As soon as his pants were off, Gio returned with a pair of black cargo pants. He carefully lifted Joker’s cast, then paused.
“What?” Joker asked.
“Um.” Gio stared down at Joker’s cast.
“Gio.”
“You have a drawing on your cast. It’s on the bottom of your foot.”
“What the fuck? When did that happen?” Joker tried to think of when any of his asshole brothers could have possibly gotten close enough to his cast with a marker without him knowing. He shook his head. “Never mind.” He groaned. “What is it?” Did he want to know? No. Did hehaveto know? Yes.
Gio glanced at him, then the drawing, then back at Joker. “I don’t think I should say.”
“I bet it was Ace. Fucker. When the hell did he do it?” The thought was terrifying. He had to have been asleep when it happened, but how had he not felt it? “Just tell me.”
“I could be wrong, but it looks like…a stick figure with a top hat.”
Joker narrowed his eyes. That couldn’t be all. “And…?”
“And it’s also a penis. It’s a penis with a top hat and stick figure arms and legs.” Gio tilted his head to one side. “It’s kind of cute.”
Joker dragged his hands over his face with a loud groan. “I’m going to murder him in his sleep, and then I’m gonna steal his puppy.”
Gio stood and kissed the tip of Joker’s nose. “You’re so darn cute when you’re plotting someone’s demise.” He laughed at Joker’s grunt and finished helping him get dressed. When they got downstairs, Ace was nowhere to be seen.
Colton sat stretched out on the couch with his laptop on his thighs. He didn’t even bother looking up. “He ran the second he heard you coming. I’m guessing you found the penis.”
“Wait, you knew about it, and you didn’t tell me?”
Colton lifted his gaze. “My husband might be a giant man-child, but he’s my husband.” He dropped his gaze back to his laptop. “Also, his mom and Lucky’s mom are coming to stay with us for a week after New Year’s, so murdering him now is out of the question. Once they leave, he’s all yours.”
Joker threw back his head and laughed. “Oh my god, this isamazing!” He turned to Gio, his smile huge. “Did you hear that? The moms are staying at his house! Vengeance is mine, baby! This is going to be glorious.” And yes, also terrifying, but Joker wasn’t staying under the same roof. He could pop in, get fed delicious Cuban food, let them make a fuss over him and tell him how adorable he was, and then bounce. He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. “I’m so happy.” Turning to Colton, he put a hand to his heart. “I’m sorry. But you brought this on yourself. You married him. Bye.”
“I heard that,” Ace called out from the second floor. “Asshole!”
Joker cackled all the way out the front door. “Watch the dogs!”
Best. Christmas. Ever.
Jack climbed into the driver’s side of the SUV, and Fitz got in the passenger side while Joker, Gio, and Cookie climbed into the back. They drove down to town, and Joker couldn’t help but admire how great the main street looked. It felt good, knowing he’d had a hand in restoring it.
Originally, he’d volunteered so he could ride in the knuckle boom, but seeing the garland and the twinkling lights on the buildings was more satisfying than he expected. The sound of jingling bells and Christmas music filled various parts of town, all the shops were lit up and decorated, and the entire square smelled of gingerbread and cinnamon.
Joker left one of his crutches in the care to make getting around town a little easier. They strolled down the busy main street, and Joker smiled when Gio took his hand. It was nice. They never really got to stroll anywhere back home. Mostly because the humidity and sun were always trying to set you on fire. His having to walk using a crutch made him slow down, and he took his time looking through the shop windows.
“Are you looking for something in particular?” Gio asked.
“Nope.”
Not a lie, exactly. He wasn’t looking for a particular thing, but hewaslooking for something, he just didn’t know what. But he’d know it when he saw it, and he couldn’t wait.
CHAPTERNINE
Sacha was definitely looking for something.
They walked through town, stopping in shops, mostly to browse or buy trinkets for friends. Fitz bought a few things, and Jack even picked up some gifts for his team. Sacha remained on the hunt.
Back at the cabin, the bottom of the Christmas tree was packed with presents, though the majority of them were for the dogs, which Gio found amusing. The pups got enough toys and treats from family and friends to last them until the next Christmas.
