Page 170 of It's Always Us

“Maybe you should spend your time worrying about that,” Hank points to the pool where Bree sits on the edge, laughing with one of Garrett’s friends.

All three men turn in that direction, and I watch Mark’s posture change from carefree to Captain America.

“Damn, man,” Sean whispers. “Here it goes. You’re gonna have fun with that.”

Shane laughs, and Mark backhands him in the chest. “Laugh all you want, shithead. Liv’s right behind her, and she’s a lover of all lost things. You just wait and see who she brings home.”

Shane growls, “Mark, I’m one second from drowning you in the pool.”

Sean makes some kind of snorting noise and Shane’s head whips in his direction.

“Hold on, asshole. Lydia will be there before you know it.”

Maggie and Andie join me as we watch our men freak out about all of our girls’ future dating lives.

“People would pay to see this,” Maggie whispers.

Andie bumps our elbows. “We should video them and put it on YouTube.”

“What about the boys?” I ask, just wanting to see their reaction.

Three big heads swivel toward us.

“We’re not worried. They have the three of you,” Sean says like it’s a ridiculous question.

“Anyone who doesn’t run within the first three minutes of your unrelenting interrogation will get our vote of approval,” Shane adds.

“Besides, with the way Cole and Hank are going about things, there’s no need to worry,” Mark tosses in, eyeing Hank.

Hank stands, pulling a soccer ball off the side of the deck, and then joins the men’s little observation party. He rolls the ball between his hands. “If I knock that little shit in the pool, you all will get off my back about Sadie . . . for good. We’re friends, and that’s all we’ll ever be.”

“Deal.” All three guys approve.

“I’m not agreeing,” Maggie protests.

“Firefly,” Shane warns.

“Fine. I like Sadie enough to let it go. She’s smart and beautiful, and she’s the best babysitter we’ll ever find. But Hank, for the record, you’re a dumbass.”

Andie and I laugh as Hank drops the ball. With a swift kick, it smacks the kid in the back, and he tips forward just enough to fall into the pool.

All four men stand with their arms crossed over their chest in complete satisfaction, watching Bree’s eyes grow wide, laughter tumbling out of her.

“Nice aim, man,” Mark bumps him on the shoulder.

“I’ll have Teddy ready with the paintball gun while I’m gone.” Hank joins their protective stance.

They fall into conversation about all the ways in which they will torture future boys who start sniffing around.

“Oh, this is just the beginning, ladies,” Andie says. “I’m not sure who will drive us to the nut house first. All these kids or these men.”

“The men,” Maggie and I say.

“We already know these guys will take out any jackasses, but can you even imagine when one of these nutballs brings a girl home?” Maggie says as if the idea is unfathomable. “I mean, let’s be real. We got crazy lucky thatweactually like each other, but what if we don’t like her?”

Andie and I look at each other. This is a revelation.

“That won’t happen, will it?” I ask, fully aware my list of female friends goes no further than what I can count on one hand, and two of them are beside me.

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