Page 233 of Cross & Crown

“I mean . . .” He glanced at Kelly, who was sitting in the

passenger seat watching him. Smiling. He was always smiling.

Nick came to a stop at a red light and stared at Kelly, thinking about that smile.

“We said before that we didn’t know what to do. Colorado

or Boston? Cabin or boat?” Kelly said. He shrugged. “Why

choose, though? If you’re quitting, I can too.”

“Kels, you love that camp. Those kids,” Nick argued. Kelly

had been orphaned at twelve, and while his experience in the

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foster system had been a good one, he had still devoted his

post-military life to helping troubled kids—often orphaned

or abandoned street kids who’d chosen the camp over juvenile

hal —adjust and learn life skills. It had given Kelly purpose at a time when every member of Sidewinder had been drifting

and listless.

“I could still volunteer here and there. We’ll have down

time, time to . . . Nicko, we can settle down when we’re dead,

babe,” Kelly finally said. “I had fun this week. For the first

time in years, this was really fucking fun. I want to do things like this with you, I want—”

“Okay,” Nick whispered.

“What?”

“Okay,” Nick said, his voice stronger. “We’ll call her when

we get home.”

“Really?”

Nick smirked.

Kelly’s smile burgeoned into a ful -force beaming grin. He

reached across the console and grabbed Nick’s hand, kissing

his palm. “Thank you.”

Nick tried to repress an indulgent sigh, but he couldn’t.

He was so screwed. He’d give Kelly anything and everything.

They were both still grinning like idiots when they

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