Page 20 of Home: Posy 5

With a groan, Emerson moved his hands to Angelo's ass, and I quickly turned to Tyler.

"I think it's time to see if the food's ready," I said.

"Before we see something else," he agreed with a wide grin, and we trotted back to the patio, gathering up the others as we went.

#

Gamma Reuben Ford

They wereeverywhere.

Couples to the right of me.

Couples to the left of me.

Couples in front of me.

I was standing in the mouth of hell.

What that from?Larch asked.A song?

No, it's a poem. An old one. 'Charge of the Light Brigade,'I answered my wolf.Only it's cannons, not couples. Wait. Do you know what a cannon is?

Yes. Saw in movie. Doesn't matter if cannons or couples. Both heavy hits,he muttered gloomily, and I couldn't help but feel the same.

"All right, tone down the couple stuff," Konstantin groused. "Y'all just rubbing it in now."

Ah. I wasn't alone in my misery. I forgot the half-dragon didn't have a mate yet, either. He wasn't really old enough to find one, though, a fact Matthew delighted in pointing out to him.

"For someone who looks a whole lot like a jackass right now—" Konstantin started to rumble, and Crew jumped in.

"Next year, buddy. Only a few months. That's not too long to wait, right?"

"I've been on this earth for thirty-five years. Don't tell me about waiting." Little booms echoed off each of his words, reminding us that Konstantin might be a moody teenager, but a thunder dragon slept inside him. "And turning eighteen isn't a guarantee that you'll find your mate. Look at Gamma Reuben!"

"Yeah, look at me." I rolled my eyes.

"Ah, Rube, you've been our third wheel for so long, Emme and I just accept you as part of our relationship now," Rio tried to say with a straight face, but ended up snickering at the end.

"Oh, wow," I mumbled as I sprawled further down in my lawn chair. "Sure. Tease the depressed, lonely man."

Emerson walked over, grabbed me by my shoulders, and lifted me up out of my seat like I was a little kid - and I was a big, buff guy.

Dude is too strong for his own good,I complained.

"We love you, man." He looked me dead in the eyes. "We care about you. We are here to support you."

"Yeah, yeah, thanks,Mama," I grumbled.

"That's only for Reau." He scowled.

"And me." Angelo came up behind Emerson and laid his cheek against his mate's back. "Leave him alone and pay attention tome, Mama."

Rolling my eyes, I pulled the beta's hands off me and took a step back.

"Papa seems a little drunk, Mama," I smirked.

"How many beers did you have?" Emerson demanded as he looked over his shoulder at his mate.

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