“Fine,” Joker growled and used his crutches to help him get to the table because Red insisted he not put weight on his leg, and if he did, one of his jerk brothers would tell on him.Snitches get stitches, assholes.With a huff, he dropped into the empty chair and rested his crutches against the chair next to him. Stupid party. He’d wanted to stay home, but Gio said getting out of the cabin would be good for him. Whatever.
Decorating was finally complete, and to celebrate, the town was hosting a big party in the main ballroom. The place was packed with townspeople and the volunteers staying at the lodge. Naturally, everyone wanted to talk to Gio.
From the moment they’d stepped foot in the Ice Castle, Gio had been swarmed by people, which was nothing new. Sacha didn’t care about all the attention his boyfriend got during parties. Gio was tall, elegant, and gorgeous, with a dazzling smile and an amazing heart. Everything he did to help people, to help pair veterans with service dogs through his charity, made Joker incredibly proud of him.
When they’d first started dating, they’d agreed that Joker didn’t need to be for Gio what Ace was for Colton. Gio didn’t need Joker to stand at his side while he worked the room.
Ace was Colton’s biggest supporter, and although Joker was there for Gio should his boyfriend need him, Ace was as social, if not more so, than Colton. He loved talking to people, telling ridiculous stories, and entertaining people. He always knew what to say and how to move the attention away from Colton when Colton started feeling overwhelmed.
The difference between Colton and Gio? Colton eventually got tired of peopling, whereas Gio was energized by it. There was a reason Gio helped people, and Joker worked with dogs. People didn’t just exhaust him, they annoyed him. Right now, one person in particular was annoying him, and he hated it because he wasnotthat guy.
“Are you trying to set her on fire with your mind?” Fitz asked quietly from the seat next to Joker.
Joker gave a start. “For fuck’s sake. Are you taking lessons from Ace? Where did you come from?”
“Maybe if you weren’t so focused on trying to make Mariam spontaneously combust, you would have noticed me,” Fitz said sweetly.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Joker grumbled.
“Right. Your constant attempt to spike your drinks has nothing to do with Gio’s ex-girlfriend being here swooning all over him.”
Joker glared at Fitz but didn’t reply. Man, he could use a drink. He was not intimidated by the stunning woman with killer curves and wavy dark hair cascading over her shoulders who was also fuckingtallerthan him, and she wasn’t even wearing heels.
Mariam was not a surprise. Gio told Joker about her back when they’d first started dating. Mariam and Gio had hooked up years ago during a London charity gala. They’d dated for almost a year, but Gio’s schedule had been intense at the time, so when she realized she was falling for him and that he had no intention of slowing down anytime soon, she walked away before he could break her heart. They’d remained friends, and she spent most of her time abroad, so Joker hadn’t given her another thought. But Mariam was no longer abroad.
Joker understood it. He did. Gio’s schedule had been a source of many of their arguments when they’d first gotten together, but Gio didn’t have that schedule anymore, and Mariam was back.Thatwas why Joker was grumpy. Gio was the one who got away, and the fact Gio had a boyfriend didn’t stop her from flirting andtouchinghim. Of course, Gio was such a nice fucking guy that it didn’t even cross his mind that someone would try to lure him away from his boyfriend.
“I thought charity people were supposed to be fucking saints,” Joker growled as Mariam laughed at something Gio said and playfully smacked his arm. He was pretty sure whatever Gio had said wasn’tthatfunny.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you jealous,” Fitz said with a hum.
“I’m not jealous. I’m…concerned.”
Fitz pulled his chair closer and petted Joker’s arm. “Oh, sweetie. She’s got nothing on you. Besides, you know Gio adores you. He was smitten with you before you two even met in person.” He took one of the gingerbread cookies off the plate on the table. It had frosted hair and a skirt. He snapped the head off and handed it to Joker, who couldn’t help but smirk as he took it and popped it into his mouth. He was in good company.
“They traveled the world together doing good. The only reason it didn’t work out was because of Gio’s schedule.”
“A schedule that no longer exists,” Fitz said, nodding his understanding. “And what do you think Gio is going to do?”
“Nothing.” Joker trusted Gio completely. That wasn’t even up for debate. His concern was one he’d been trying to ignore for months now. “What if she reminds him of everything he gave up? When we started dating, he told me he’d been thinking of coming home anyway, that he’d been missing Laz and having a family, but he spentdecadestraveling the world doing his thing. It hasn’t even been three years since he got back. What if…what if he realizes he made a mistake?”
“Has he told you he misses it?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t. If Gio ends up resenting me, it’ll crush me.” He frowned down at his fingers. “I really love him, Fitz. I…I could see us…you know.”
“No, I don’t.”
Joker glared at his friend. “You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?”
Fitz blinked innocently at him. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Asshole. Fine. I could see us married. Okay? Happy? I can see us having the whole happy ever after with the salmon pink house, white picket fence, and two furry kids.”
Fitz squeaked and clapped his hands together. “I knew that’s why you ran that night after you saw the rings.”
Joker opened his mouth to deny it, but Fitz crossed his arms over his chest, that perfectly shaped brow arched high.
“Yeah, fine. That’s why I ran.”
