Page 120 of Her Marine
Killian followed Journee into the house and to the guest room, where everything he thought he’d need at home that needed to be unpacked was currently overflowing. He’d labeled all the boxes, but that didn’t mean what he was looking for would be easy to find. It wasn’t a clothing item, and there were several miscellaneous boxes. He figured they were more than likely in one of those, and they started there.
After twenty minutes of looking, Journee held them up from the box she was looking in. Killian took them from her with a thank you, and they left the room, going to the kitchen. They only had a few hours before everyone was due to show up, and he needed to get the food going.
“Stay. Down,” he commanded as he and Journee walked into the kitchen, leaving Voyage at the threshold to do as he’d said. Journee had been adamant that if Voyage didn’t understand any other commands, she would understand that she needed to use the bathroom outside and that she was not allowed in the kitchen.
Killian had washed his hands and was seasoning the ribs when he heard the front door open. There were only a few people it could be, but he figured it was Axel and Kaydence since the former stated he was coming early to help grill.
“Put your clothes on!”
Killian snorted as Journee laughed. Kaydence came into view a few seconds later with a smirk on her face. She reached down to pet Voyage, scratching behind her ear before entering the kitchen with Axel holding two separate containers behind her.
“We brought desserts, and I think Talia plans on making a couple,” Kaydence informed them.
“You can put them on the table until we’re ready to take everything outside,” Journee responded.
“So, what’s on the agenda other than food?” Kaydence questioned as she walked over and hugged Journee in greeting.
“I have dominos, cards, and poker chips, and they’re apparently having a tug-of-war contest,” Journee responded.
“So, I’ve heard. I think Zuri said something about bringing some beanbag toss game she has,” Kaydence replied.
Killian listened to them talk for a few minutes before glancing at his watch. It was a little after noon, but the gathering wasn’t due to start until three-thirty.
“Tigress, what time were you supposed to pick up the cooler from your grandmother?”
“Shit, I was supposed to go at noon. Kaydence and I can go now. I have a key. So, I’ll still be able to get it if she’s gone already.”
Nelda had volunteered to let them use a large cooler she had. It was round, about four feet tall, on wheels, and Killian figured it was large enough to hold everything they would put into it. He’d volunteered to pick it up the previous day, but someone else had been using it and wouldn’t return it until that morning.
“Speaking of, why isn’t she coming?” Axel questioned from the spot he’d taken up beside Killian.
“Same reason your mom isn’t,” Journee responded. “The two of them and a few of their friends are spending the day doing various things that will end with them seeing a Chippendale show.”
Axel coughed, probably choking on his spit, and Killian hit him in the back with his elbow a few times as he chuckled. He was sure his mother would have participated if she and his stepfather weren’t celebrating their anniversary.
“I didn’t need to know the last part,” Axel informed once he stopped choking.
The two women laughed before heading out of the kitchen. “Text me if you think of something I need to pick up,” Journee called over her shoulder.
Killian turned his attention back to the task at hand as he asked Axel if he and Kaydence had found any houses they liked yet.
“Slate, stop. It was an accident.”
Killian listened to Journee try to reason with his cousin, but he could tell by the playful glint in the other man’s eyes it was not working. She’d been attempting to break down some of the ice in the cooler, and some had flown out and hit Slate in the neck. His cousin, in retaliation, had scooped up a cup full of ice and was now advancing on Journee. She turned to run, but Slate grabbed her, dumping the cup of ice down her back, and she squealed.
“Ugh! You’re so annoying,” Journee told him with a pout as she pulled the back of her shirt so the ice would fall out. “I hope Talia doesn’t give you any tonight.”
“Hey, whoa. Why would you wish that on me? I thought I was your favorite big brother.”
“I changed my mind,” she responded as she approached him. Killian opened his arms, and she leaned into his chest. “It’s Axel.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. He enjoyed the fact that she got along well with Slate. He knew that they’d gotten closer and formed a bond while he’d been in a coma. Not only with him but with Axel and Ace too, and he was happy they’d taken such good care of her when he couldn’t. She was his entire world, and he was grateful they’d been there for her.
It wasn’t that he didn’t feel close to the other men in their friend group. It was that he and Slate were family, he’d known Axel the longest, and they’d clicked from the beginning, and he and Ace had grown close when they’d begun to work together. Her liking them, particularly, was a bit more important to him.
“Don’t worry about it, Tigress.” Killian leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “He’ll be eating grass in a minute.”
They were about to start their tug-of-war tournament. They’d do individuals, siblings, and the older four verses, the younger four.
