Page 202 of Under an Endless Moon

“Wouldn’t miss it, brother,” Jud said. Dude was a giant, a mountain of strength. Cool as could be, too. All of them with sordid pasts but hearts of fuckin’ gold.

“Means a lot.”

“Like we’re gonna miss a party like this,” Trent said as he snagged a bottle of dark whiskey from the table and passed it over to me.

I took a big swig from it and let the warmth glide down my throat and pool in my stomach.

From the side, I felt the searing burn of Raven staring up at me.

Yeah.

Best birthday ever.

FIFTY-FOUR

RAVEN

“Someone lookslike he’s having a good time,” Charleigh said where me and my friends were gathered around one of the high-top tables.

Otto and the rest of the guys were in a huddle across the roped-off area, laughing and joking and giving each other shit as they told stories of the old days.

I loved it for him. Loved that he was surrounded and supported. I wished he knew how far that support extended. I wished he could see through the fog of his tragedies to recognize that every single one of those guys would get it—would see him—would accept him fully if he’d just open up about it.

No question, it’d taken a whole lot for him to do it with me this morning. The man leaving himself flayed open wide, his afflictions on full display, even though I could feel that he was keeping some piece of it secreted.

Unable to fully state what had been going on in his mind.

“Looks like it,” I said as casually as I could, like it really didn’t affect me all that much.

“Looks like it? Are you over there acting like youhaven’t been staring at that delicious man like you want to eat him for dessert the entire night?” Tessa never was one for subtlety.

Salem choked on her margarita, laughing as she pulled the salt-rimmed glass away. “Way to just go for the jugular, Tessa.”

“I am not one to beat around the bush. I mean, it’s not like every single one of us isn’t thinking it. Am I right?” Tessa looked around at the rest.

A titter of agreement went up around Charleigh, Eden, Aster, and Sienna.

Charleigh and Sienna shared a secret glance that I was pretty sure the rest of them caught.

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” I took a guilty slurp of my chocolate martini.

“Oh, come on, Raven. You think all of us couldn’t feel what was coming off you two when you came strolling in acting like you hadn’t just been rolling around naked with that bad boy?” Salem lifted a perfectly arched brow.

I cringed as worry slithered through me. “Is it that obvious?”

Cracking up, Tessa reached out to steady herself on Aster’s shoulder. “Is it that obvious? That man is written all over you.” She waved a hand over me like she was offering proof. “You might as well tattoo big handprints all over that body because he has clearly claimed you.”

My attention traveled back to Otto who was laughing at something my brother said.

Crap.

“I take it River doesn’t know?” Eden asked, her voice cautious.

“Nope.”

“Well, don’t worry. Those brutes are all completely oblivious,” Salem said. “It’s the rest of us who are in tune.”

She sent me a sly smile.

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