My grin grew.
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Chapter Twelve
I folded up the last cardboard box and stuck it in the pile I planned to take out to the recycling bin just as soon as I found the energy. I loved the house I'd bought from Ian and Hank, but moving sucked. Luckily, that was the last box to be unpacked.
I was now officially moved into my new house.
I lived alone.
Living alone sucked even more than moving.
I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottled water then headed for the front porch. I loved that I now had a front porch to sit on. My apartment back in Massachusetts didn't even have a balcony. This was much nicer.
I settled myself into one of the light brown wicker chairs I'd purchased for the front porch, plopped my feet up on the porch railing, then opened my water and took a big swig. The water felt cool on my parched throat.
I waved when I saw Danny and Abe walking down the steps of their house. It was nice being so close to my friends. Ian and Hank lived right next door. Danny and Abe had a place directly across the street from me with Andrew and Cooper living in the house next door to them. The only ones missing were Ewan and Judge.
And Jack.
I'd really thought Jack would be moving in with me, but you know the old saying, "That's what you get for thinking."
As soon as I'd been patched up and released from the hospital, Jack had taken off. I hadn't heard from him since, and it had been over a month. I was starting to suspect that I never would.
I knew I never should have fallen in love with a straight man, no matter how much he insisted he was gay. He’d probably gone back to base and forgotten all about me, fucking his way back to being straight with whatever women he could charm out of their clothes. He'd certainly charmed me out of my clothes fast enough.
The man was talented.
Too bad he was a faithless bastard.
I glanced over when I heard a door close and saw Ian hopping down his front steps ahead of Hank. Both men started in my direction. Andrew and Cooper came out of their house and walked across the street. I smiled when they climbed the steps and took up different spots on my porch.
We were all here now, except for a few.
"All moved in?" Ian asked.
"Yep, just unpacked the last box."
"How are you liking the new house?"
I grinned even wider. "I love it. It's a huge improvement over my old apartment."
"Did you parents get that place a few blocks over?"
I nodded. "They still have to sell their place, but Mom is already packing everything up and Dad is looking into hardware stores in the area."
Danny frowned. "Hardware stores?"
I chuckled. "Mom gives Dad projects to do so he'll stay out of her hair. He's usually building her flower boxes or doing repairs on the house." I shrugged. "Guess that's how they've stayed married all these years."
Danny laughed as he tilted his head back and looked up at the man behind him. "How are you at flower boxes?"
Abe leaned down to peck Danny on the lips. "Whatever you want, liefling."
I glanced away, unable to watch. I was happy Danny had found Abe, but I wanted someone to look at me like Abe looked at Danny. I wanted to be held, to be called sweetheart or baby, and I wanted someone willing to stick around.
I didn't want to feel as if my heart had been ripped out of my chest.
