"I didn't even know it was an option for us not to," Goose teases.
Lucas grumbles as he lifts up off us, "That's if T hasn't already beat us to it."
I let out a short laugh as I stand up and throw my shirt back on, because I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if we were to go upstairs to find Teagan in my bed.
“Start up without me,” I tell them heading towards the stairs, “I’m going to go find Mav and tell him goodnight.”
They both let out nods and grumbles as they gather the rest of our clothes from the floor behind me. It no surprise when I find Mav sitting at his desk in his little office space.
Coming up behind him, I massage his shoulders, “Figured I’d find you in here.”
“Not even married, yet, and already, I’m that predictable, huh?” he asks, his deep voice loud in the quiet of the room.
“Not really,” I tell him as I walk around the side of the chair to slide into his lap. “I’d just like to think that I know you well enough. Not that you’re predictable.”
He shrugs, “Either way, you’re here now.” Then he sends a quick glance down my legs to the tips of my toes, “Getting ready for bed?”
“I was,” I answer honestly, “but I don’t mind sitting up with you if you want some company.”
His arms tighten around my hips, and he places a small kiss against the side of my neck, “I’ll always want your company.”
"But?" I ask, hearing the hesitation in his tone.
"But," he agrees with a soft smile, "I'm going to be here for another hour or so. I'll join you just as soon as I finish."
I fake pout, because I know he's just trying to do his job, "Will you wake me up when you go to bed?"
His smile transforms into a promise of finishing what we started earlier, and I can't stop myself from rubbing up against him. Using a finger underneath my chin, he lifts my face to steal a kiss from my lips. Though, I should say more like dominating my mouth as he always does. It's just Maverick's way.
"I'll be up shortly," he promises in just barely a growl.
As I leave him to it and saunter upstairs, the emotions left behind from him, Goose, and Lucas wash over me. Our relationship is something probably not a lot of people would understand, but there's no way I could live without any single one of them in my life. For a long time, I wondered how I would explain the difference in how each one of them makes me feel, or what they bring to the table. It wasn't until after the run in with my fake dad a couple of years ago, that I decided I don't give a fuck what anyone thinks of us, and I shouldn't have to explain it to any of them, either. Other than our fear of it causing problems for Teagan's job later down the road, none of us care. The important people in our lives know and are okay with our choices.
I smile to myself as I make my way up to three of my men.
***
As I sit down to lunch the next day with Ryleigh, I tell her, “Okay, spill.” We had originally planned for her to meet me at the house for lunch, but I didn't want her nervous to talk to me where Mav might easily overhear. Instead, we meet at one of our local Chinese places.
Ry's eyes switch from the food she's pushing around on her plate to mine, "What are you talking about?"
I roll my eyes to keep from snorting, "I may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night. Logan ate dinner with us and the brothers yesterday. He had almost the same exact expression that you're wearing right now. Well, except when he was trying to smash Lathan's face into the floor."
She goes from wary to worried as my words sink in, "What happened? Why were they fighting?"
"They weren't really," I tell her, explaining what went down. "Why didn't you let on that anything was wrong?"
She sighs, "Two reasons. One, I didn't want your focus on me when you're getting married this week. It's nothing a little tequila and a crying jag can't fix. Number two, I'm exhausted from the roller coaster ride that he's taken me on for what feels like forever now. I just want to enjoy the next couple of days that I have with my best friend before she gets hitched, and I never see her."
My laugh turns a few heads towards us, "You're kidding, right? A piece of paper and a few rings aren't going to change things like that. We're still going to be the same people, and I'm damn sure going to keep getting girl time."
"Thanks," she says, ducking her head to hide the wetness of her eyes. "I don't know what's been wrong with me lately. I'm just grateful you've let me consume myself with all of your wedding stuff so that I've been able to hide from it."
The ‘it’ automatically converts to ‘him’ in my mind. She's happy to have the distraction and excuses to run from Logan. Eventually, she's going to have to stop and face the music. When I say as much to her, she agrees and quickly changes the subject.
"So, the guys do know that you're staying with me tomorrow night, right?" she asks.
"Oh, they know alright. Mav just about had a conniption when I told him last week," I admit. We haven't had a night apart since I was in the hospital. It's going to feel weird without one of them next to me all night.