Page 73 of Ballads of Lines Blurred

“We are, but I don’t want to discount that night all together. It was the one where I first got to meet you in person. That night set us on this path. I talked to Dash and Romeo about you. And yes, I understand shit got really heavy for Romeo, Dash, and Tris, but it ended good. Everyone was okay.”

Shit getting heavy was an understatement, but I understood why Cody didn’t want to talk about it. Romeo, Dash, and Tristan were held hostage. Jordan Altair Sr. had to step in and save them.

“Now we’re here,” Cody said. “In the present.” He got closer to Slater, leaning against his side. “I’m where I was always meant to be.” Cody’s hand reached out for me so I could be part of this as well.

There were three of us in this, full of love and affection.

“Surprise!” I glanced up and found my brother on the other side of the table, standing with his partners.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I love you too. The question is, why are you three sitting here looking like you’re about to bury your dead goldfish instead of out on the dance floor?”

“Do people bury goldfish?” Cody asked. “I thought you were supposed to flush them.”

“Fuck if I know.” My brother waved him off. “The point is this is a date night.”

“Yet you’re standing here, ruining it,” I told him.

Hale scowled at me. “Dick. No, I’m here because I knew you three would get all sappy when you should be having fun. Now, follow my sequined ass and let’s get on the dance floor. Oh, and we ran into Tom on the way inside. He asked us to please not call the cops and ran.”

I laughed while Slater tugged me closer. “You scared that poor boy.”

“As I should have. He shouldn’t be trying to hit on me in a club when I’m dancing with my boyfriends! Fucking asshole.”

Hale took my hand to pull me from the booth.

“How did you even get in here?” I asked. “It’s VIP.”

“I have a very important penis. It was imperative that I saw my brother and friends.”

“Don’t talk about your dick and me in the same conversation.”

Hale rolled his eyes but didn’t stop pulling me until all three of us were out of the booth and making our way to where the beat was loudest. And he did have sequins on his ass. His shorts were tight and shimmery, way more than I wanted to see.

Danny pulled Hale into his arms and started grinding with him while Simon was content to stand off to the side watching.

“Don’t want to dance?” I asked him.

“I’m a better guard than dancer.”

“You should be having fun too.” It was my turn to tug him forward so the six of us could dance.

While my idea of a date didn’t include my brother, I had to give him credit. He showed up at the right time to lighten the mood. He knew this was where Cody and Slater met. He was there that night. For him to come to lift us up and make sure we were having fun was pretty damn sweet of him.

I slung my arm over Hale’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

He grinned. “You’re welcome. I may be younger than you, but I’m wiser. I also have more experience in a relationship. You still have your wobbly fawn legs, learning to walk.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

Hale patted my cheek. “Don’t worry. I won’t lead you astray.”

My lips lifted in a smile. He was a pain in my ass sometimes, but I loved him.

A strong arm around my waist pulled me into a hard body. Cody’s cologne surrounded me, reminding me where home was. It used to be the place where I was raised with my brother. Now it was people. Not just Cody and Slater, but Hale and his partners. Dexen and his too. All the Dremest men and their extended friend family. They were mine too. Together, we’d found where we fit and a bond none of us wanted to break.

EPILOGUE

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