Page 62 of Dark Bonds

“Sure, you are. You just need to let the people in your life support you. We’re all here to help you in any way we can.”

“Sasha is right. Let us in.”

“Okay. I do have a request, though.”

“Anything you want.”

“Open the fucking wine! I’ve had enough of the heavy for right now.”

We all busted out laughing. I opened the wine, poured each of us a glass, and then passed the plates around. When Seb and Chase came in just after midnight, I could see the relief on their faces. Raven sat on the couch, laughing her ass off at some dirty joke Sasha had just told. Raven didn’t notice them come in, so I motioned them to the kitchen.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Okay,” Raven answered absentmindedly, her attention solely on Sasha.

“I take it the night went well?” Seb asked.

“It did. Sasha and I gave her shit for becoming a hermit… nicely, of course… and then we ate, drank, and visited all night. It’s the most she looked like herself since that night.”

“Now all we have to do is get her eating again,” Chase mused.

“Oh, you won’t have to worry about that. I think she made up for the last few weeks tonight,” I laughed. “She finished her dinner, half of mine, and then cooked up some jalapeno things from the freezer.”

“Those were mine.”

Seb and I watched with amused expressions as Chase’s pout grew.

“I didn’t know you guys were home,” Raven said, greeting each of them with a kiss. “I take it from the look on your face that Leah told you about our snack. You know you’re in your thirties, right?”

We busted out laughing. Even Chase’s mouth was twitching, trying to hold it in.

“So, do you forgive Chase and me for letting these lovely ladies ambush you tonight?”

“Yes. Thank you… all of you.”

“We’re family,” I shrugged. “You would do no different for me. On that note, I think your boys would like some time with you, so Sasha and I are going to call it a night.”

Raven hugged us both, as did Seb and Chase, and then we climbed into Sasha’s car and headed back to my place.

“Do you want to come in?”

“Definitely. I don’t think I’m done drinking for the night and I don’t much feel like having more wine.”

“Jameson it is,” I grinned, climbing out of the car.

I let us into the house and grabbed a bottle from the kitchen.

“Don’t bother with glasses,” she laughed. “It’s not like our mouths haven’t shared more than a bottle.”

“That’s definitely true. It’ll save me washing two glasses. I mean, that could kill me!”

“Smart ass. Listen, I’m feeling a little frisky tonight. You should call Jason.”

“It’s after midnight!”

“Yeah, and when he works at the club, he works until 3:00 a.m. What’s your point?”

“I don’t want to bug him.”

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