“Back to the issue at hand,” Jocelyn says. “Are you guys actually dating or just fucking?”
I plop back down in my chair and pour myself a large glass of wine. “What’s the difference?”
She gives me a pointed look. “Are you going out on dates?”
“Oh, uh, no?” I answer.
“That’s not an answer. That’s a question,” Cam says.
“No. OK. No. Because I don’t want Ava to know anything yet. So, he comes over after she goes to bed,” I blurt out.
“Oh, right. That complicates things, doesn’t it?” Cam says.
“What if we babysit? We could, like, take Ava out somewhere for a fun evening, and then you two could do your own thing,” Jocelyn suggests.
I purse my lips as I consider this. “It’s not a bad idea. I guess I can bring it up with Bray,” I agree.
“Great. That settles that,” she says.
“And Bray will figure out his shit. I mean, Hutch did, and we’re doing great,” Jocelyn adds.
“Same with Kasen,” Piper says.
“Well, thanks for the encouragement,” I say because I honestly don’t know what else to say. It’s so much more nuanced than I’m explaining. But I suppose all relationships are.
I’m grateful when Margie turns the conversation away from me and to the last book she read. A deep conversation ensues about male main characters who are alphas. I sit back, sip my wine, and think about Brayden. I hope Piper and Jocelyn are right. I hope he can get over his demons. I desperately want him to. I know I’m trying to get over mine. I can’t imagine going back to being just friends, and I also can’t imagine life without him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Bray
“On your left, on your left!” Kasen yells into the speaker on his headphones.
It’s game night at his place. Piper is over at her aunt’s apartment across the hall. Hutch is sitting in one of the armchairs, checking his cameras for any updates on the flower mystery. Gray is watching Kasen play and listening to Fletcher explain how they ended up staying at a castle all by themselves for two nights on their honeymoon.
“So, like, you used all the rooms?” Hutch asks without looking away from his phone.
“Dude,” Gray says.
Fletcher laughs. “I don’t kiss and tell, fucker.”
Hutch chuckles.
Kasen is talking to one of his former military friends as he plays the game. Normally, one of us is on another computer in the guest room playing alongside Kasen, but everyone seems preoccupied tonight.
“Why aren’t you playing?” Fletcher asks me.
“I don’t want to get too invested before I leave for work,” I lie.
Gray gives me a pointed look.
“Hutch, why don’t you just call all the florist shops in the neighborhood?” Fletcher asks. “I mean, the flowers have to come from somewhere.”
“Already did. There are only three of them right here. And I’m not sure why one from across town would bother,” Hutch says as he looks up from his screen. “Plus, someone could buy them somewhere else and leave them there. Maybe they do it on their way to work or on their way home or something,” he adds.
“You aren’t giving up, are you?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I might move the camera. But I’m not giving up, yet.”
