Page 25 of Dangle

I laughed. “Poor baby. Are people not adoring you enough?”

“They are not. I am the last to receive any love. Aiden, Hawk, and then I.”

My arms wrapped around him—while everyone else called him Sasha, they were hockey fans; I wasn’t or hadn’t been, so I still called him Alex because that’s how he first introduced himself—and I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Hello, Alex. We miss you in Minnesota.”

“Get off me, you fucker!” he yelled, pushing me away with a laugh.

I dropped to my knees and greeted Hawk with pets. “Hello, good boy. We miss you up north, too,” I said, but Hawk’s only response included a put-upon huff and some jumpy eyebrows. “Is he okay?”

“He’s fine, the big baby. Just pissy because Aiden left. As if Aiden isn’t always leaving for a game or some reason or another,” Alex said to me, but when Hawk whined, he said, “Yes, I’m talking about you. The boy will be back tonight.”

I bit my lip, trying not to laugh.

Ewen, who was still chuckling while also trying to shove veggies and hummus in his fat fucking mouth, said, “Oh! So, he and Slone will get along fine. Slone is also pining for a boy half his age.”

The whole crew fucking snorted. “I amend my earlier statement. I don’t just hate him. I fucking hate all you fuckers.”

Cam’s arm went around my neck, and he said, “No, you don’t. You love us. Now, tell us, what does Ewen mean you’re pining?”

“Yeah!” Priest said, finally pulling his face out of Bauer’s neck to rest his chin on Bauer’s shoulder. “We were all fucking worried you were depressed.”

Bauer used two fingers to push Priest’s head off his shoulder, then turned and glowered at him.

Alex’s face dropped into his hand as he groaned. “Thank fuck I didn’t know you assholes when I took a puck to the head. I probably wouldn’t’ve survived the soul-sucking depression if I had.”

I clapped Alex on the shoulder. “They’re assholes, but they mean well. Priest has no filter.”

“So, you’re not depressed? You just need to get laid?”

“Oh my God. You know what, I take back what I just said,” I laughed, “Every one of you sucks. You know that?”

Bauer snorted. “Accurate! And I can confirm all present and give references for two out of the five.”

Sweet baby Jesus. “You are unhinged. All of you. You know this, yes?” I said, and they all bobbed their heads with stupid grins splashed across their idiot faces.

The laughter continued throughout the day as I realized this was something I had missed. Just Ewen and I sitting around with our buddies shooting the shit, laughing, poking fun at each other, and telling war stories. Although we kept those as watered down as possible since the Holt twins and Sasha had never served. What a bunch of recon Marines found funny scared civilians to death.

We were a strange group. The twins met Priest and Cam while the four of us were working for Jackson Holt, the twins’cousin. Jackson’s music star girlfriend had a stalker that targeted Katie, Jackson, and both their families, so Priest, Cam, Ewen, and I provided security until the situation settled.

That whole situation was messed up, and I’m glad that part of my life is over.

Aiden and Sasha got folded into the group when they were in Manchester—Aiden at The U on the hockey team and Sasha as his coach. Despite the university policy forbidding their relationship, they’d promptly fallen in love. When Aiden was given the chance to join the professional team in Nashville, Sasha resigned and followed his boy south. I didn’t blame him.

Our friend group gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, ‘What a tangled web we weave.’ But we were family, and none of us would have it any other way.

As we continued eating, drinking, and getting even merrier, three phones buzzed where they lay face down on the dining table. Bauer, Priest, and Cam looked at one another and sighed.

“Everything okay?” I asked before realizing it was none of my business.

Bauer checked his phone with a sigh that turned into a soft smile. “It’s fine. Gavin’s just letting us know he really likes Aiden’s friends who are visiting.”

Ewen snorted, and I punched him in his fucking arm. “Shut it. Don’t start that shit again.”

“After nearly twenty years, you should know that telling menotto do something is a sure-fire way to make it happen. So, that means you actually don’t want me to shut it, and you do want me to start that shit again,” Ewen said with a grin.

“You’re a rat bastard,” I said, hating him so much.

“I’m aware, but that doesn’t negate the fact that you’re smitten. Full on, blushing like a schoolgirl with her first crush, smitten.”