“I’m going to open this door and throw you out into the snow if you say one more word.”
Knowing Joker was one of the few men who did not make idle threats, Ace promptly shut his pie hole. He’d find a way to torture his explosive little friend later.
King pulled up to the front of the cabin. “I’m going to help you fellas bring in the tree, then I’m going to head back out and look for Leo.”
“Let us know if you need help,” Ace said, climbing out of the SUV. The lights were on upstairs, so Colton was likely inside making calls.
Joker went to unlock the front door while King and Ace carefully untied the tree. When Joker returned, the three of them got it down and carried it inside, leaving a trail of green sprinkles behind them. Chip bounded past them, announcing his presence with a bark as he darted in.
“Hello?” Ace called out as they walked into the living room.
“Looks like they’re still out,” King said, lowering the tree to the floor.
“Colton’s here,” Joker said. “Chip’s whining upstairs, which means he’s wanting to get into a closed room. Heaven forbid he not be able to enter and exit a room when he pleases. I’ll go grab the tree stand.” Joker ran back to the car while Ace and King held onto the tree. Just as Joker said, a door opened, and Colton stepped out. His smile always filled Ace with so much joy.
“Hey, you got the tree! It looks great.” Colton gave Ace a pointed look. “And it’s the size that I asked for.”
“I hope you appreciate the trouble I went through. I got attacked by a wild beast, thanks to you.”
“It was a squirrel,” King said, rolling his eyes.
Ace scoffed. “I meant Fitz.” He moved his gaze back to Colton. “The squirrels came later.”
“WhereisFitz?” Colton asked. As if he didn’t know. “And Laz? Oh, is Gio outside? Hm, I don’t see Leo.”
Ace groaned.
Maybe he was better off with the squirrels.
CHAPTERSEVEN
“Don’t say it,” Ace muttered from the plush carpeted floor where he lay.
Colton kneeled on the floor beside his stubborn husband, holding an ice pack. He blinked innocently. “Don’t say what?”
“You know what.”
“I would never say I told you so.” Colton would only think it. “Now turn over so I can apply this cold pack to your not-thrown-out back.”
“It’s not thrown,” Ace insisted. With a sharp intake of breath and Colton’s help, Ace turned onto his stomach so Colton could lift his shirt and place the cold pack on his lower back. Next to Ace, Chip wagged his tail, whined, and poked Ace’s cheek with his nose.
“I’m okay.” Ace petted Chip, laughing when Chip flopped onto his belly and laid his head on Ace’s shoulder. “You’re so stinking cute.”
One of these days, Ace would realize that he was not, in fact, invincible. Maybe then he’d think twice before attempting to lift a ten-foot tree by himself. King had stepped away for a heartbeat, and in that time, Ace had lifted and promptly fell over with the tree.
“I just tweaked a muscle. That’s all.”
True. But still.
“Has the ibuprofen kicked in?” Colton asked, running a hand through Ace’s hair.
“Yes.”
“Good. I’ll get the hot pack when the inflammation goes down.”
“Thank you,” Ace mumbled.
“At least Joker wasn’t here to see your downfall,” Colton said gently.
