“What is he up to? And how has no one figured it out yet?”
Joker frowned as he sat on the living room couch, watching Leo and Jack haul a bunch of tech equipment outside into one of the SUVs. There was no such thing as a secret in this family. Not with Ace. Someone had to knowsomething.
“Itisodd,” Gio agreed from where he sat on the couch, his e-reader in one hand while he petted Cookie with the other. The Golden Retriever was out for the count, laying on his side with his head on Gio’s lap, as opposed to his brother, who lay sprawled on the carpeted floor, paws up and back legs spread indecently as he snored away.
“He’s been at this for weeks,” Joker said. “What could possibly take so long to put together? He hasn’t asked anyone for help, and he hasn’t said a word about it to King. It’s just weird.” Everyone had asked and offered to help Leo with whatever he was putting together. “I gotta admit, I’m kinda impressed he’s been able to keep it under wraps this long.”
A cold chill swept in from the open front door, and Joker shivered. When he woke up this morning, he’d decided to have breakfast downstairs with everyone instead of in bed. He wasnota rest-in-bed-all-day kind of person.
Afterward, he made himself comfortable on the huge couch in the living room with his tablet, knowing that he’d inevitably get dragged to whatever festive fun his brethren were taking part in.
Fitz appeared with a ginormous knit blanket and wrapped it around him. He opened his mouth to grumble his thanks to Fitz when Laz appeared on his other side, making him jump.What the— How did they keep popping up out of nowhere? Was Ace giving them lessons or something?Fucking hell.
“I made you some hot cocoa,” Laz said cheerfully, handing Joker a bright red mug with a mountain of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
“Thanks.” He’d been about to take a sip when Colton walked by, stopping long enough to lift Joker’s leg and place a pillow under his cast. Joker moved his gaze to his boyfriend, who had his head turned away, shoulders shaking. “Oh my god, you’re laughing!”
Gio threw his head back against the couch cushions, his laughter filling the room.
“You shit! You’re enjoying this.” If he wasn’t holding a steaming hot mug of chocolate deliciousness, he would have grabbed the nearest cushion and smacked his boyfriend with it.
Gio shook his head but couldn’t talk because he waslaughing. His. Ass. Off.
“Unbelievable,” Joker grumbled. “And this is the man I plan to marry one day. Ass.” He snorted and scooped up a bunch of whipped cream with his finger, popping it into his mouth. Damn, this was good. Did Red make the whipped cream? Wait. Why was the room so quiet all of a sudden?
Joker lifted his gaze and foundeveryonein the living room. Where the holly hell had they all come from? Had they been hiding, waiting to pop out to scare the shit out of him? And why were they standing there frozen, gaping at him?
“What?” Joker asked. He touched his nose. Had he gotten whipped cream on his face without knowing?
“Um,” Ace darted his gaze around the room. “You all heard it, right? It wasn’t a hallucination?” He grabbed Colton’s hand and put it to his forehead. “Baby, do I have a fever?”
“No,” Colton said slowly, eyes still on Joker.
“What? What the fuck is wrong with you all?” He looked at Gio, who sat there staring at him, his face flushed and his eyes glassy. “Oh, my god, what’s wrong?” Joker glared at Ace. “What did you do?”
Ace choked on air. “Me? I didn’t do anything! You’re the one who broke him! And us. You broke us. We’re broken.” He grabbed Colton’s arm, whispering loudly. “I don’t know what to do or say. Help me! I can’t think of words! Car, dog, eellogofusciouhipoppokunurious!”
Joker gasped. “What the fuck just came out of your mouth, Anston? Are you speaking in tongues? Should we call a priest?” Was no one else as terrified as he was right now?
“It’s his newest Scrabble word,” Colton replied calmly. “It means very good.”
“Then why didn’t he just say very good? Does that even fit on the board? Never mind.” Joker put his mug on the coffee table and shifted so he could check on Gio. “Baby? What’s wrong?”
“We should go,” Colton said.
“But—” Ace was shoved toward the kitchen, everyone hurrying after them.
Why was his family soweird?
Joker took Gio’s hand in his. “Gio? Talk to me.”
“You really don’t know what you said?”
Joker pursed his lips. “That my family is so weird? No, wait, I thought that.” What had he said? Gio had been laughing, and Joker called him an ass and—
“Holy fucking shitballs!”
“There it is,” Gio said, laughing softly. “You really want to get married one day?”
