Page 92 of Chasin’s Surrender

“House kitten,” Nix muttered.

“Whatever,” Chasin muttered back.

Nixon could crack jokes all he wanted and remind Chasin that the team had had fun at his expense when Nix had met McKenna. ‘House kitten’ was one of the tamer jabs they’d tossed his way. Nixon had never responded, never denied it, and now Chasin got it. He didn’t give the first fuck what his team called him as long as he had Genevieve.

“Let me think about it. I won’t make you wait long but I need to talk to McKenna.”

“Appreciate it.”

“We’ll plan a barbeque for this weekend. The women will be thrilled. They’ve been complaining about not being able to properly indoctrinate her and Bobby into the Girl Club.”

And not for the first time, Chasin thought about how lucky his teammates were. Micky, Kennedy, Silver, and Macy were some of the best women he’d ever known. He’d include Charleigh in the group as well but sadly, she’d refused their many invitations to come to Maryland to visit. Chasin knew Charleigh’s denials weighed heavily on Nixon. The man carried unwarranted guilt over Paul’s death and thought that Charleigh blamed him, even though she’d repeatedly told him she didn’t.

Chasin wanted Genevieve and Bobby to get to know the women. He wanted them both to remember there was more out there than the backstabbing bitches and assholes they’d been surrounded by. Good, genuine women they could trust and be friends with.

“Sounds good.”

“I’ll call with an update when I have one.” Nixon disconnected and Chasin looked at Bobby.

He knew the second she’d ended the call she was on and stopped paying attention to whatever she was doing on her laptop and started listening to his conversation. He hadn’t meant for it to be private, so he hadn’t hidden it.

“You’d do that for her?” Bobby asked softly.

“I’d do anything for her.”

“Glad I was wrong about you at first.”

Chasin said nothing but smiled. One of the many things he liked about Bobby was she was a straight shooter. You knew where you stood with Bobby because she made no bones about telling you.

“And I’m glad I was wrong about Viv giving second chances,” she continued. “Though I think that was more about you refusing to allow her to hold a grudge than her forgiving heart.”

She was wrong, Chasin wouldn’t have gotten back in there with Genevieve if she hadn’t already fallen for him. So really, it had nothing to do with him not allowing something and everything to do with him owning her heart. But he didn’t bother explaining that to Bobby.

“I want you to know, whether Nix sells me this place or I find somewhere else, there’ll be room for you.”

Chasin was being presumptuous. He also didn’t care.

“Oh, no. I’ll find something. Neither of you wants me underfoot.”

“Don’t piss me off.”

“Your macho, badass, caveman stuff might work well on Viv but I’m immune, big man. I’m not gonna be the third wheel in your lovefest. Besides, I’ve heard the two of you twice now. And while I adore my BFF, there are things I never want to hear. I can’t go to bed every night wearing my AirPods.”

Fuck. Genevieve would be seriously pissed if she knew Bobby had heard them.

“See, that look right there,” Bobby gently said. “I don’t want that. Viv’s had to pretend to be someone she’s not for so long, I don’t think she remembers what it’s like to just be her. I don’t want her to have to be anything but her, especially in her own home. And that includes being however she wants to be with her hot guy while they’re rockin’ the bed. Just to add, and I’m not tryn’ to be nosy or crass here, but you might wanna reinforce the floor under the bedroom. Holden and I thought the bed was gonna come through the ceiling.”

Fucking shit, Holden had heard, too. He made a mental note to tell his friend to keep his trap shut and never tell Genevieve.

“You know what’s funny? I can see your wheels turning, thinking of the ways you’re gonna shield Viv from the embarrassment of knowing we heard you. That’s why I know I’m not needed. She doesn’t need me to run interference anymore now that she has you. And something tells me you’ll be much better at it than I ever was.”

Sadness slashed across Bobby’s face and pain shone brightly in her eyes.

“You do know that there was nothing you could’ve done to prevent this, right?”

“I made too many mistakes. I had no control over some asshole becoming obsessed, but I should’ve found a way to put a stop to it long before it got this far.”

“Yo!” Holden called from the door as he entered the house, effectively ending their conversation.