Nolan’s smile returned, if a little more tentative than before, and he bounded over to hug Race’s neck. “Well, I love you, and I’m glad you’re here,” he said.
“Thanks.” Race put the knife down and turned to hug Nolan more completely. “I’m just being a butthead.”
“You really are.” Nolan kissed the side of Race’s head. “But I’ll live with it. I know sometimes it’s hard to be anything but grumpy when everyone else is happy.”
“Yeah, that’s fair enough, isn’t it?” Ryder hated having to snarl, but he wouldn’t have his little bear hurt. Not by Race, not by anyone.
His brothers came in, and suddenly there was nothing but noise and laughter.
Nolan came to sit with him.So that was shitty.
Yeah, it was a little intense. He’s very unhappy.
Yeah, he’s acting like kind of a big dick.
Ryder snorted.I noticed.
Very, very privately Ryder thought it was because Race was fighting a mate-bond of his own, but who was he to say? It wasn’t on him, barring the fact that he thought Nolan and Race were going to keep it all in the family.
He had to wonder if they had another brother.
Are you two the only ones?
The only ones what?
The only sibs in your family.
Nolan shook his head.No, no. We have a brother who left home years ago. No one’s seen him in forever. Sometimes I think that’s what Race is doing, looking for him because he feels so bad. We were still really small when he left. We don’t even know if he’s still alive.
Wow, I’m sorry, baby.He really was too because that sucked. He couldn’t imagine what would happen if one of his brothers disappeared. It would break his heart.
He gave Nolan another little squeeze then grunted at his brothers. “We were supposed to meet at War’s.”
“Are there more sandwiches?” Connal asked, grabbing one off the little tray of them Race was making up.
“You can’t eat that one?” Race snapped.
“Well yeah, but I’m gonna need more.” Connal gave Race a wide, unbothered grin, and then took a huge bite.
Ryder fought not to roll his eyes, but he kinda had to. They were so obvious. He wondered if War and Nolan noticed it too. “Look I’m glad everybody’s here. I think we need to have a meeting.”
“Ew. Meetings.” Con grinned at him. “Is somebody going to take notes?”
Ryder went over to the desk, grabbed a pad of paper and a pencil, and threw it at his brother, smacking him in the chest. “Yep, you are.”
“Cool!” Con winked at Nolan. “It’s my favorite part.”
“You’re so weird,” Nolan teased.
Race actually growled a little bit. “Don’t encourage him.”
“He can encourage me all he likes.” Con stuck his tongue out at Race.
War rolled his eyes.They could just get it over with and start humping here if they wanted. It would make it so much faster, and we wouldn’t have to worry about this dance. Thank God you were just reasonable about yours and brought him home and fucked him.
Classy.He had to chuckle though, because, while it hadn’t been quite that straightforward for them, it had been pretty damn easy.
Hewasvery lucky, in fact.
