Page 94 of The Reluctant Hero

Shade smirks and sees my lunch bag, pulling it towards him to dig out the chips and start eating. I’m so excited I don’t even care about it.

“Really,” he says smugly. “Justin Blake, codenameLoser, is having some difficulties with his credit cards. Every single florist in town and online can’t seem to get any of them to work.”

“No,” I say breathlessly, but I’m bouncing in my seat. “You did that?”

“Did what? I don’t manage his money,” he claps back with a grin.

“Get up, fucker. I’m taking you to lunch,” I squeal with excitement as I grab my purse.

“Can’t,” he quickly cuts my excitement off. Before I can protest, he adds, “I’m meeting South for lunch.”

“Touche,” I drop back into my seat with a huff. “No interrupting theengagedcouple’s date.”

His eyes narrow on me, but Gabriel pipes up.

“You’re getting married? How didyouknow that?” The violent look he sends my way raises my eyebrow.

“I am,” Shade says in a voice overflowing with satisfaction. “And she knows because she’s the one that gave South the idea.”

“You’re welcome,” I tell him sweetly and pat myself on the back.

“Fuck you,” he says back with a smile.

“You weren’t going to tell me?” Gabriel’s frown gets a little more like a pout, which surprises me. The icy rich kid is throwing a mini-fit. Definite family issues are all over the place. Red flags are waving. I’m pissed on his behalf for some reason, and I round on Shade quickly.

“You didn’t tell yourbrother? What the fuck, Shade?” I lean across the table to slap his arm.

“I was hungover all fucking day yesterday because ofyourcelebration shots. Cut me some slack. And it’s the other reason I’m here, wedding planner,” he sneers at me and stands up to face Gabriel. “I wanted to ask if you would be interested in being my best man.”

Oh, Max is going to be so jealous. I crack up at the thought.

“What’s so funny about that?” Gabriel asks in a voice filled with tension. Behind his frozen personality, he’s fuming because he thinks I’m laughing at him. I shut his thoughts down quickly.

“I’m imagining you explaining it to Max because he’s convinced he’s Shade’s bestie. Get ready for a lot of dirty looks and pouting. He’s an expert at sass, too. I can get you those noise-canceling headphones if you want.”

“Of course, he thinks that,” Shade shakes his head with a sigh.

“Let Max down easy, pookie,” I suggest with a teasing grin. Gabriel blinks at me in surprise.

“He hasn’t said yes.” Now, Shade’s voice is tense. There’s an undercurrent between them that’s rocky. He’s obviously reaching a hand over the waters and waiting to see if Gabriel will reciprocate.

“He doesn’t have to,” I toss a hand in Gabriel’s direction. “He’s practically squealing like a schoolgirl over there. Look at that face of excitement.”

Shade takes in the frozen expression and turns back to me with a flat look.

“I’d be honored,” is all Gabriel says in a cold-as-ice tone.

“See?” I give Shade anI told you solook. He’s too busy staring at Matthias to notice.

“About time,” Ace says with a laugh and crosses the floor to give Shade a bro hug. Mikael is next in line with a wide grin.

“Congratulations,” Mikael says and grips Shade’s shoulder to shake him like he’s waking him up. “We’ll all be there with bells on.”

Aww, it’s so damn sweet. And the shocked look on Shade’s face makes it epic. I steal a quick photo to give to South later.

“No,” Shade turns to me with a snap. I startle at his look of anger. “South has asked me to make sure you delete the video you took Saturday.”

He says it like he’s trying to save me from a horrifying death.

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