Kit draped an arm around his shoulders, his fingertips pressing in. “You’re getting old, bro.”
“Yeah, so are you.” Funny, he didn’t feel old yet, and as much living as he’d already done, he probably should.
“Happy Birthday, Matt.” Ava gave him a piece of cake and pecked him on the lips. “Bo told me you love chocolate and peanut butter.”
“Yeah, Reese’s are my weakness.” Smiling, he gazed at the chocolate candy on his cake. “You made this for me?”
“I did.”
Even as a kid, no one had ever done that for him before.
“She loves you, man.” Nodding, Bo squeezed his shoulder. “We all do.”
He knew that, and he loved them all, too. Fiercely. Overcome by the depth of his feelings, Matt brought Ava in close and kissed her, slipping his tongue inside. It wasn’t sexual per se, but a connection—an intimate expression of his affection for her. Except for the people here in this room, most people wouldn’t understand that kind of love. They aren’t even capable of it.
“Love you, sweet Ava.” He breathed in her ear. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She kissed him on the forehead. “I love you, too.”
“Hey, what about me, Miss Bo Peep?”
Ava—Linnea, too—was one of the few women Sloan let his guard down with, but Chloe, not so much.
“And you, too, Sloan.” Ava giggled and pressed a kiss to his lips.
“Cake.” He cracked a grin. “Where’s my cake?”
“Oh.” She passed him a plate. “Here.”
“I’ll take another kiss, too.”
Ava paused, pursing her lips in thought. “When’s your birthday?”
“August.”
She sat down by her man and quipped, “I guess you’re just gonna have to wait until then.”
Sloan stuck out his bottom lip like a child would and they all laughed.
“CJ called this morning,” Taylor said, pouring whiskey into his glass. “Vanessa Parisi confirmed. She’ll be here on the thirtieth to do theRevolverinterview.”
She’d done a piece on them for the magazine when they were on tour last summer. Now, she wanted to do a follow-up article, Venery at home, or some such shit. CJ arranged it and said they couldn’t turn downRevolver, but none of them were keen to do it.
“I still don’t get why she can’t do it over the phone.” Bo got funny vibes from the woman, especially after her photographer sold a photo of him kissing Ava toTMZ. The only reason he gave in and agreed to do the interview was because they had Danielle shoot the photos Vanessa wanted.
“It could be she needs to see where and how we live to write the article authentically,” Jesse surmised. After what the press did to Chloe, Matt didn’t know how he could give Vanessa Parisi the benefit of the doubt.
“Perhaps, but I don’t like it, either.”Tell him, Tay. “It’s unnecessarily intrusive.”
“I don’t care anymore.” Her auburn hair flying, Chloe whipped her head his way. “Let her come. I want the world to see how much I love you both.”
“I do, too.” Jesse kissed her. “God, I love you, baby.”
With a roll of his eyes, Sloan snickered. “I can just imagine the shots Danielle got of you three.”
“She got an eyeful,” Taylor said, glancing at the ceiling.
“And it was beautiful.” Chloe yanked on his beard and kissed him. “Poly is a real thing. The three of us love each other more than most couples do.”
