Page 28 of No One Else Can Have Her

“So, let me get this straight, because I can see myself being loyal to Carly for the rest of my life, you have a problem with it?”

“There are a lot of beautiful women out there, and I’m … what if I’m not strong enough?” Reese asked. “I can tell them all to fuck off now, but what about ten years from now? Twenty years?”

“Assuming you’re still a catch then?” he asked.

Reese rolled his eyes at him, and Nate couldn’t help but laugh.

“Look, if it helps in any way, imagine Misha feeling the same.”

“What?” Reese stopped and glared at him.

“Imagine your worry about all of those hot young women wanting to learn a thing or two from you, and then think of Misha, only it’s hot young men.”

Reese growled. “That’s not going to happen.”

“You expect Misha to stay home and play the role of adoring wife and mother while you’re out playing the field?” Nate tutted. “Here’s another thing for you. What if you have this one kid, and you absolutely love it? This could be one of a dozen kids.”

“That is not going to happen.”

“You might love being a dad,” Nate said. “And what then? You’re going to fight that urge?”

“You know, I don’t like you at the moment.”

“I think I can live with that.”

Reese no longer looked ready to run and hide, and he considered that a job well done.

Pulling out the list, he handed it to Reese, who took it back with a glare. “So, if you’re so clever and you have the answers to everything, why is it you’re not with Carly right now?”

“That is none of your business.”

Reese snorted. “Come on, do you think you and Carly are fooling anyone? A couple of weeks back, we all knew what you had snuck off to the bathroom to do.” He shook his head. “You’ve been happier than you have in a long time, and you’ve not had one of your crazy outbursts, where we have to call Carly to calm you down.”

Over the years Nate’s anger had gotten the better of him, especially when he was dealing with someone who reminded him of their past. He knew firsthand there were monsters out there, true evil, and when he encountered it as the man he was now, he had to annihilate it. Sometimes it ignited a bloodlust that was hard to shut down, and the guys had no choice but to get Carly.

She was the only one he listened to. Her soft voice pulled him back from the point of no return. She was the light in his world.

“This is our business,” Nate said.

Reese snorted. “Oh, please, we’re all friends here and we know how important it is for the two of you to get together. Sarah has been plotting it for years. She just hasn’t been successful. I hope no one ever employs her at a matchmaking service. They would be destroyed within a week for her influence.”

Nate couldn’t help but laugh, but it was true. So true.

“Are you good?” he asked, more concerned about his friend.

“Yeah, I’m good. I don’t even know what my problem is. I’m going to get married to an amazing woman. Probably have a horrible brat that I spoil rotten, and of course, like you said, want lots more brats.” Reese shook his head. “You’re a good friend.”

Much to Nate’s surprise, Reese pulled him in for a hug, and he didn’t try to fight it.

****

“Why are we back here and there’s no food?” Dalton asked.

Sarah was appalled at Dalton. “Has anyone ever told you, you moan a lot?”

Dalton stuck his tongue out of her and then flipped her the bird.

“Real mature.” She shook her head. Dalton would forever be the childish one of the group.

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