I tilt my head. “And that would be?”
He smiles. It flickers, just for a second. “Me.”
Luke snorts. “No.”
The word lands heavier than expected, and Ty looks at him, half smiling, half maddened. “Excuse me?”
Luke steps forward, relaxed, unthreatening, entirely unbothered. “The top isn’t about wanting,” he says self-assuredly. “It’s about trust.”
Silence.
Everyone’s absorbing that. Considering it. I’m not hopeful it’ll land as Luke’s intended.
Ryan finally speaks from where he’s been quietly fixing a loose branch. “Tree’s leaning,” he says. “Needs grounding before it falls.”
I watch him work, capable, steady, unshowy, as Dec moves in beside me. Close. Solid. “He’s right.” He speaks quietly. “Everything needs balance.”
Jude exhales a laugh. “Christ, this got wholesome fast.” He pushes off the doorframe with his shoulder, arms still folded as he slips past my regency men. “I dare anyone to tell me it shouldn’t be me. I fucking dare you.” Johnny and Frank follow his path, silent but observing.
“It shouldn’t be you,” every single man in the room says, and Jude exhales, muttering something under his breath.
The ladder suddenly wobbles, and Becker swears as Jesse reaches out instinctively and Danny steps forward at the same time. James moves toward the tree and slips his hand between the branches, holding the trunk. Jake shields Theo without touching him.
Ryan checks the base. “You need more sand in the bucket, Jodi.”
The tree shudders.
Then steadies.
I exhale slowly. “I have some more sand by the front door.”
Ryan is off to the front door before I finish, returning moments later with a bag of sand on his shoulder.
“I’m taking the top,” Jesse declares, loud and confident, like his tone and volume might change everyone’s mind.
“It’ll topple under the weight of your fucking ego,” Drew mutters.
“You’re lucky you’re a mate.”
“Am I?”
“No one let Drew near any tinsel or string lights,” Jesse says, nailing him in place with a disgruntled glare. “He likes tying women up.”
Everyone looks at me, and I laugh, nervous.
“Don’t we all,” James murmurs, neck craned to watch Ryan pouring more sand in the bucket.
I notice attention suddenly falls to Theo, who’s still keeping his distance from everyone else. “It’s a necessity,” he says, sharp. “Back to the tree.”
“Speaking of Theo,” Jude picks up his bauble and studies it, smiling mildly. “Where’s your dog?”
“In the garden.” I go to the doors and look out into the darkness, seeing his collar glowing as he snuffles his way around the lawn.
“Let him in,” Jake joins me. “I want to meet him.”
I laugh. “No, no, that’s not a good idea.”
“Why?”
