Page 75 of Declan
And oh my god, it works. Soon people are moving sideways, clearing a path to the register. Jonas swipes his card, and we weave through the tables, following a wide-eyed waitress to a grouping of tables. The guys start moving chairs, and before I know it, they have a long table set up with spots for everyone.
They stand around, staring at Evie, who drops her head on the table. “Just go,” she mutters. And they’re gone. That was weird.
“What the hell was that?” I ask.
She snorts, propping her head on her hand. “We went to a buffet yesterday after the ceremony. We got kicked out. They fell on it like wild dogs, and I might have scolded them a bit.”
“You scolded them? Those very large men?” I mean, I’ve done it at work a time or two, but it’s kinda my job.
“Yeah. I’m trying to get them to set a better example for Mia...Jesus. Fuck.” She slaps her hands over her eyes, and I spin in my chair to see what’s going on. I don’t bother to hide my laughter this time. Mia, now riding on Declan’s shoulders, is double-fisting meat. She’s got a drumstick in one hand and a steak in the other and seems to be doing some sort of war cry as Declan fast walks to the next food station. She tears into the chicken leg, dropping bits of chicken and juice into Declan’s hair. The rest of the guys seem to be coordinating some sort of attack, led by Micah, as they sign to each other across the room.
“Sorry, Evie, it looks like the lunatics are running the asylum now.”
I’VE BEEN TO VEGAS ONCE BEFORE. THE YEAR AFTER BREE GRADUATED, I TOOK A COUPLE OF DAYS AND flew in with a friend from college.
I don’t remember most of it, but I do remember those drinks. The really tall ones in the cups shaped like ladies. Most of the guys have one. Colt, Declan, Holly, and Ransom seem to be the self-appointed sober delegation as we run amok down the street. How are they still so enthusiastic about everything? They each ate enough meat to satisfy a full-grown lion. After that, it seemed to me that heading back to the hotel and dropping into a coma should be the next order of business, but nope. They’re running around like freshmen on spring break.
It’s a good thing I don’t embarrass easily. After some coaxing by Mia, Declan, Kade, Colton, and Zach have all stripped their shirts off so they can get their bodies painted by an artist set up on the sidewalk. Mia’s already sporting a realistic monarch butterfly on her face. She wants them all painted like her favorite animals.
I settle onto a bench a dozen feet from the guys, not surprised when Becca and Holly wander over. Becca’s already wobbly, and Holly seems to be fucking with her, gasping and skittering backward here and there, making Becca jump.
“This whole place is invested,” Becca announces dramatically, raising her feet as she slurps at her drink. “There’s spiders eeeeeverywhere.”
I shoot a look at a laughing Holly. Invested? “Yeah, totally infested. Better watch out.”
“Mmhumm, they can’t get me. My feets are up.”
Holly’s cackling, Becca’s slurping, and I’m wishing I’d grabbed another one of those drinks, too, instead of the beer I'm sipping. The one I had earlier is long gone from my system.
Ignoring the very drunk woman beside me, I turn to Holly. “Congratulations, by the way. I’m really happy for you and Micah.”
“Thank you,” she says, dropping her hand to her belly. I see a hint of an extra curve, but it’s not enough for a stranger to guess her condition. “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but we’re excited.”
“Excited now, you mean? Something in your voice made it sound like you weren’t before.”
She sighs, watching Micah, Maverick, and Jonas paw through the interior of a souvenir shop. “I’ve been pregnant before.” I should maybe mind my own business, but the women are right. They’re a part of the brothers’ lives, and judging by how much the men talk about them, the women aren’t going anywhere. So I want to get to know them. Besides, according to Ransom, I’m like their little sister. It’s my job to get in there with the wives.
“Since you don’t have a child, I’m guessing...”
“I miscarried. Right around this time, actually.”
“Jesus, you must be stressed the fuck out.”
“It’s been better this time. Last time I was in a really different position.”
“Different because it was with your shitty ex?” I know a little about what she’s been through. She ran from her abusive ex with Evie’s help. But after two years, he found her. Well, found Becca. Who proceeded to break several bones in his body. She’s sort of a ninja.
“Partly, yeah. It’s hard to imagine having a baby with a man who seems hellbent on destroying you. Can you imagine? Being connected forever to a man who beat me nearly daily?”
“No, I really can’t. I honestly don’t have a frame of reference for that kind of experience. I’ve never been hurt that way.”
“I’m glad,” she says softly. “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Things this time are different. This time...I’m excited. For this baby, and to see how Micah is as a daddy.”
“Babies are awesome,” Becca mutters beside us. Her eyes are locked on the body painter and, more specifically, on her man. “I want babies with Kade.”
“Seriously? Don’t you think you’d better marry the man first?”
“Yep,” she says, still staring. There’s a calculating gleam in her eye.
