Page 58 of War

My best friend laughs from where he’s putting on his gear. “That is not at all what happened.”

Aiden smirks. “Doesn’t matter how it happened. All that matters isthat we’ve got the glitter.” He cups his junk over his boxer briefs like a fucking teenager, then hops up onto the bench and launches into his own version of Taylor Swift’s “Bejeweled.”

“Best believe we’re all bedazzled,

When we skate on the ice,

We can make the arena glitter.

Well, except for you, Hall,

Girls think they’re getting it all,

But you don’t got glitter.”

“Oh my god. Someone stop him.” Brooks drops his head into his hands.

With my hands covering my ears, I nod at Hall. “You, stop talking about our dicks.” Then Aiden. “And you, stop singing about them.”

Aiden jumps down with a shrug. “Whatever. I can’t imagine your wife is complaining about the jewels.”

Glowering, I step up to him. “Don’t mention my wife and anyone’s jewels in the same sentence again.” Spinning, I stalk back to my locker and add, “I can’t believe I’m the captain of you fools.”

While they all go on entertaining themselves behind me, I pluck my phone off the shelf. The assholes annoy the shit out of me sometimes, but I’m biting back a smile as the stupid lyrics Aiden just belted out play in my head. Can’t wait to tell Ava. I’m sure she’ll get a kick out of it.

I unlock my phone so I can tell her to ask me about it later, but before I can navigate to the messages app, a notification pops up, alerting me to an email from Madi. Quickly, I click over and read through it. The smile I was tempering slips free now. Because the paperwork is ready. I respond, telling her that I’ll send it over to Ava. Then I mentally make plans to fly home to sign it tomorrow. We aren’t scheduled to return to Boston for a week, but I’m eager to get this done.

I click the link to have it sent to the printer in my home office and type a quick message to Ava, asking her if she’d be willing to stayup tonight so we can talk.

Because I don’t just want to tell her about Aiden’s dumb song.

I hold my left hand out, assessing my fourth finger, and a thought springs to life.

“Hey, Hall. Want to take a ride to the tattoo parlor after the game? I’ll find one that does piercings.”

TWENTY-ONE

AVA

“Did you order the pizza?”Brayden stands in the kitchen, inhaling a bag of Doritos as I come down the stairs after putting Scarlett down.

I swipe the bag from his hand as I pass. “You won’t even be hungry by the time it’s delivered.” On my way to the pantry to put it away, I snag one for myself and pop it into my mouth.

Brayden chuckles in a way that sounds so much like Tyler. The sound is far too cocksure for such a young kid. It’s uncanny how alike they are despite not actually being related. “I’m a growing boy, Ava. Believe me, I’ll house an entire pizza myself.”

“Hope you ordered a few, then. I’m starving,” Hannah calls from the couch.

Brayden eyes her, probably thinking that such a petite woman could never eat that much. He’d be wrong. Despite how tiny she is, Hannah lives life large. Her laugh, her style, her drinking, and yes, her appetite.

The Bolts are playing tonight, so Hannah and Lennox came over to watch with us. Maria is seated beside Lennox, laughing at some over-the-top story my pink-haired friend is telling her. Josie is practicing her dance moves in front of the fireplace. She finally starts dance this weekend, and to say she’s excited would be an understatement.

Me? I’m more anxious to see Tyler. It’s been a long week, and we’ve got another to go, but already, I’m on pins and needles, wondering what happens next.

I’ve replayed our kiss a thousand times, along with every word spoken in those few short minutes we had together after our little wedding ceremony. Every breath, every swipe of his tongue, the way he stepped in closer, and closer again, as if he couldn’t stand leaving even a millimeter of space between us. The way he groaned when his lips made contact. The way he tasted, minty and mine. It makes no sense, that description, but he overloaded my senses, so it’s the best I can come up with.

My phone buzzes with a text, which I regret looking at the moment I see it.

Xander: Slut.

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