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All this love stuff was going to my head.

We took Ruby to Hollywood and Tex’s trailer. Hopefully, they’d gotten some quality alone time while we were at the park.

Tex opened the door—fully dressed—so that was a good sign we hadn’t interrupted anything.

“Hey, man. Thanks for—” He stopped short, eyes fixing on Kit, who still held Ruby.

“Tex, this is Kit, my…boyfriend.”

Tex’s eyebrow went up. Then he turned his head. “Hendrix? Babe, get out here! Joey brought his man with him.”

There was the sound of pounding feet, and Hollywood skidded into view. His shirt was on backwards. Maybe we did interrupt something.

“Hey! Hi, Kit. I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”

Kit handed a sleepy Ruby to Tex. “Should I be worried? I know I sort of messed things up, but I promise I’m doing everything I can to make it up to Joey.”

“No, no,” Hollywood said. “I just wanted to apologize for being so pushy. I know that you and Joey didn’t have the easiest relationship to navigate.”

“No, but he’s worth it,” Kit said, slipping his arm over my shoulders and leaning in to kiss my cheek.

“Yeah, he is,” Hollywood said.

Tex slipped away to put Ruby down for a nap. Hollywood asked if we wanted to come in for a beer, but we declined. Dakota was waiting, and by the time we got over there, there’d just be enough time to wash up a little before dinner.

We said our goodbyes and headed back to Kit’s car. He drove me to the park, where my Hummer waited. “Meet you over there?”

I nodded. “Yep. I’m going to stop by my place and pick up a change of clothes for tonight. If you want me to stay over?”

“Every night,” he reminded me.

Twenty minutes later, I pulled into Kit’s driveway, a packed duffel bag and a six-pack of beer in the back of the car. I went around the Hummer to open the back and pull my stuff out.

I jogged up the steps of the porch, nearly as comfortable here as I was at home. I’d spent three nights a week here for weeks now, but I still knocked.

Kit opened the door. “I told you that you didn’t have to knock.”

I shrugged. “Dakota lives here too.”

“You don’t have to knock!” she called from the kitchen.

Kit took my duffel bag, slipping it over his shoulder, as I stepped inside. He dropped a quick kiss on my lips. “Go talk to Dakota. I’ll put this in my bedroom.”

“Thanks.”

He strode off, and I couldn’t help watching him go, tall and strong, his shoulders broad. I still couldn’t believe he was mine.

“Not a bad view, huh?” Dakota teased.

I turned toward the kitchen, smiling sheepishly. “I can’t believe he’s my boyfriend.”

She laughed. “Well, believe it. I know I do. I’ve heard allllll the ways he’s your boyfriend.” She scrunched up her face. “I’ve heard too much, Joey. I’m scarred.”

I winced. “Yeah, sorry about that. Um, how about I buy you a nice pair of sound-canceling headphones?”

She laughed. “That’s all right. I’ve got ear plugs, and I’ve been using them religiously. I don’t actually listen to you guys have sex.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” I said, walking into the kitchen and setting the six-pack of beer on the counter. “Anything I can do to help?”