“Doll!”
I’d barely gotten time to process the word when strong arms wrapped around my middle and lifted me clear off the ground.
Yelping in surprise, my hands automatically landed on the man’s shoulder in a bid not to fall on the ground in case he decided to drop me. But Alex was there in an instant, snapping at him. “Off.”
Drew rolled his eyes, plastering a wet and loud kiss to my forehead before placing my feet carefully on the ground. “I’m not a dog, Alex.”
“No, you’re not. Even dogs have better training.”
Drew gasped dramatically, eyes widening in mock hurt. “Was that a dig at my mother?”
“We both know Eloise did her best.” Alex muttered, shoving him out of the way, then bent his knees so that we were eye level. “Are you okay?” His eyes dropped pointedly to my stomach.
I nodded, giving him a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. He just took me by surprise, that’s all.”
His eyes softened and he nodded once before turning to Drew and poiting a finger at him. “Don’t do it again.”
The latter simply snorted. “Good to know Laura has turned you into an overprotective asshole.” When Alex simply flipped him off, he faced me, blue eyes alight with amusement. “What crawled up your boyfriend’s asshole?”
I shook my head, laughing. God, it felt so good to see him again after such a long time. I didn’t actually know how much I’d missed him until I saw him coming down from his car, all golden hair and blue eyes, and that crooked smile.
“Leave him alone,” I chided half-heartedly. I knew he didn’t really mean anything by it. “And since when did you start calling me doll?”
His eyes drifted skyward, tapping his index finger to his chin as though he was thinking. Two seconds passed before he looked back down at me with a brow raised. “Since today?”
“Why?”
“Because you look like one?”
“Are you deliberately answering my questions with questions?”
He had the audacity to look confused. “Am I?”
Rolling my eyes, I started walking. “Asshole.”
I didn’t get far before he caught up with me-long legs and all-and tossed an arm around my shoulder. “Missed you too, Doll.”
The whole gang was coming here.
They’d been insisting on coming to see me for a while now, so Alex and I had set up chairs in his yard outside and ordered pizzas and beers for the guys.
Drew was the first to show up, surprisingly early. When I told him this, he claimed he was just that excited to see me.
We’d barely taken three steps before Jack’s car pulled into the driveway, a black Mercedes following closely behind it. That had to be Jake. I thought the car suited him. I wasn’t sure why. It just looked like something he’d drive.
Balery didn’t wait for Jack to help her down from the car before she came out, bounding down the driveway towards me, something Jack obviously wasn’t happy about if the slight scowl on his face was anything to go by.
She threw her arms around me and I laughed, returning her hug. “Hi, Bales.”
Pulling back slightly, she placed her cool palms against my cheeks. “Hi you. How are you feeling?” She gave me a once-over, her eyes bright. “You’re positively glowing.”
I grinned, wiggling my brows suggestively. “Thank you. That’s because I’m getting some.”
I knew she wasn’t just throwing compliments around because I’d noticed it too. When I’d stood in front of the bathroom mirror this morning, I’d noticed there was a little color in my cheeks and my skin had an extra shine to it.
It had taken me by surprise too because I’d looked happy. Truly happy. Of course, I’d shrugged and chalked it up to the delicious orgasms I’d been getting lately, but I couldn’t deny that it was mostly due to Alex. He made me happy. Despite everything that was going on in my life right now-even with my mother’s deteriorating health and the fact that there was someone after my life-it wasn’t affecting me as much as it would have.
A blush stained Balery’s cheeks, just like I’d known it would. “Well then I’m happy Alex is taking care of you.”
Deciding to tease her a bit more, I said, “In a lot of ways and positions I must add-”
“Gross, Laura.” Drew made a gagging sound from behind me. “We don’t need to know what goes on between you and Alex when the lights go out.”
I turned my body slightly in his direction, lifting a brow. “Who says we turn off the lights?”
“Actually,” A deep voice piped in. “I don’t mind you talking about what you do with the lights off-or on.”
Taken aback, I could only blink at him.
Wearing cigar pants with a buttoned-up short sleeve tucked into it, paired with Oxford shoes, the man was a sight to behold. I hadn’t seen him ever since that day we all went our separate ways. I mean I hadn’t seen Drew either, but Jake was still very much intense and I never really mastered the art of looking him directly in the eyes.
