The ball bounces, echoing in the big chamber. Jax dives to slap it with his racket.
“‘Think you can?’” Jared growls, pulling off his shirt and tossing it. “You’re not climbing a mountain. You’d bealtering your life!” He hits the ball next. “Your family’s lives. Our lives!”
We’ve only been playing for fifteen minutes, but everyone is sweating already. I was thankful they showed up, though. Working out with Noah Van der Berg by myself was the last thing I wanted tonight. He found a girl he’s presently spotting on the weight bench anyway.
Jax picks up the ball, tosses it in the air, and whips it at the wall. “Don’t senators spend much of the year in D.C.?”
“And there are no term limits,” Jared adds to Madoc. “You could be gone for the rest of your life. Is that what you want?”
“I feel our relationship can endure this challenge,” Madoc says sweetly.
Jared scowls. “Fuck you.”
I rumble with a laugh as I slap an overhand. Jared’s embellishing. Madoc wouldn’t be gone the rest of his life. But he would be gone a lot, and Jared would miss him. Of course, he’s not going to admit that to Madoc.
“We got everything,” Jared pants. “And getting greedy is a good way to lose it. Can’t you just be content?”
The ball comes for Madoc, but it’s lost behind him as he turns to Jared.
“There’s no stopping,” he tells his stepbrother. “Like you said, we have everything. Now it’s time to serve.”
“No politician actually thinks like that.”
“They should,” Madoc retorts. “When life is good, you can help. When life is bad, you can still help. No matter what happens to us, we can always focus on others first. It’s that purpose that keeps us connected to the world. Do you know how many people don’t know that?”
Jared’s eyebrows are etched in a deep V, but he doesn’t say anything.
He loves his life. No matter how much he pouts or grumbles or bitches, he loves everything exactly as it is, and is desperate to keep it that way, because he and Jax know how bad lifecanget. They’re grateful and don’t want to tempt fate.
Madoc’s childhood was different. He doesn’t really know darkness. He has enough dreams to share with those who don’t have any.
A senator, though… People will dig into his life.
And the lives of those he loves. I almost shrink, my past still forefront in my mind.
The air is still, and no one moves.
Suddenly, Jax asks, “Is your dick still pierced?”
Jared actually breaks into laughter, and I snort, going to pick up the ball.
“Really?” Madoc gripes.
I serve the ball. “That might look bad in the press.”
“It’s the least of what could look bad.” Madoc slams the ball back. “There are pictures of things.”
Jared spins around, Jax quirks an eyebrow.
Madoc shrugs. “Fallon likes to tie me up for sex.”
Everyone reels with joy, laughing so hard we’re damn near crying.Of course, she does.
We volley for another minute, and I relish this. It’s not like I’m his kid anymore. It’s like I’m one of his brothers.
Jax slams the ball too hard for anyone to respond. “It’s getting late.”
“Did Quinn make it home safely?” Madoc asks, his eyes moving around to all of us as he collects the ball.
