“Marvel superheroes, Sesame Street, Where’s Waldo, the sky’s the limit.” I can’t help grinning at his confused expression. “The more elaborate the better, and Ally’s a master at costumes. Last year she had Cade fabricate a bike that would keep her dress out of the gears while she rode it.”
“I hope she won.” Axel snorts.
“There’s no contest.” Sloane shrug. “She does it for bragging rights.”
“I’m going on record, I will not be wearing a costume on opening day, so if Carter does make that a thing make sure Ally doesn’t make anything for me,” I tell Sloan.
“When’s the last time you went out for opening day?” Sloan squints his eyes at me.
“Two years ago, smart ass,” I retort. “Everyone wanted to check out the resort after Carter bought the place, so I closed Murphy’s until dinner, and we all went to the mountain.”
“Spying on me, Lennon?” Carter shoots me a wry smirk.
“Hey, you fail, we all fail. I wanted to know who’s hands my livelihood was in.”
“Did I pass?” Carter asks me.
“Not that day.” I shake my head at him even though I’m smiling.
He puts a hand over his heart. “That’s harsh.”
“What did you expect when you hide away in your office like Oz pulling strings behind a curtain? But don’t worry, you redeemed yourself.”
“Yeah?” He arches a brow.
“I wouldn’t be filling out the lease paperwork for a second location if you hadn’t.” I wink.
“Oz, that’s a good idea. I’ll have to pass it on to Ally in case she wants to do something with that. I bet she could make warm weather costumes for the lion and the tinman pretty easily, and the good witch has that giant dress…” Sloan trails off as he envisions all the things his sister could do.
“How are we back to costumes again?” Axel lets out an exasperated breath. “It’s starting to sound like Ally’s got to approve everything you all wear, and if hanging with you guys means she’s gonna do the same to me she should know my sponsors get sorta prickly if I’m not wearing shit with their name on it.”
“You’re safe except for all but about a dozen days throughout the year.” I pat his chest with an overly wicked smile.
He slings an arm around my shoulders and tugs me to him, planting a kiss on the top of my head. “I can live with that. So, Lennon was a little unclear on the whole bonfire wish thing. Can you say what you ask for, or does speaking about it mean it won’t come true?”
I stay pinned against Axel’s chest as he peppers Sloan and Carter with questions over the top of my head, which has the added benefit of letting me ignore the eyes I feel searching for mine. I have no explanation for the dozen times a year comment or Axel’s response to it, so it’s easier to pretend it didn’t happen. Fortunately, the guys stick close by for the rest of the night, so I never have to elaborate on it to Sloan.
Chapter eighteen
Axel
The smell of stale beer and cigarettes wafts past my nose as the barstool next to me gets claimed, catapulting me out of my daydream about taking Lennon to an event and back to my childhood home. I hate that his scent is still so familiar, even after all these years.
“I’m surprised you have the balls to show your face near me. If I remember right, Trevor said he’d rearrange it if you ever got close again.” I keep my eyes trained forward, hoping that if I don’t look his way, he won’t be able to tell I’m surprised to see him.
The old man makes a show of looking around the restaurant. “Don’t see your guard dog here. Besides, I raised you to fight your own battles.”
“Jace’s dad raised me.” I take a pull from the beer bottle in front of me.
“He stole you from me,” my sperm doner snarls into my ear.
I pretend not to notice how close he is. “That clip Jace posted of our session here is more than a week old, what made you think I’d still be here?”
“That clip had you guys all raving about how amazing the trails are here. Took a chance you’d like ‘em enough to stick around for a while.”
Shit. I’ll have to tell Jace to be more careful about what’s on the audio before he posts stuff. “What do you want?”
Lennon glances my way same as he always does when he has a spare moment, but the slight shake of my head has him turning the other direction instead of coming toward me. Somehow the deadbeat doesn’t miss it.
