Jude pulls down a flute and pours, offering one to the duke, prompting Johnny to step forward, a face full of fascination, and take the glass, sipping cautiously. “Veuve Clicquot?” he asks, after rolling the liquid around in his mouth and swallowing.
“You have champagne where you’re from?” Ty asks, truly curious, maybe even awed.
Johnny looks at me and shakes his head, in disappointment, I think. I have nothing for him.
“Right, I’ll settle this,” Jesse finds his peanut butter and takes another finger scoop while every single other man looks on in sheer disgust. “I’m at the top. We’ve established that.”
“You’veannouncedthat,” Jack breathes, as tired as me of this conversation. “Numerous times. It’s not the same thing.”
“Hmm,” Jesse hums around his finger. “I thought you preferred structure.”
“I prefer stability, and loud men at the top rarely provide it.”
“Oh fuck off, you’re just pissy because I got seven books and you only got one.”
I nearly spit out my wine. Has he no shame?
“Stability is overrated,” Drew collects a glass and holds it out for Jude to pour for him.
“I knew you’d say that,” Luke, done, goes to a chair and drops heavily into it.
“And yet you’re still listening,” Drew retorts. “And if anyone mentions I only got a novella, I’m leaving.”
“You look like you’d tie the tinsel too tight on purpose,” Theo says, and Jesse releases a bark of laughter around his finger, earning a death glare from Drew.
“Only if someone asks nicely,” he counters with a sarcastic smile.
“You lot arguing like this is adorable,” Josh opts for a Scotch and chinks Danny’s glass.
“Oh good,” Danny murmurs, icy eyes on Josh when he swigs and gasps his appreciation. “The cowboy speaks.”
“Formercowboy,” Josh smiles, not perturbed. “Current Oscar winner. Let’s be accurate.”
“Do they give awards for arrogance?” Becker asks.
“I don’t know, do they?” Josh fires back, making all heads swing back and forth as fast as the insults and sarcasm.
“Back to the point,” Danny knocks back his drink, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “The top goes to the man who commands a room without asking.”
“That’s leadership,” Dec’s head drops back, looking to the heavens for strength. Or maybe for some reasonableness to give to the others.
“Or dominance,” Jesse adds.
“Or insecurity,” Dec adds, casual, as Jesse points a pissed off glare at him.
“Well, whoever it is, it’s not you. You’ve had way too much airtime this month.”
“She put me in a book set in December.” Dec laughs. It’s loaded with disbelief. “What do you want me to do? Retreat?”
“Let’s be honest,” Brad says. “Women don’t want what’s on top of the tree. They want what’s under it.”
“Finally, sense,” I breathe.
“Or they want the man who tips the whole things and smiles as it falls.” Becker shrugs, cocky.
“You’re insufferable,” Theo mutters.
Becker smirks. “You say it like it’s a bad thing.”
