Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I sit up. The cat gives me an annoyed meow and jumps down. “Fuck yes. That sounds fun. I haven’t been out in forever.”
“Do you miss going out? We can go out. Or you can go out without me.”
“Wait. What? Why would I want to go out without you? I just wasn’t real fond of the idea of being at the club in my boot, and these last few weeks I haven’t seen past being at home and naked with you.”
I get a snicker from him in return. “You have a one-track mind.”
“Are you complaining?”
“Absolutely not.” There’s a noise in the background, and then he says, “I should go.”
“Eat your lunch before you go back to work,” I fuss.
“I was planning on it, babe.”
“Good. Love you.”
“I love you too,” Donovan replies, and yeah, I can admit it makes me feel a little tingly.
We end the call, and I get up to find Butterscotch. “Daddies are going out tonight, and then you’ll want to stay out of our room when we get home.” I’m probably more excited than I should be, but Donovan and I haven’t been out as…this, what we are now. I’ve been to a hundred gay bars with him over the years, but we were just friends then, and now we’re more. Husbands. I get to kiss him, touch him, dance with him, and growl at guys who want what’s mine.
I straighten up the house and get food prepared that I just need to pop into the oven later for dinner.
The more time passes, the more excited I am about tonight. I send Donovan a text to see if I can invite Ana. When he confirms I can, I send her a message, and we make plans for her to come over after work to get ready and go with us.
Ana gets off at five, so she makes it to our house before Donovan. She’s got a bag with her, which I assume is filled with whatever she’s wearing tonight.
“Hey, you.” She gives me a hug and slips inside. “I totally needed this.”
“What’s wrong?” I close the door behind her.
“Nothing really. Justin is just being weird lately.”
“Ah, the best friend ex-boyfriend you’re in love with?”
“Yeah. We keep fighting, and I don’t know why.” She flops down on the couch. “Well, I do. It’s me. I’m the one causing the issues because I want him and it’s hard.”
I sit beside her. “I’m sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”
“You’re lucky things are so easy with you and Donovan.”
I am lucky, even though our situations aren’t the same. “We’ll have fun tonight, though.”
“Absolutely. I need to paint my nails,” she says, then slides to the floor and opens one of her bags. She gets set up at the coffee table, using a pink color she brought with her.
“Hey, can you do mine too?” I’ve never painted my nails before, but it looks pretty. Why the hell don’t I do mine too if I like it?
“Sure. Same color? I have some others in here.” She eases the bag my direction. I choose a blue that I think will look good with my eyes.
When Ana finishes her nails, she gets started on mine.
I wonder what Donovan will think when he sees it. Does he like men with painted nails? I think he probably just likes men who do what makes them feel good.
“I like it,” Ana says when she’s about halfway done.
“I like it too. And I like you. I’m glad we’re friends. If I were moving, you would help.”
Her forehead wrinkles in confusion. “Of course I would.”
“Not everyone feels that way.” Donovan would too, of course, and the Jilted Exes and the hockey guys.
“You’re kinda perfect. Do you know that?” Ana gives me a soft smile.
I wink at her. “Donovan thinks so too.”
We finish up with my nails. I already popped dinner in the oven, so Ana and I sit on the couch together, talking and laughing, until Donovan gets home from work.
“It smells good in here,” he says when he comes inside.
“It’ll be done soon. Look what Ana did?” I hold out my hand, and Donovan comes over.
“I like it.” He grins. “It matches your eyes.”
“That’s why I chose this color.” I stand and kiss him. Donovan looks surprised but doesn’t say anything about my public display of affection. “We’ll eat dinner and then get ready for tonight. I think it’s gonna be a good night.”
I feel Donovan’s smile. “I think so too.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Donovan
I’ve never been the kind of guy who likes to go to clubs very often. I’ve never even been to Lush, but I’m excited to go with Eric and the crew tonight.
It’s so strange to think that—the crew. I have a crew. Sure, almost half of us are jilted exes from the same asshole, but who gives a shit about how we all came together. What matters is we’re friends now.