Something cracked, and Ace yelped as he fell, hitting every branch on his way down—so many branches—before he plopped into the snow on his back. He groaned, and Chip appeared over him, licking his face.
Squirrel attack, falling out of a tree, and dog slobber. Just another day that ended in “Y.”
King pulled him to his feet. “Did Leo say where he was going? Other than to find the mayor?”
“Nope. Just took off.” As Ace brushed off snow, he looked around. “Where’s the ax?”
Joker lifted it. He handed it to King.
“Good idea. King should chop the tree,” Ace said, nodding.
“We are not chopping the tree.” King took the ax in one hand and reached into his coat with the other. He sent off a one-handed text, which was impressive for someone perpetually at war with the office printer. “I sent a message to the rest of the guys to watch for Leo. He’ll be okay. You know how he is when he gets an idea in his head. He’ll find the mayor.”
Joker looked around. “How exactly were you planning on getting the tree back?”
“Carry it. Obviously.” Or drag it. The thing was going to shed endless amounts of pine needles anyway.
King pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “If you try to carry a tree that heavy by yourself, you’re going to—”
“Don’t say it,” Ace warned, putting a finger up. “Do not say I will throw out my back.”
“How about that tree?” Joker pointed to a somewhat smaller but equally full tree. “It’s roughly ten feet. That’s what Colton wanted, right?”
“How does everyone know what size tree Colton wanted? None of you were there for that conversation.”
King arched an eyebrow at Ace. “Really?”
Right. What was he thinking? If a conversation happened in the woods and no one was around to hear it, did someone in his family find out about it? Yes. Yes, they did.
“Fine,” Ace grunted. “Let’s go for the puny ten-footer.” He plucked the replacement tree off the snow where Fitz had left it and followed King and Joker to the new tree. King refused to let him hold the ax. “What do you think I’m going to do with it? Turn into Jack fromTheShining? Start trying to smash my way into creepy bathrooms?” He crooked his finger. “Redrum,redrum.”
“You are so fucking weird,” Joker said, shaking his head.
It took no time at all for King to chop down the tree. As soon as he did, Joker and Ace planted the new tree. Okay, so things went faster and easier with help.
King decided he wasn’t taking any chances and made the three of them carry the tree. Ace was ordered to take the middle section, which meant he kept getting smacked in the face with the branches and pokey pine needles. When they returned to the Christmas tree lot, Ace paid for the tree, rope, and the right size stand for it. The SUV was parked out front, so they loaded it on top, tied it securely, and got in. King drove, leaving Ace to sit beside Joker in the back, with Chip happily lying on the floor at their feet.
“I can’t believe you lostall fourBoyfriends,” Joker laughed.
“I didn’t lose them.Theyabandonedme.” Ace pouted and folded his arms over his chest. “I’m not a babysitter.”
Joker snorted. “No shit. I mean, you lost four adults. Imagine a baby?”
“Keep it up. You’re getting a lump of coal for Christmas.”
“I’m fine with that. Have you seen the cost of fuel these days?”
What was happening right now? Ace narrowed his eyes at Joker, who narrowed them back. Oh, his friend was in a good mood. Ace gasped. He leaned in.
“You met up with your man and got frisky. That’s why you’re in such a good mood.”
Joker turned his attention out the window. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, you do.” Ace slid a hand down his front, or at least the front of his coat. “You got a little bow chika wow wow.”
“Please never do that again,” Joker muttered, staring at him.
“Gio’s so prim and proper. I bet he likes to get kinky in the bedroom.”
