Page 89 of War

“She’s good.” I try to scrub the smile off my face, but it’s no use. “She met me for lunch. I swear I could sit across from that woman day in and out and be entertained. She keeps me on my damn toes, that’s for sure.”

Fitz chuckles. “I hear ya. Mel is like that. I could hang with her all day, every day and never get bored.”

“It’s special, right? I can’t help but feel like this isn’t normal. But then I think of you and Brooks and Aiden. We’ve all found women who are truly fantastic. Fuck, are we lucky assholes.”

“You’re not wrong.”

I lean back on the couch in his office, legs spread wide. “How are things with Declan?”

Fitz’s already happy expression grows giddy. He’s so gone for his best friend. Probably always has been. “Grumpy as ever, but he smiles a fuck ton more now that Mel has moved in.”

“Does it bother you? That you have to be in Boston so often and the two of them are there?” I don’t think I could handle it. It’s bad enough that I have to travel as much as I do. I’d hate to be away from Ava or the kids even more.

Fitz shakes his head. “It would definitely be easier for me to stay in my apartment in Boston when we have early practices, but fuck easy. I drive home to them every night. I don’t remember the last time I stayed overnight at my apartment.” He chuckles. “That’s a lie. We had a sleepover here when Dec and Mel came to the game last month.”

Head tipped back on the couch, I huff. “Don’t want to know what the fuck you three do for your sleepovers.”

He laughs. “Right, because you’re such a saint.”

“Am now.”

He shrugs. “Guess we’re all changed men.”

“Speak for yourself,” Hall calls from the hallway. Folding his arms, he leans against the door. “Happy birthday, Cap.”

With a chin dip, I reply. “Thanks.”

“What are we doing to celebrate?”

Fitz’s chair squeaks as he falls back against it and barks out a laugh. “It’s funny you think you’re invited.”

“The fuck?” Hall groans.

“Don’t get him all worked up.” I rough a hand through my hair and grimace at Hall. “I’m having dinner with my family. We can celebrate in Seattle.”

Between one blink and the next, Hall’s sour attitude disappears. “Fuck yes. You’re actually going to come out for once?”

I side-eye Fitz. “If he does.”

Our coach rolls his eyes. “Fine.”

Hall is pumping a fist as Brooks returns, looking at him like the kid has lost his mind.

“He’s excited about having a boys’ night in Seattle.”

Brooks grunts. “Good luck with keeping Sara from showing up.”

“Sara can come. She’s more fun than you.”

My comment earns me the middle finger. See? This is why I came here rather than going home to relax alone. These guys are my family. Even if things go to shit tonight, I know I’ve got my kids, my guys, and the only woman I’ll ever need by my side.

“This isn’t awkward at all,” Brayden hisses out of the side of his mouth.

Ava is pacing around the kitchen, pretending to fluff the dish towels while Dory and my father sit in the living room watching Josie, who’s showing off what she learned at ballet this week.

“I think I’ll go check on Scarlett,” he says as he points to the stairs that lead up to where Scarlett, who is teething and whimpered through dinner, is already asleep.

I grab his arm so he can’t leave me alone in this purgatory. This was a bad idea. Dory has all-out ignored Ava since they walked in. She hasn’t said a negative word to her, though, so there’s that, I guess. If not for Josie’s nonstop chatter about ballet during dinner, I’m not sure we would have made it through the meal. If we can get them out of here without incident, I’ll count the evening as a success. Especially if it ends with me between Ava’s thighs.

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