Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Here, let me show you the best way to do that. The fine art of making the lettuce perfect.”
“By all means.”
He carefully tore off lettuce in a way that didn’t look real special or unlike how I would have done it. He winked, I playfully pushed him, and then we were laughing.
“Who’s the dork now?”
“Still you,” he replied.
“What’s it called when you refuse to nap?” The jokes came more frequently when I was nervous.
“What?”
“Resisting a rest—arrest, a rest. You have to admit that was a good one.”
“No, Remy. No it wasn’t,” he said teasingly.
There was a knock at the door, and I froze up. Bear started barking, but Law didn’t move. He let his hands wander up and down my arms like he’d done earlier. “I’m putting you in the game. We got this.”
Goddamn him. His use of the word we twisted me up inside. “We do.”
There was another knock, and Law called out, “Chill your ass out! We’re coming!” I wondered why he didn’t tell them to come in like he had me.
“Hurry your ass up!” a deep voice called back. I was pretty sure it was Knox from the hardware store.
“Why don’t you finish the lettuce?” Law said, and I shook my head.
“I’m good for a minute.”
He nodded, then went to the door and opened it. I hung out in the kitchen, but because of the open layout of his place, I could plainly see the door and they would see me too.
“Hey, man, what’s up?” Law said as Knox walked in.
“Not much. Found some strays.” He pointed over his shoulder as the blond police officer came in, a younger guy with brown hair behind him.
“I’m not a stray. I’m fucking fabulous,” the brunet said.
A German shepherd came bounding in and went straight to Bear, the two of them obviously knowing each other, and began playing.
Then there was the sound of a car door, and I hated that it made me flinch, my stomach twisting in familiar knots.
Glancing out the window, I saw two more men had arrived, both with brown hair, one of them looking like a bigger version of the fabulous one.
“Hey, how are you? It’s good to see you again.”
I snapped out of it to realize Knox had come over to me. He held his hand out, and I shook it. “Good to see you too.”
They all followed Law to the kitchen. He came over and stood by me, putting his hand on my arm before quickly tugging it away as if he didn’t know how I would react.
“Remy, this is Griffin, Josh, Chase, and Kellan. Guys, this is Remington,” Law introduced us.
I could see the small brunet—Kellan—was biting his cheek so he wouldn’t smile, but the others didn’t seem to care about who I was. Not in a bad way. It made me settle down a bit.
“Hey, nice to meet you all.” I shook their hands, and when I got to Chase, I said, “And thanks for the ride that day.” See? Maybe I could do this. That came out nice and relaxed. I felt…okay. My pulse was going a little fast, but that was the extent of it.
Chase chuckled. “Not a problem. Always happy to help.”
“I don’t smell food. Why don’t I smell food?” Josh asked, and Law flipped him off.
“We’re getting there, fucker.”
There was an ease between them, all of them, that I’d never had naturally with anyone other than Law.
I said, “I’ll finish with the lettuce, and, Law, you can go ahead and start the grill if you want.”
“No, no. No rush at all. I was giving Law shit,” Josh said with a small frown as though he felt bad.
“You’ll have to excuse my bestie,” Kellan said. “He leads with his dick or his stomach.”
Josh grabbed him and tossed him over his shoulder. “That’s it. That’s enough of you. I’ll put him outside!” Josh called out as everyone else laughed.
Kellan swatted him. “You’re annoying! Put me down.”
“Aw, come on, babe. You know you love me,” Josh replied. My eyes found Chase, and he had a smile curling his lips, obviously not an ounce of jealousy about his boyfriend and his relationship with Josh.
It was…pretty incredible to see. All of them. They were clearly close, and a pinch of envy twisted in me. I wanted this. I was glad Law had it.
“A bunch of knuckleheads.” Griff shook his head, glancing at me. He gave me a smile that…damned if I didn’t feel like he said, Yeah, I get it. They can be a lot.
In the living room, Josh set Kellan down, and Kellan looked at Chase. “Aren’t you going to defend my honor?”
“Nope. You like to take care of yourself, remember?”
“Only when I want to!” Kellan replied, and again, everyone laughed. I felt like I wasn’t in on a joke they all knew, but…I wanted in. Christ, I really fucking wanted in with these people. I’d never experienced something like that before.