***
Now Ty was waiting to be told that whatever briefing that had to be done, was done so that he could go to his woman. And the wait was driving him crazy.
“Okay, I’ll go,” Thea murmured when Ty released her from his tight embrace. “But know that you can’t get rid of Theo so easily when he comes tomorrow. He plans on sleeping over.”
Ty groaned, making Thea laugh. “I know. At least he will be occupied with video games and would therefore not get the time to play the ‘shrink’ with me.” He smirked, giving the word quotation with his fingers, and then quickly ducked to avoid the punch headed his way from his sister. “Still enjoying the car? Or you want me to change it?” He asked, watching as Thea adjusted her jeans.
“No way am I going to change it.” Her eyes widened warningly. “At least not anytime soon. I’m still in love with it.”
“Glad to know you still love it.” Ty drawled. He’d gotten Thea a Pink Audi TT Roadster convertible for her seventeenth birthday and a metallic blue Audi Q7 TDI for Theo who claimed he needed a big car that could carry all his friends. He loved to spoil his siblings.
“Just look at it.” Thea grinned dreamily as she stared at her car through Ty’s glass house. “Isn’t it just…what the… I think you have visitors, Ty.” Thea shouted smugly. “So much for wanting me out so you can be the hermit that you…”
“What the fuck!” Ty muttered as he watched cars park one after the other on his compound. Of course, the silly security guard wouldn’t say anything to him because it was the idiots. He didn’t blame him. Who in their right minds would dare stop Chris or Matt or any other member of the squad for that matter, from entering his house? Ty laughed despite himself. “Come on Thea.” He said taking his sister’s hand in his and heading for the door.
All the guys were getting out of their cars as Ty stepped outside with Thea. He couldn’t help the grin that brightened his face when he saw one of the cars open to reveal Kate, Chris’s housekeeper, and a pretty blonde…who Ty had never seen before. They had huge food warmers in their hands. And from what he could see, there were more food warmers inside the car. The guys had brought with them a feast. Well, it was good they brought Kate because he’d given his own housekeeper some days off.
“I don’t recall it being my turn to host today’s get-together,” Ty said loudly enough for the guys to hear. It was a tradition of theirs to spend each Saturday in the house of one member.
“Suck my dick.” Dean quickly retorted from where he stood beside his car. “You look like shit.” He added, making Thea burst into laughter.
“You’re not getting sick or anything like that, I hope,” Michael added with a look of concern. Always the doctor, Ty thought, stopping himself just in time from rolling his eyes. Thea was a bad influence.
“I’m fine,” Ty said, watching as all the guys hugged Thea. She loved seeing the guys because they made her laugh. “Hey, Shane.” Ty gave Chris’ husband a one-armed hug and introduced Thea to him. Then he put his sister in her car and waved at her.
“My man, you’re anything but fine,” Shane said softly to Ty.
“That obvious huh?” Ty grimaced as he ushered Shane into his spectacularly elegant home.
“Yep. Lovely house you’ve got here by the way.” Shane complimented.
“Thanks. Dean’s handiwork.” Ty gestured towards the comfortable couches in his living room.
“So I hear.” Shane took a seat. “Brilliant. By the way that’s my cook, Abigail.” Shane informed Ty. “After preparing the food, she decided to help Kate see to us.”
“Cool.” Ty grinned. “Finally I get to meet the amazing Abigail. All Chris does is brag about her culinary skills.”
“He doesn’t exaggerate.” Shane laughed. “Wait till you taste her food.”
“Can’t wait.” Ty was feeling better already. He loved being around the guys.
“Hey, if you’re coming down with Ebola or something…” Dean trailed off when Ty glared at him, lifting his hands in mock surrender. “What? I don’t know where you went. All I know is that you’ve been in isolation since you got back. Don’t crucify me for asking. Just curious that’s all.” The guys erupted into laughter.
“More like an asshole,” Ty muttered, joining in the laughter. “Where’re Kyle and Aaron?” He asked, looking towards the gate.
“They’ll join us later,” Cole said from the bar where he was pouring some cognac for himself. “Wedding preparations.”
“Finally.” Ty chuckled. Kyle and his fiance Aaron had been engaged for a while, waiting for Kyle’s twin brother’s soldier fiance to come back from a Peace Keeping Mission so that they could have a double wedding. “Stephen is back huh?”
“Yep, he’s back,” Damon responded, giving Ty a hug. “It’s going to be a great wedding…weddings…whatever.” Everyone laughed.
As usual, they had a blast. By evening, Ty was buzzed and feeling no pain. He finally opened up to the guys, telling them about Tanesha and how worried he was that he still hadn’t been to see her. What worried him most was the fact that Tanesha might think he’d used her.
“Fuck, she doesn’t even know whether I’m dead or alive.” Ty exploded at a point. “Can you imagine what she’s going through right now? I just want to know whether she’s ok.”
“She’s definitely not okay,” Damon said. “I mean look at you. You’re as jittery as a junkie, desperate for a hit. And you’re the guy. She can’t be okay.
“I know.” Ty groaned. “I spend every minute feeling like someone has hacked out my heart and left a gaping hole in my chest. I…” Ty struggled to articulate his chaotic thoughts. “I just feel dead inside.”
“I’ll be damned.” Dean breathed, staring at Ty. And like him, all the guys saw exactly what Ty himself didn’t even seem to know. He’d fallen for the girl.