Page 22 of Ten Hammers

Jack and Max are standing in the center of the room, practically nose to nose, looking like two warring angels in the soft morning light.

Jack has already showered, his rusty hair damp and glistening. His beard is thicker today, not trimmed as neat as usual, and I like it.

The other guys are scattered around the room.

Cruz sits on the sofa with a bowl of cereal, still in his pajamas, a colorful and slightly rumpled set with plaid flannel pants and a t-shirt with a matching pocket.

All the others are dressed, although Theo, sitting beside Cruz, is wearing only sweatpants, which might count as pajamas to him.

Unless Theo sleeps naked.

The thought flashes through my mind unbidden and I have to tamp it down before I begin drooling.

Diesel sits on a stool by the fireplace with his guitar, his disheveled hair falling across his forehead as he tunes with nimble fingers.

Leo leans against the wall, Mason perches on the arm of the green velvet armchair chair Gunnar sits in. Gav takes up the whole love seat, his long legs stretched out, and his sock clad feet on the leather arm.

Axel is missing.

He’s not one to storm off, slam doors.

“Well? What opportunity?” I repeat.

With my hands on my hips, I wait for an answer, but no answer comes. The vast majority of the Hammer brothers are suddenly very interested in the artwork Anna hung on the walls around the room.

Only Max makes eye contact with me.

I’m sorry, he mouths.

My eyes widen.

They all know? I mouth back.

He nods.

“Everything?” I mouth.

I can’t read his lips to decipher what his response is.

Well. Either way, this is not ideal. But it doesn’t explain while everyone is acting like I just walked in on them in the middle of a circle jerk.

No one will look at me.

“What’s going on?” I ask. “Wait, don’t tell me. I’ve walked in on another secret meeting?”

Several of them shoot me guilty looks, but no one says a word.

“I said what’s going on and I know every damn one of you heard me. You,” I point at Gavin. “You promised me you would never keep anything important from me. If whatever you all were discussing caused Axel to storm out of here, slamming the door, it’s important to me. One of you better spill. NOW.”

My heart is beating fast, but not in the super pleasant way Max made it race last night. It’s an angry beat, a scared beat.

“We all found out about you and Max,” Gunnar’s voice is tight, each word clipped. “So, yeah, I’m not sure you coming at us about keeping stuff from you right now is cool.”

Well. The boy does have a point. Also a pretty, pretty pout. I hate myself a bit for wanting to go sit in Gunnar’s lap, put my arms around his neck, whisper my apology, my breath against his ear.

I received oral sex for the first time in my life last night. I am not myself.

Focus, horndog, focus.

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