“>”
Alexei rolled his eyes but did as Kyle ordered. It took several minutes to fill out the required form, taking his time to pick out the details—platinum band, highest clarity and cut of diamond he could comfortably afford, ring size—before paying for it. The price made him internally wince, but it was worth it.
Sean would always be worth it.
With the ring bought and delivery set, Alexei focused on finishing his lunch before it got too cold. On one of the televisions set up behind the bar, the news stream was recapping the state arrival ceremony welcoming Prince Samuel, Earl of Wessex, and his wife, Georgia, the Countess of Wessex, and Prince Liam, as representatives of the crown and head of state, to the White House that morning.
“>” Alexei asked.
“>” Kyle replied.
“>”
Kyle snorted. “>”
Alexei reached for his beer. “>”
“>”
Alexei made a face. “>”
Kyle shrugged. “>”
If it were any other man who held his brother’s heart, Alexei might find the need to give them a friendly reminder not to be a dick. But this was Jamie, and Alexei would always trust Jamie with his family’s safety.
“>” Alexei agreed.
“>” Kyle oh-so-casually asked, changing the subject.
Alexei picked up a hot wing and dunked it in the blue cheese dressing. “>”
Kyle grinned. “>”
Alexei barked out a laugh, shaking his head. He’d be more shocked if the teamhadn’tbet on his love life. “>”
“>”
“>” Alexei admitted, before he called the bartender over for another round and told his brother how he planned to propose to the love of his life.
They hung around the bar for a little while longer, nursing the last dregs of their beer. They were arguing about staying or going when loud cheering from the back of the bar where the pool table and dartboards were set up interrupted their conversation.
Alexei looked over Kyle’s shoulder at the group of men that had taken over the dartboards. He pegged them as preppy tech workers, the kind he’d grown up seeing in Boston who never remembered their manners when in public.
Kyle turned to take in the scene with a single glance before grinning sharply at Alexei. “>”
Alexei smirked, waving the bartender over again for one last round of drinks. “>”
He couldn’t remember the last time they’d suckered someone out of their money, but Alexei figured now was as good a time as any to fix that.
* * *
Sean rana hand through his damp hair as he mentally took stock of the food in the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator door right as a soft chime sounded through the apartment. Sean looked over his shoulder as the front door slid open and Alexei arrived home.
“Hey,” Sean called out. “How was your day with Kyle?”
Alexei activated the security protocols on the control panel before heading to the kitchen. “Was good. Nice to see Kilyusha and spend time with.”
Sean pulled out the air-sealed package containing two marinated steaks from the refrigerator and set it on the counter. “What did you guys end up doing?”
