“Sorry not sorry,” Madden quipped, then smacked a kiss on my shoulder. “Okay, I’ll go eat downstairs. See you later, babe.”
“Yeah.” I sat up and went to move stuff on my desk so Jack could put the tray down. I knew what Madden was doing, what he’d been doing since that first night we hugged and Jack saw it. He was trying to get a reaction out of Jack.
I wasn’t sure I liked his strategy, but with the way Jack’s eyes looked stormier than usual, it was pretty safe to say he was…feeling things.
“Thank you,” I said when he put the tray down. Then I realized it was his sweet chili chicken stir fry which I loved, and my gaze snapped to his. “Did you just make this for me?”
He grunted in a very manly way. “It’s your favorite, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is.”You’remyfavorite.
“There’s more downstairs if you want it. I’m making something else for the rest of them.”
I went to pick up my fork as I pulled my chair back but fumbled it. I bent down to pick it up, and heard Jack make a choked-up sound.
I looked over my shoulder and had just enough time to see him turn his head. He’d definitely been looking at my butt. Because I was still wearing just my tight briefs.
Without saying another word, he left the room in the most scrambly way a man his size could. I felt surprised he didn’t bump into the doorframe while leaving.
I covered my mouth with my hand and snorted.Holy shit. I hadn’t thought he was really into me, but at least now I knew he wasn’t completely unaffected, either.
Grinning widely, I sat down and started on my dinner.
* * * *
When River and Ben came home on Friday, they had news.
They walked into the house as we were all hanging out, playing board games.
“Hey, guys,” Jack said, grinning. “What do you have there?”
The rest of us—me, Madden, and Mona—immediately looked at them.
“We’ve multiplied,” River said, grinning. “We’re parents now.”
“Kittens?” I asked, clambering to my feet.
“Yeah, we found them while we took a back road. Seb’s coming to check them out.”
“They’retiny,” Mona whispered.
River was holding both of them. A gray slightly fluffy one and a black and white one. They were maybe five weeks old as far as I could tell.
I reached out to pet them, and the gray one spat and hissed at me with all it’s might. I laughed and pulled me hand away.
“I can take a hint.”
Then I noticed something and felt my eyes widen. I put my hand on River’s wrist and looked into his eyes.
He grinned, clearly giddy and very happy, and nodded.
“Oh shit!” I exclaimed, then slapped my hand over my mouth. “Lake doesn’t know yet?”
“No, where is he?” Ben asked, beaming as much as River.
“He’s helping Theo out at the stable so we can relax more tomorrow.”
“What’s going on?” Jack asked, ambling over. He peered at the cats, and I knew the exact moment when he noticed the ring on River’s finger. He grinned so widely, looked so damn happy for our friends that it mademechoke up.
