“Ugh,” I laugh. “Who wants to wash my hair? I feel completely boneless.”
“Me,” Syrus says immediately, picking me up. “You can tell me all about that bite on your shoulder, Spitfire. I want every detail.”
There’s no jealousy, simply amusement as I curl in his arms and wave at the guys.
“She’s way too cute,” Harlan mutters.
“She let me call her mine,” Kyren says proudly, making Syrus snort. “I got it on video!”
“Oh shit!” I yell. “I forgot you were recording us.”
“A video is worth a thousand words or some shit,” Kyren grins.
God, they’re too much yet just enough.
Two days later
“Just order Chinese,” Lexi suggests, watching as I rush around the kitchen putting together a charcuterie board.
The second that the storm blew past and the weather cleared a little, I texted our group chat for a girls night. Syrus is working, while Izzy, Kyren, and Harlan said they’d make themselves scarce when they left.
I can tell when they’re being cagey, but I have no idea as to why. I’ll have to figure it out later. At least they can’t leave town until the plows come through to clear more than just the main roads and neighborhoods.
They won’t venture past that to clear anything else for at least a day or so. We can pretend we live in a little bubble for now, and I’m glad for it.
“Briar likes her cheese boards,” I remind her. “I already have an order in at the Chinese restaurant though. Syrus is going to run it up to the house for me.”
“Damn. I thought you were stressing out, but you’re a well oiled machine over here,” she laughs.
She steals a cracker to nibble off it, but avoids the cheese. Lexi has always had her picky moments with food so I shrug it off.
“That’s not quite true,” I admit. I’m a little worried about the conversation I need to bring up tonight.
I will completely understand if they decide they don’t want to come with me to the Henderson estate. There’s a lot of bad memories there for many of us. Harlan and Kyren said they would call in some favors for support.
They like to key in some of their past friends on missions when they need the help, let them take credit for things, so they can disappear. My pack enjoys not having much of a digital footprint anymore. They’ve told me about some of the jobs they’ve done, and none of them were safe.
I would never ask them to quit. I don’t know how Lexi feels about it. We haven’t had a chance to talk, and as the doorbell rings, I realize this isn’t an opportunity for details.
Giving her a smile, I let her answer the doorbell while I open a bottle of wine and take everything outside onto the porch. I solemnly swear that I cleaned any and all surfaces that may have gotten bodily fluids on it during my sexcapades.
I have a full spread with glasses, a jug of water, and a thermos of hot toddies. The cheese board and Chinese will round everything out.
All I know is that it’s gorgeous out here. There are even Edison lights hung up along the ceiling, something I didn’t get a chance to enjoy, and a fan to circulate air during the summer months.
The guys really thought of everything.
“Wow. When did you do all this?” Aries asks from the doorway.
“I didn’t,” I admit, my cheeks heating.
“Mmhmm,” she says. “Girls! Silva is keeping secrets. Help me hold her down and tickle her until she spills!”
Interested eyes peek out the doorway, taking in the view.
“You’ve been busy,” Lark observes.
“Her pack has been busy,” Lexi teases me.
