Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Who wants a beer?” Chase asked, just as there was a knock on the door.
Their German shepherd, Bowie, came running. He apparently hadn’t given a shit when I arrived, but when Chase said to come in and Law and Remy entered with their mastiff, Bear, followed by Knox, Callum, and their pup, Frankie Blue, I understood why. He wanted to play with the other dogs.
We all got drinks and headed out back. Natalie showed up a few minutes later, and we settled in to what we always did, shooting the shit while someone manned the grill—this time, Kellan.
There was laughter and teasing, the way there always was when we all got together. We were a tight-knit group. I hadn’t had anything like this before. There had been friends other than Doug, but the bond when I was younger had been with him, and now it was with them.
Griffin seemed to be avoiding me. I joked around with him all the time, and he did me, so I couldn’t see why he would have been upset over what I’d done earlier. He’d been acting differently over the past few months, though, even more standoffish than usual, which was why I’d been so surprised I’d gotten him to go to Richmond. Of course, I hadn’t let my shock show. It was a lot more fun to pretend I’d expected it.
I was about to head over to him to make sure we were cool, when Kellan said the food was done. We ate burgers at the table outside while the dogs ran around, all of us enjoying the slightly cooler fall air.
Griff sat with Remy on one side and Knox on the other.
When the food was devoured, I managed to make my way over to him. He was leaning against the wooden railing on the deck, away from everyone else. “Hey, Griffy.”
“I really hate it when you call me that,” he grumbled.
“No, you don’t.” I didn’t know how I knew that, but I did.
“Whatever you say, Joshy.”
“I love it when you call me that. It’s so cute, our pet names for each other.” Forget that we called Knox Knoxy too. It was a stupid joke in our group. But in that moment, it was just about us.
Griff rubbed a hand over his face. “You make me crazy. Do you know that?”
“Yes, yes I do. You need my kind of crazy.” I nudged his arm. “Come on. You’re glad we’ve gotten closer since everyone started to fall in love around us. Admit it.”
“Well, since you’re my only choice, I guess it’ll do,” he replied, making me laugh.
“Asshole.”
“Learned from the best.”
“Wait. Did you just call me the best?”
He opened his mouth to reply, but then Kellan started speaking. “Chase and I have an announcement to make.”
I frowned, wondering what he was talking about. It wasn’t often, or hell, ever, that Kell kept something from me.
Chase cleared his throat. “Things have been crazy around here the last couple of years, but the one thing I’ve always been sure about is Kell. We’ve been watching Cal and Knox, and…I realized I wanted that. Kell always knew he wanted a family, but, yeah, now we both do. Natalie has agreed to carry the baby.” Kellan nudged him. “It’s a long process, so nothing will happen overnight, but we wanted to tell all of you first. At some point, Nat will be pregnant and we’ll be dads.”
I felt Griff stiffen beside me, which meant he hadn’t known about this either. Kell and Chase were allowed to have their secrets, of course. It made sense they would make the decision together before telling anyone, but I had to admit, there was a dull ache in my chest that I hadn’t known this was something they were considering. If I was feeling it, I couldn’t imagine how much Griffin was.
“We wanted to ask Nat before we told you guys, but as soon as she agreed, we planned this,” Kellan rushed out. “And, um, that’s not all.” He turned toward Chase and lowered down to one knee. Holy shit. Was this happening? “Chase Hawthorne, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ve loved you my whole life, and—”
“Yes.” Chase tugged Kellan to his feet, answering the question before Kellan could ask it. Then they were kissing and crying, and when they pulled away, Kellan’s shaky hand pushed a ring onto Chase’s finger.
Everyone was clapping and congratulating them, but Kell’s eyes searched for Griffin. They moved toward each other, almost as if in slow motion. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you first. I just…”
“Shut the hell up and give me a hug,” Griff told him, which Kellan did. “I’m happy for you. You know that,” Griff added as I watched the moment between them. It was intense, the way they were looking at each other, and I had to avert my gaze, feeling like an interloper.