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“Don’t you think you should settle that before you get married?”
Noah shook his head. “Lucas worships you. He’ll want to give you anything you want.”
“That’s just it. I don’t want him to agree to kids because it’s what I want. Kids need to be something that he wants too.”
“Is it a make-or-break thing if he doesn’t ever want kids?” Jude asked, his voice low and worried.
“No. I won’t lie and say I wouldn’t be sad if we didn’t have kids, but I love him. He makes me happier than anyone I’ve ever known. I want a life with him. I…I just don’t know how to talk to him about it.”
Hollis leaned forward, both forearms on the table. “I think you should sit him down, look him dead in the eye, and say, ‘Baby, I’m pregnant.’ And just take it from there.”
The table rang with laughter, breaking the growing tension. Andrei shook his head, pushing a stray strand of hair back from his face from where it had pulled loose from his ponytail, but it was Jude who spoke first.
“You know, that might not be a bad way to go. Breaks the ice, gets him laughing.”
“I’ll think about it,” Andrei muttered, smiling as he turned his attention back to the UK game.
They stayed for another hour, eating and watching the games while talking about random things that had happened over the past few months. Hollis even found himself talking to Andrei about the work he did with Shane. He had to give the man credit; Andrei didn’t once mention Hollis joining Ward Security. Jude also spoke highly of his friend.
Hollis stopped in the parking lot, still chuckling from something Noah said as he watched Jude and Noah walk to their respective cars. The cold wind whipped down the hill and around the building to slap them in the face, stealing away any warmth they’d gained from the restaurant. Andrei stood quietly beside him, seeming impervious to the sharp bite in the air.
“Thanks for coming out,” Andrei said and then turned to walk to his own car.
“How often you guys get together?” Hollis called, stopping him.
“Once a month. Usually when Snow’s on nights and Jude’s on days.”
“And they all know…Rowe, Snow, and Lucas…they know about your little night out?”
“Of course.” Andrei smirked. “You don’t have to talk about you and Ian. We’re not some support group. Just friends meeting up for beers.”
There was just the added bonus that these friends would understand what he was going through because they knew Ian, his past, and his family. Hollis couldn’t deny the little knot of warmth that had formed in his chest. It had been a long time since he’d had close friends—people he felt like he could really be himself around. People that felt like home.
Hollis shrugged. “Call me for your next night of beers. I’ll be around.”
“I know you will, Banner. Night,” Andrei called, giving one last wave before he turned to his car.
“Night, ponytail.”
Yeah, he could get used to a family like this.A Night Off“Banner!” Snow shouted while waving one arm behind his back to shoo Ian away.
Ian rolled his eyes at the surgeon’s theatrics, leaning back against the kitchen counter with his arms loosely folded over his chest, well out of Snow’s reach. The scent of cheese and fresh-baked bread filled the kitchen. Through an open window, Ian could hear the soft murmur of Hollis and Jude talking over the sizzle of meat cooking on the grill.
“Where the hell is the cop? He’s always underfoot when I don’t want him,” his friend continued, grumbling under his breath.
Ian smacked the hand still waving in his general direction. “Stop! He’s not a cop anymore.”
“Banner!” Snow shouted again. He moved to the right a little, blocking Ian’s view of the stove and the pot of noodles that was in danger of boiling over. Snow really needed to stir that more or all the noodles were going to stick together. Hell, they were probably done already, but Ian couldn’t be one hundred percent sure unless he checked, and Snow wasn’t letting him anywhere near the stove.
Ian opened his mouth to tell Snow to turn down the heat when the sliding glass door to the patio was pulled open and Hollis stuck his head into the room.
“You call for me?”
“Yes! Get him out of here!” Snow shouted, pointing at Ian.
Hollis cackled and Ian huffed, refusing to move from his spot against the counter. When Snow and Jude invited them over for dinner, he didn’t expect to be completely useless for the night. He usually helped…okay, he usually did most of the cooking even if it wasn’t his house. But upon arriving, Snow and Jude had declared that he wasn’t to do anything. Not a thing.
And it was driving him crazy.
“Come on, baby,” Hollis said. He lifted one hand and crooked a finger, beckoning him outside. “Sit with me. We’ll enjoy the view and have a beer.”
