Or...an idea pops into my head.
I should host a party.
Smiling, I gather the dental tools and start sterilizing them.I’m sure I must look like a fool as I polish a mouth mirror, grinning.
Jake and I are a couple.
A real couple.
It feels exciting.
I’ve decided.I’m absolutely hosting this party, and I might even make it a theme!
––––––––
“CAN I GO as a NavySEAL?”Josh asks in the background when I call Cassy after work and mention the costume party idea.
Scarlett’s line was busy, so Cassy was next on the list.I’m so excited I had to tell someone.
I roll my eyes.
“ByNavy SEALdo you mean shirtless with all that war paint and sexy dog tags?”Cassy asks.
I should probably hang up.This feels like foreplay.
Theirforeplay.
Then something occurs to me.“Ah, not a good idea.If Josh comes shirtless, Cole will.Then Ryder definitely will...followed by Aidan.My neighbors will think something else is going on and call the cops.”
Cassy giggles.
“I’ll wear my scuba gear,” Josh calls out, his voice sounds distant, as if leaving the room.
“Boring.”Cassy sighs.“But you’re right about them tearing all their shirts off.So competitive.Skip the costume party and just make it an early holiday BBQ.We can all help with the food.”
“That would be great.I’m, um, going to invite Jake,” I add.
“The new guy?”
Oh right, she doesn’t know the entire history of our relationship.
“Yes.Well, no, Jake and I dated a few months ago.We broke up.Now Cole is being all alpha big brother about it so I’m hoping this party will—”
“This is a bad idea,” Cassy interrupts, and I blink a few times, surprised.
“Why?”
“Apparently, they had a fight today.”
My brows fly up my forehead as I try to make sense of what she just said.
Does she mean Cole and Jake?
“A fight?”
A knock at the door has my head turning, but I know who it is.I walk over and pull it open as Cassy updates me on the details.I don’t doubt her for a second as I take in the shiner on Jake’s face.
“My advice is they work this out before you put the two of them in the same place as alcohol,” Cassy wisely recommends.“Apparently, they both have a few choice bruises.”
