“I fucking love you.”
His hazel eyes warm, his smile pulling back until his dimples appear.
“Congrats, brother.” Boston pushes himself into our space and pulls Declan in for a hug. When he steps back, he glances between us, green eyes all perceptive and shit. “So, now that you’re engaged for real, can we talk about how Forker is pretending to have a whole girlfriend?”
Jesus,Boston!
I look over my shoulder quickly, ensuring that nobody important is within hearing distance. “Shut the hell up. That’s a secret, you idiot!”
Boss smirks, but looks back at Lowesy. “Seriously, though.”
“He’s gotta do what he’s gotta do,” Declan says, thankfully keeping his voice low. He shakes his head and lets out a longbreath. “Survival, Boss. He’s finally thrown one punch too many.”
“No such thing,” I correct.
Boss shoots me a look. He points a finger in my direction. “That, right there, is not the attitude that proves you’re even remotely trying to change.”
I blink. “Who said anything about changing? Arden is a front to keep my job. That’s all this is. I never intended on undergoing a brain transplant.”
“You should also probably stop punching people,” Declan says.
“Off the ice,” Boss clarifies quickly.
“You can’t have it both ways,” I tell them. “I swing everywhere, or nowhere at all.”
“Poetic,” Declan says, dipping his chin.
“Beautiful.” Boss nods, sarcasm dripping from him.
“This isn’t about me!” I scold them. I gesture back at Declan. “Lowesy just proposed to Sweets. Let’s focus on that. There are wedding bells ringing and you’re focusing on where my fist has been.”
Declan physically recoils, disgust washing over his face. “What?”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. Are we twelve?
“You know what I meant.”
“I can assure you that I havenointerest in where your fist has been.”
I’m not going to make it out of this conversation alive.
“Focus on the proposal!” I hiss.
“Good point. When are you proposing to Arden?” Boss asks, blowing a pink bubble.
I glare at them both, rolling my eyes at the amused grin on Dec’s face. I’m clearly not getting anywhere here, and I’d rathertalk to someone whowillwant to focus on what this night is about.
Arden’s already holding her fingers, staring at her ring in awe, immersed right in Penny’s group of girls like she belongs there.
It’s a nice view.
“Wait,” Dec says, pulling me back by my shoulder before I can scurry off. He glances at both of us. “I’m going to have a poker night in two weeks. On Friday. Attendance is mandatory from both of you.”
Boston nods. “Can you text us to remind us? I’ve had one whiskey too many.”
I echo that sentiment, but with beer.
Declan chuckles, nodding. He’d expect nothing less from us on a night like tonight. “Alright, alright. Just be there, okay? If you have plans, reschedule.”
