“And Laz’s favorite raspberry and almond shortbread thumbprints.”
Just the sound of them made Fitz’s mouth water. “I need those in my life. Just make sure you hide some because if you blink, they’ll all be in Ace’s stomach. Cookie thief.”
Laz seemed to notice Jack wasn’t with Fitz. “Did Jack have to work?”
As he shook his head, Fitz picked up some snow and started adding to their tailless snow poodle. “Jack put Maury in charge while he’s gone.”
“Really?” Red straightened. He was a big guy, but in his thick winter coat, scarf, and hat, he looked even bigger, towering over them like the gentle giant he was. “Jack passed work on to someone else? So it’s true? Jack’s going to work fewer hours?”
“That’s what he said.” Fitz’s cell phone buzzed a heartbeat later, and he removed it from his pocket. He gaped at the text. “What the hell? How does he know!” He showed Laz and Red his text from Ace. It said, “Ha! That’s what he said.”
Laz shook his head, his eyes wide. “Like Leo says, he defies science.”
“One of these days, I’m going to find out how he does it,” Fitz grumbled. “Or better yet, I’m going to get the jump on Ace for a change.”
“That way lies madness,” Red warned.
Red wasn’t wrong.
“When you do, I need to be there for it,” Laz said.
Fitz wasn’t the only one Ace jumped out at and scared the crap out of. He removed the ribbon from the pink treat bag Gio had bought Duchess and fashioned it into a bow for their snow poodle, his thoughts on Joker. Whatever was going on, Fitz hoped Jack could help.
CHAPTEREIGHT
“Would you stop!”
Jack forgot how hard it was to run in the snow. How the hell did his best friend do it? It seemed like no matter how hard Jack tried, he couldn’t catch up. His face was all but numb from the icy chill. It was a good thing he had the thick knitted scarf Fitz had bought him. How was Joker so fast? Then again, when Sacha Wilder was motivated, nothing could stop him.
“You’re not going to outrun your thoughts if that’s what you’re trying to do,” Jack shouted. Where the hell were they? He paused long enough to look around. Okay, they hadn’t gone too far. The market stalls were still visible.
Joker stopped.
Thank you.
Jack tried to catch his breath from behind his scarf, his hot breath puffing against the soft woven fabric. As he caught up, he shook his head. “Did we have to do this?”
“I can’t get married.” Joker turned to face Jack and grabbed his shoulders. “Gio knows too many people. Do you realize how big the wedding would be? I can’t pick out napkins or colors like Drake’s Neck. You know how I know what the fuck color that is or that it’s named after a particular blue found on the neck of a male duck? Ace! Because that’s the kind of crazy shit he had to deal with when planning his wedding. I can’t be asked to research duck colors, Jack!”
“First of all, no one says you have to get married. Second, even if you two decide to get married, the size of the wedding is up to you both. Thirdly, Gio is not Colton. He would never ask you to research duck colors, so breathe.”
Joker nodded fervently and breathed in deep through his nose, then let it out through his mouth, little puffs of air coming out from behind his scarf. “Fuck. I only glanced at it. I glanced at the stupid ring, and I could see it on his finger, and oh, man.” Joker doubled over, his hands on his knees. “Is this how you felt when Colton mentioned you marrying Fitz?”
Jack threw his arms up. “Doeseveryoneknow about that?”
“Yep.”
“I didn’t freak out,” Jack grumbled. “I was just caught off guard by it, that’s all.”
“So you’ve thought about it?”
“Well, yeah. I mean, I want to build a life with him. But that doesn’t mean wehaveto get married. Not everyone does, you know.”
“But you want to.”
Jack thought about it and smiled, warmth filling him. “Yeah, I do.”
“I don’t like this trend,” Joker growled, folding his arms over his chest, quite the challenge considering how puffy his winter coat was.
