Law snorted, he couldn’t help it. “Liam is going to worry no matter what. Now he gets dinner from the chef he wanted to meet and gets to have a night with his bestest friend. Overall, I’m thinking that Liam isn’t going to complain one bit.”
“Yeah, it’s been over a month since we’ve seen each other,” Nicky told him. “Too long.”
“I’ve had dinner with them a couple of times,” Law shared. “He mentioned that he wanted you back home.”
“Did you spend Thanksgiving with them?” Nicky asked. “Was it amazing?”
The poor boy. Liam had been upset that Nicky had been out of town. Law hadn’t considered how the trip must have affected Nicky, who was the one that was all alone for the holiday. “It wasa very enjoyable day. Liam was nervous since Josh came to town and he hadn’t met our other teammate yet.”
“He told me he was nervous,” Nicky revealed. “He said Josh was fun though.”
“Josh is a good guy. He loves littles,” Law said. “It helped Jude concentrate on dinner since Josh was there to entertain Liam. Not that you weren’t missed. Apparently, none of us know how to put the stuffies down for their nap properly.”
Nicky finally looked over at him. “It’s a very important job.”
Law grinned back. “I rocked them too fast.”
Nicky’s lips twitched.
It was a complaint that Law hadn’t been prepared for. Caring for stuffies was an especially important job that Liam only trusted to his best friend. “Although we don’t cheat at racing cars,” Law added.
“I don’t cheat,” Nicky declared dramatically. “It’s not my fault Liam is easily distracted.”
“Is he?” Law inquired. That was an apt description of little Liam. The boy moved from one thing to another without thinking to clean up his first mess. Jude’s nights had to consist of constantly picking up toys as Liam spent time regressing nightly before bed. “I never noticed.”
Nicky’s sweet giggled filled the car. Fuck! Law loved that sound. And Nicky regressing made the man appear so different than when Law had first pulled up. The stress creases around Nicky’s eyes and mouth were gone as the boy openly smiled.
“And murder kitty really doesn’t like anyone other than you,” Law said. That damn demon was a pain in the ass. “I still have a scratch on my leg from the last time I walked down the hall and crossed paths with the little monster.”
Nicky slapped his hand over his mouth when his laugh escaped.
“You go ahead and laugh.” Law gave a fake growl. “The little beast is nothing like his sweet owner.” How Liam ended up with such a mean cat Law would never be able to explain. He’d seen Hades pop Liam in the mouth with his furry paw more than once. Of course, Liam merely kissed the monster and called the cat a good boy.
“I can’t reveal my secret, but Hades is easily bribed.”
“Bribed?” Law scoffed. “I’m not bribing a damn cat to get him to like me!”
Nicky shrugged. “Have it your way.”
Damn it! Liam loved that stupid cat. He really needed to be friends with the little demon. Law was just waiting for the day that Jude announced he was moving in with. Meaning that Law was going to have to find a way to make peace with the little monster or end up with more scratches. “How do I bribe him?”
With another giggle, Nicky reached into his pocket and pulled something bright pink out.
Stopping at the red light, Law leaned closer. “Is that a stuffed mouse?”
“Filled with catnip,” Nicky said as he gave the little mouse a wiggle in his direction.
And the boy was definitely Nicky and not the grown-up Nicky any longer. Before Law’s eyes, the boy was slowly regressing. It was amazing to see. “Liam is right,” Law declared. “You are a total cheater.” The light turned green and Law got them back heading toward Liam’s house.
Nicky shrugged. “It’s not my fault that no one else thought about it. Really Jude needs to come up with some way to get on Hades’ good side or he might get smothered in his sleep.”
Law found himself chuckling. It was a concern that Jude had shared with him. The murder kitty wasn’t a fan of sharing his owner and had started sneaking into bed at night. “I won’t tell your secret, but it is going to cost you.”
Nicky hummed. “What’s the price for that exactly?”
“You must let me borrow the mouse when we arrive. If would make Jude angry to no end if the murder kitty was in my arms when they get home.” He pulled onto Liam and Jude’s street.
“Yes!” Nicky clapped his hands. “I love evil plans!”
