Page 71 of Laken's longing

Laken shook his head and growled threateningly at Jupiter, “Don’t you dare say anything.”

The car pulled up outside Ren's, stopping the conversation for the time being, but Laken knew it wasn’t over. His brothers never let anything go.

Inside, Silas and Taylin had grabbed a booth and already had a pitcher of beer. Laken slid in next to Silas and grabbed the pitcher, filling a glass. He downed half in one gulp, preparing for what was coming.

“What’s with you?” Silas questioned, looking from Laken to the laughing idiots crowding into the booth on the other side next to Taylin.

“Laken’s got a boyfriend,” Booker said, grinning like a damn fool.

“What? When did this happen? Because I sure as hell never noticed hell freezing, or rather Lakenunfreezing,” Taylin asked as he poured beer for the others.

Jupiter, who had sat next to Laken, slung his arm over the back of the padded red seat, and gave him a grin that did nothing to help Laken’s mood. He glared at him hard enough to peel paint off the wall. Did it stop the fucker? Not a fucking chance.

“Isley melted his heart right out of his cold chest.” Jupiter cackled like a damn witch.

“Hold up, Isley? That’s who you're dating?” Silas asked, eyes wide with a light of revenge he’d seen a time or two, causing him to stiffen. “What was it you said…never gonna happen.” He sat back holding his sides, laughing hard enough he had tears running down his cheeks. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

“Not fucking funny,” Laken grumbled, unamused.

“It fucking is,” Taylin reiterated, joining in the laughter.

A server came up and gave them all a flirty smile. The guy batted for their team judging by the way he was eyeing them up. “Are we ready to order, or do we need more time?”

“We’ll have six triple cheeseburgers, with bacon and extra cheese, with four sides of slaw and fries,” Booker ordered for everyone.

“Bring four pitchers of beer, too,”—Jupiter added, eyeing Laken with pity—“one of us is gonna need it for the ass ripping they’re gonna get.”

“Fuck you,” Laken growled, his own lips twitching at the server's eyes growing as big as saucers when he finally took a good look at Jupiter’s charming smile.

“Not on your life, that would be Isley’s job now,” Jupiter quipped, back fast as lightning, getting more laughter from the others.

“Did Kari bail on us?” Laken asked to get the conversation away from his personal life.

“Yep, said he had something else to do.”

“More like someone else to do,” Taylin said, looking pointedly at Kodi. “Ain’t that right Kodi?”

“Why you askin’ me?” Kodi blushed harder than a guy on his first date after getting to first base.

“You know what gives. Has anyone noticed he smells different?” Silas said in between sips of beer. He never took his gaze off Kodi, watching him closely.

“Yeah,” Jupiter answered first. “Smells like a certain highland cow had a nibble on him.”

Kodi closed up like a sunflower without the sun, and Silas stabbed a finger in his direction. “You know. Fuck, and you kept quiet?” he said sounding shocked. “In what universe does that ever happen?”

“I can keep secrets!” Kodi scowled at Silas. “Kari will talk about what’s happening when he’s ready. Same as the rest of you. None of you were forthcoming about your romances with your PAs, were you?” he demanded, staring them all down.

Silas nodded, grinning. “You’re right, but thanks for confirming that Kari and Bowie are an item.”

“You fucker,” Kodi laughed. “I’m gonna tell him you tricked it out of me.”

Laken glanced around the table at the laughing men who, by chance, had become his brothers. He didn’t dwell on those who were no longer family. They were as dead to him as he had been to them until they wanted to take from him. He hadn’t questioned what Dad had done with his father. He didn’t need to know that either. Dad’s actions spoke to what genuine love for family was. It was the here and now one had to truly appreciate in life. And Laken, as he met Jupiter’s cheeky smirk, had more than many to be grateful for.

“Don’t get any more ideas about hugging me and declaring how much you love me, okay,” Jupiter whispered in his ear, nudging his shoulder good-naturedly. “I'm done with my quota of lovely dovey crap to last a lifetime.”

“Right, did you tell Isley that so his sugar glider understands? And you know I love a challenge,” he fired back, all teeth and teasing, getting loud laughter in response.

“Beer, we need that beer,” Booker said looking for their server.