After breakfast, we hand-washed the dishes since the dishwasher was occupied. The last thing we needed was my ass smelling like maple syrup. Or maybe we did.
“What are you thinking about or do I not want to know?”
I grinned, but decided to keep that ridiculous thought to myself. That might be a tasty surprise one day. “Nothing really.”
“Your face says otherwise.”
As soon as we had it all cleaned up, John went to the refrigerator and pulled out two packages of ground beef, an onion, green pepper, and fresh tomatoes.
“You can’t be hungry.”
He smiled. “No, but I am going to make the meat sauce for the lasagna. It takes a while, and I figured we could burn some calories on the sofa while it simmers for a couple of hours.”
I rubbed my hands together. “Now you’re talking. What do you need me to do?”
The doorbell sounded before he could give me directions, so I went to answer it. I swung the door open to find my best friend standing outside the door.
“Why didn’t you use your key?” I asked, stepping aside to let him in.
Dare laughed as he entered the condo. “You know why. It’s not safe around here anymore. Last time I got to see way more than I bargained for.”
“So did your husband,” I laughed. “Speaking of husbands, where’s Greer?”
“At home. He had some business to take care of, so I thought I’d pack up the rest of my stuff.”
I nodded, but my smile slipped from my face.
“What’s wrong?”
I cleared my throat and stuffed my hands in my pockets. Looking at the floor, I tried to get control of the emotion I was feeling. All this letting my guard down with John was messing me up.
“Brent. What’s going on? Is it your dad? Is he okay?”
I chuckled humorlessly. “It just occurred to me that you’re not going to be living here anymore.”
My voice cracked as I looked away from him. Austin didn’t say anything, but I knew him well enough to know this was just occurring to him too.
“Yeah, that’s actually just hitting me too.”
I glanced up at him as he looked around at the place we’d shared for more than three years. Neither of us was big on showing our emotions. That’s how we got through losing Nate. We pushed it all down and held each other up.
“We’ve lived together for a long time. In the service, and Cheyenne. Now here. I don’t know how to live alone.”
Dare smiled at me, but I could see the emotion behind his eyes. “You’re never going to truly be alone, Dreamy. We maynot live in the same space anymore, but I’m always going to be here for you. So are GQ and Phantom. We are best friends and brothers until the day we die. We’ll always have each other’s six no matter what.”
I nodded, still looking at the floor. Emotion was clawing its way up from the pit of my stomach. “I know. And I’m happy for you. But I could use a promise that you won’t go back to Chicago.”
Dare smiled. “I’m not leaving. My husband owns a football team. And I’ve got these friends I don’t think I can part from. But you’ve also got that man in there who adores the ground you walk on. Don’t push him away.”
Nodding, I reached up and hugged the fucker. “I’m happy you got him,” I said, kissing his cheek. “I love you brother.”
“Love you too.” He clapped me on the back. “I’m going to go pack up.”
I nodded as he walked to his bedroom. “Don’t forget your shampoo,” I called over my shoulder.
Dare laughed. “Oh no, I’m leaving that here for you and the Commander. You two seemed to enjoy that.”
I chuckled and waved him on.
