworld, but he’d give them both up in a heartbeat if it meant they got to live happily ever after.Even if it killed him.
An elbow to his bicep tugged him out of his own head.
“It’s your turn,” Dylan said.
Hazy examined the dozen colorful cards in his hands.None matched the top of the discard pile.
“Fuck,” he said, drawing from the top of the deck.
He drew and drew and drew, all the while muttering about his poor luck and sparking laughter around the table before he got a green card he could play.
Toma, Beanie, Daisy, Dylan, Roxie, Jake, Livy, and Lover sat around the table, working through their fifth round of cards.
Jake laid a card on the discard pile and yelled, “Uno!”
His declaration met a chorus of moans and groans.The fucker had won three times.
