Page 53 of Handy

I give him a little shove towards the door and grab the cooler full of drinks on my way out.

“You hear that flutey, sharp whistle? That’s the Eastern meadowlark. Ledger says they migrate through Wisconsin in the fall,” I hear Griff saying as I step outside.

Oh my god, could that man be any damn cuter?

“Hey, strangers in my yard,” I call to greet the newcomers.

One of the guys, a silver fox in a leather jacket with an adorable twink under his arm, laughs and extends his free hand.

“Sorry to crash the party. Gates invited us and we didn’t realize it was a housewarming. I’m Arrow, owner of Ink Slingers. And these are my co-owners: Piston, Jag, Hero, and Tex.” He points out each of the other guys in their adorable little matching jackets.

“No worries. The more, the merrier.” I shake his hand and nod in greeting to the rest of them.

“Lewis,” the twink tucked under Arrow’s arm says next. “I own Little Shop of Flowers.”

“Oh my god,” I gasp. “You’re partially responsible for my epic love story.” I ignore his outstretched hand and pull him in for a hug.

He laughs and doesn’t resist my affection. “So you’re Ledger, I take it? The secret admirer?”

“That’s me.” I let him go and keep smiling.

“It was only secret because it took Griff an embarrassingly long time to realize that the guy who wouldn’t stay off his dick actually liked him,” Stone points out.

Griff huffs and shakes his head, but I see the ghost of a smile on his lips.

“We need some music,” Jag, the twink in one of the leather jackets and neon pink pants declares.

“Jag, I’m begging you not to,” Lewis says, somehow sounding both panicked and resigned.

“What?” Jag manages to sound innocent even as a wicked smile curls his lips, and seconds later, “Dance the Night Away”by Dua Lipa is blaring from a small portable speaker that he seemingly pulled out of nowhere.

“Can you get PTSD from a song? Because I feel like I’m having war flashbacks.” Lewis shudders.

Tex, the big guy wearing a cowboy hat, snatches the speaker out of Jag’s hand and a game of keep-away ensues between him and Hero, a.k.a. Leather Jacket Bear with a bushy beard and pink unicorn socks sticking out from his shit-kicking boots. Jag doesn’t play into their friendly bullying though. Instead of running between them trying to get the speaker back, he glares for a second, cracks his neck, and the next time Hero catches the speaker he moves in a flash to sweep his legs out from under him. The big guy hits the ground with a muttered “fuck.” Jag stands over him with the most saccharine smile I’ve ever seen, puts a boot in the middle of his chest, then leans down to take the speaker from him.

“Next time, I’ll hurt you,” he says, patting Hero’s cheek before letting him up.

“Kinda looked like that already hurt,” Jericho whispers, and I nod in agreement.

“Yeah, let’s not piss Jag off.”

“Who’s the guy in the hat?” Jericho asks quietly, licking his lips and eyeing Tex. “And do you think he’s single?”

I shrug. “Maybe you should go introduce yourself.” I waggle my eyebrows and leave my bestie to shoot his shot while I go wrap my arms around my big snuggly bear.

“Is it too soon to kick everyone out?” Griff grumbles quietly.

“They just got here.” I snicker, nuzzling my face into the side of his neck just to enjoy the way he melts into my touch immediately.

“Fine, they can stay an hour, but that’s it.”

I cackle again. Such a grumpy bear. There’s a little twinkle in his eyes that gives away the truth though. No matter how much he complains, he likes the noise and chaos, he just prefers it with me at his side to buffer it a little. And that’s a role I’m more than happy to play.

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER

LEDGER

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