His lips kicked up on one side at my reaction. “Hello, Laura.”
Before I knew what was happening, Jack appeared at our side, sweeping me in for a quick hug. “Ignore Drew and Jake. The former is still struggling with living outside the jungle and the latter is still, well, adapting to life on planet earth.”
I snorted. “Hi Jack. How are you?”
“I should be asking you that,” he said instead. “How are you feeling?”
“Good. Great, actually.”
He nodded. “I’m glad.” Then he turned briefly to his wife. “Me and you are going to have words about you leaving the car before me.”
Aiming a sunny smile at him, Balery rose on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Everything but contentment faded from Jack’s expression as he slid his arm around her waist, stealing a real kiss.
I rolled my eyes, groaning in mock torture.
God, they were so disgustingly in love, it was almost sickening to watch.
Of course I not-so-secretly loved it for them. Balery was a vision in her flowery sundress and it satisfied something in me to see her so happy. Jack, too.
Jake fell into step beside me as we all walked to the yard by the side of the house. “Balery told me what happened. Good to see you’re feeling better now.”
I glanced up at him, hoping I did a good job of masking the alarm that coursed through me. “Thank you.”
Subtly, I snuck a glance at Balery. She smiled, letting me know my secret was safe with her.
Apart from Jack, she was the only one who knew about the stalker and I wanted to keep it that way. At least for now.
I was just beginning to wonder where Alex had gone when he came back out of the house through the side door, carrying boxes of pizza.
He threw a warm smile at Balery. “I heard you guys drive in.”
After all the pleasantries-Alex and Balery hugging, then him clapping the guys on their backs in that bro hug-we all settled down. Alex jammed our chairs together so that I was sitting close to him and Jack did the same with Balery’s chair, with Jake and Drew occupying the two chairs in between us.
Try as I might, I couldn’t pretend like I didn’t see the gleam that shone in Balery’s eyes whenever she glanced between me and Alex, sitting next to each other.
I supposed everyone knew we were an item now, because none of the guys so much as batted an eye when they got the invite. I was just surprised that Drew hadn’t teased me about it yet.
“So, Jake, did you miss the memo that this is a casual gathering?” Alex drawled. He had an arm slung over the back of my chair while I leaned slightly into him.
“Does Jake even understand what the word ‘casual’ means?” Drew piped in.
The other man simply smirked, taking a long pull from his drink. “I’ve got somewhere else to go from here.”
“Of course you do,” Drew snorted, then stood up suddenly from his chair. “I’m gonna go get more beer. Anybody want one?”
Both Alex and Jack said they did, but Jake shook his head, saying he only just started drinking his.
“What about you, Doll?” Drew asked me and I shook my head.
“No, thanks,” I mustered a small smile.
“You’re sure? You haven’t had any and you never pass up on an opportunity to drink beer.”
Alex’s hand tensed on my shoulder. I had to think quick else things were going to get very real-and fast.
“My stomach feels queasy right now. I’d rather not upset it further.” I said, making an effort to not let my smile slip.
Drew frowned, but shrugged, turning to Balery, who was watching us with mild interest. “You want one?”
When Balery politely declined, Drew grunted. “You women are weird.” Then walked away, oblivious of the tension he’d unknowingly created.
Meeting Balery’s eyes was hard, so I looked at Jake instead and saw that he’d taken in the interaction quietly. I could literally see the wheels turning behind his dark eyes as he glanced between me and Balery, trying to connect the dots.
A lightbulb came on in his eyes when he did, and his eyes narrowed, then he took another long swig of his beer, saying nothing.
Jack cleared his throat awkwardly-probably in the same situation as Alex was in right now-and no one said anything until Drew returned.
What if Balery wasn’t drinking for the same reason that I wasn’t? It wasn’t really far-fetched but the possibility… Could it really be?
And considering the way Jack had reacted, it made me wonder. What if I was right?
Oh my God.
My heart rate accelerated, but I did my best to tamp it down.
I wasn’t sure. It was just a suspicion.
I needed to chill.
Conversation flowed freely after Drew came back and despite the almost-disaster, I had a great time. It was nice to see the guys again and hanging out with them brought back memories from our time in Miami.
Good memories.
Before they went back that day, as Balery and I hugged, she whispered in my ear low enough that no one else could hear. “We need to talk.”