Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
I pulled in next to the carport because it was full—and so was the lawn on the left of the carport. In other words, plenty of members here tonight.
In fact, I spotted a few of the usual suspects out on the front lawn. Greer, Colt, Reese, and KC.
I took another bite of my burger and killed the engine.
Given that Ma had no plans on letting Nate go anytime soon, I gestured that I would go ahead, and he nodded and waved me off.
I grabbed my milkshake too.
The sun was about to set west of the house, and the last rays found me between the trees.
“If it ain’t the man of the hour.” Reese smirked. “August sent me a report this mornin’ on which posts had garnered the most engagement, and your dynamic update listing yourself as Nathan’s husband was the second.”
I laughed and walked a little faster. “Which one was the most popular?”
“A video of Kingsley striking Tate with a cane.” He offered a chef’s kiss at that, and I made a mental note to search for that video. It sounded like something I would enjoy. “Where’s your man?”
“In the truck, talkin’ to my ma.” I crammed the last of the burger into my mouth when I reached them, and I bumped fists with Colt, Reese, and Greer—but I knew better with KC. I shook his hand, to which he smirked.
Yeah, I remembered. He and Lucian had once had a conversation about fist-bumping being for kids. I’d obviously walked by at the right moment to hold out my fist.
“How the fuck are ya, boys?” I asked, chewing.
Colt toasted with his coffee mug. “Livin’ the life, man.”
“No complaints here.” KC smiled.
“I’m wonderin’ what’s in there.” Greer pointed to my milkshake.
“Not for you, is what it is.” I held it away from him and pocketed the wrapper from the burger.
“I can smell the strawberries,” he stated. “I’m hungry.”
I shook my head and sucked from the straw. I’d share any other food with him, but never something with strawberries, because he would legit walk away with it.
“I’m not new here, buddy. Get your own,” I told him.
Colt laughed at him. “You’ve got a reputation.”
Greer scoffed.
“Where’s Archie?” KC asked.
“In our cabin,” Greer replied. “He needs a break, so he’s watching carpet-cleaning videos on Facebook.”
Ah. Been there, done that. They just annoyed the fuck out of me, though. Where did they find those cheap-ass rugs, at the bottom of a swamp? When the cleaning alone cost five times more than the rug was worth, it was time to rethink some shit.
I turned back to Reese. “Do you know how one could loophole their way outta the rule about not reserving any playrooms for the ball?”
He shrugged and scratched his elbow. “You can still reserve a bed or a spot in a room, just not the whole area. What do you have in mind?”
“If we still have mattresses in storage, I wouldn’t mind some in the dojo,” I replied.
“We haven’t done anythin’ in the dojo,” Colt said. “That’s Nathan and Natalie’s domain.”
“But we have more mattresses,” Reese supplied. “Should be about a dozen of the ones we built platforms for last year. They don’t slide apart either.”
Fantastic, they were the comfortable ones too. Twice as thick as the regular ones.
I liked my comfort.
“Perfect,” I said. “I’ve got some carrying to do. You need a hand with any other setup? I saw online youse’ve been busy all day.”
“Yeah, but I reckon we’ve got a handle on things, eh?” Reese glanced at the others. “Ain’t much left. We can’t prepare anythin’ related to snacks and drinks until tomorrow anyway.”
“I wouldn’t mind helping you in the dojo,” Greer said. “I booked a spot in one of the orgy rooms, but I’d rather end up next to friends than strangers.”
Even better. “Sounds good to me. Jordan’s curious, so that’ll give him more to watch.” I jerked my chin at KC. “Any chance I can convince you and your three too?”
“Sure.” He shrugged. “I’ll let Lucian know.”
“Hold on,” Reese said. “So it’s gonna be your three quads in the dojo?”
“What about you, airman?” I looked to Colt.
He grinned faintly. “We might stop by for a visit, but we’re sleepin’ in the cabin.”
At the sound of someone approaching behind me, I glanced over my shoulder and smiled. Nate had survived his talk with my mother.
“There he is, Ash’s better half,” Reese said.
“Congratulations again, man,” Colt said to Nate.
Greer extended his hand. “Absolutely, congrats. Good to see you again, buddy.”
“Thank you, gentlemen.” Nate smiled and shook his hand.
Reese took over the conversation again, seemingly determined to figure out where he could get his inner voyeur satisfied during the ball, and Nate returned my phone to me.
“You got a few messages from James,” he said quietly.
All right, then. I opened it and lifted my brows. Hot damn, that was a wall of several texts.