Mason, Lucky, Red, King, Leo, and Jack walked in. The dogs all lost their minds and rushed to their favorite uncles. Duchess bounded over to her dad, wagging her poofy tail. Smiles, hugs, and congratulations filled the room. When everyone realized that the only movement Jack had made was petting Duchess and that he hadn’t said a word, they turned to face him, their smiles fading.
The hurt was written all over Jack’s face, and Gio understood. Jack and Sacha shared a bond unlike any of the other Kings. Sacha’s engagement was a big deal, and Jack should have been the first to know, but something told Gio there was more to Jack’s reaction than just not being the first to hear about the proposal. They’d barely heard from him since Sacha was released from the hospital.
Sacha moved in front of Jack, furrowing his brow. “Can we talk in private?” Chip whined and pressed himself against Sacha’s leg. Sacha never took his eyes off Jack, but he patted Chip’s head to reassure him. “I’m okay, boy.”
Jack nodded and followed Sacha to the glass patio doors. Sacha told Chip and Duchess to stay, and Chip let out a slight whine but obeyed. They sat in front of the glass doors, watching closely as Jack and Sacha went down the stairs.
Fitz hugged himself. “We should give them privacy,” he told everyone. Gio wrapped an arm around his friend’s shoulders and squeezed.
“They’ll be okay. A lot’s happened lately. They need to talk it through.”
At least he hoped they did.
CHAPTER TEN
Joker hated this.Hated that he had hurt his best friend after worrying him for days. He slowly followed Jack down the walkway leading to their section of private beach. Jack stopped at the end and leaned against the wooden railing, arms crossed over his chest. His best friend was never this quiet.
“I’m sorry you found out that way,” Joker said softly, leaning against the railing across from Jack, the waves crashing against the shore calming him. “You knew I had the ring. I just didn’t know when it would happen, and tonight, it felt right, so I proposed. I didn’t know the Boyfriend Collective would be on our doorstep five minutes later. Fitz saw the ring, assumed I’d told you already, and texted you.”
Jack sighed. “I know it wasn’t your fault, or his, and I’m happy for you, I really am. How could I not be? There’s no one more perfect for you than Gio. It’s just…” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “With everything that happened, I…” His bottom lip wobbled, and he opened his eyes. Joker was stunned by the tears in them. “When the doctor told me how bad it was, I thought, ‘This is it. Our luck’s run out. I’m going to lose my best friend.’ And I know there are no certainties in life, but I figured we weren’t at war anymore, and yet…” He shook his head again,his lips pressed together in a thin line in an attempt to keep his emotions in check, but a tear escaped anyway. Jack quickly wiped it away.
Joker swallowed hard. “Remember years ago, those photos of me and Fitz sitting together on the beach, talking?”
“What?”
“Before you and Fitz got together.”
“Um, yeah?”
“I never told you what we talked about. We talked about you.”
Jack frowned. “Me?”
“Yeah.” Joker shoved his hands into his pockets. “It was when everything was changing so fast. Ace and Colton were getting married. Red, Lucky, and even King had fallen in love. I was scared I was losing my family. Fitz was sweet and reassured me that it would never happen. But I could see that Fitz was special, and he would be so good for you.”
“And you got scared you were going to lose me.”
Joker nodded. “Then there was that accident when you were in the hospital, so I get the fear you felt when I got hurt.”
Jack’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you serious right now? I was in a car accident, and yeah, I was banged up, but I was fine. I was able to talk to you right after it happened.” Jack stepped away from the railing. “Youwere shot and in a fuckingcomawith a brain injury, Sacha!”
Joker studied his friend. “How much sleep have you had?”
“Are you fucking listening to me?”
“Yes, I’m fucking listening to you,” Joker growled. “How much sleep have you had, Jack?”
Jack growled but fell back against the railing. “I don’t know. The days have all blurred together.”
“Wait a minute…” Joker eyed him. There was no way Fitz would be all happy and perky if he knew what was going on with Jack. “Fitz doesn’t know. Why?”
“How did this conversation become about me?”
“Because you’re the one who looks like shit. Why doesn’t Fitz know?”
“Because I lied.”
Joker stared at his best friend. “What the fuck, Jack?”
