I nodded, absorbing the new information. “How did you guys meet and form a pack?”
A smile slowly spread across Nolan’s face as he recalled the memory. “Preston and I grew up on the same street, so we were friends from a young age. After he graduated high school, I decided to become a lawyer, and he was training to join the military. We were no older than twenty and stupid. One of our friends bet Preston that he wouldn't be able to streak across the football field. Well, he tried, tripped over his own feet, and broke his femur.”
Covering my mouth with one hand, I bit back a laugh. “That's an interesting mental image.”
What were the chances that someone had recorded that instance, and I would be able to get my hands on the footage? Because that was something I very much wanted to see.
“How do you think I feel? I had to actually watch it. No, I didn't just have to watch it—I also had to take his ass to the emergency room after.”
“Which is how they met me.” Wilder beamed. “I was doing some clinical rotations training to get my nursing credentials when they came in. We got along like a house on fire, and one thing led to another and before we knew it, we were an official pack.”
The story sounded so sweet and wholesome. How on earth did Preston become a convict? From the sounds of it, he'd been set up to do everything right in life. The desire to ask more about him burned in my chest, but I knew I couldn't approach that topic.
“Okay, time for a more fun one, then one of the boring ones can ask a question. How do you take your coffee?” Wilder asked.
They all looked at me, so I answered first. “That depends. Rarely, I have been known to drink pitch-black coffee while working. If it's a fun drink, though, it's usually an iced coffee with caramel sauce and a bunch of syrups. The more sugar, the better.”
Next to me, Merrick shuddered. “I don't know how you can drink that stuff.”
“Not everyone can be a health freak like you. This one only drinks water and occasionally beer,” I said, jerking my thumb in Merrick's direction.
“Okay, surely the nurse will back me up that water is the healthy choice.”
Wilder cocked his head to the side. “Sure, it's healthy, but it's sad. I personally am not a coffee drinker, but I have been knownto chug a good number of energy drinks while on a long shift. The ones that taste like cotton candy are divine.”
“Am I the only one who drinks coffee normally? With a splash of creamer?” Nolan asked.
“Apparently so.” I laughed.
“My turn,” Merrick said, before finishing his beer in one large gulp. “Where the hell are you guys from? Don’t you have lives to get back to?”
“I took an extended leave,” Wilder replied. “If I’m honest, the administration at my hospital was pissing me off, so I’m not too concerned about going back. There are plenty of places I can work and help people.”
“But it’s your home,” I said softly.
Wilder shrugged. “Not really. We actually moved to Seattle when Nolan got into law school. We all grew up in Tacoma.”
“How old are you? I never thought to ask. I’m twenty-six.”
“Thirty-two,” Nolan admitted, his ears going slightly red. “Preston is the same age, albeit a few months younger.”
“You do give off oldest-sibling energy.”
“I’m twenty-nine. What about you, man?” Wilder asked, looking at Merrick.
“Thirty.”
Right in the middle of them. Good thing I liked older men.
“Okay, my turn, why did you bond with Hailey?” Nolan asked.
Wilder’s eyes widened. “Dude, what happened to trying to keep it light and getting to know each other?”
“I think knowing his motivations is very important.” Nolan shrugged.
“It’s a fair question. I’ve had a thing for Hailey for years—it’s hard not to. I’ve probably been in love with her since I saw her throat punch a drunk who was being an ass. There was no way inhell I was going to let her go into such an insane situation as this one alone,” he said, gesturing vaguely to all of us.
“I can respect that,” Nolan admitted begrudgingly.
