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“So, about you.” She gives him a cool glance as she picks up her phone again. “Matty's thrilled that once again you're crashing something you weren't invited to.”

“He was invited,” I grumble irritably.

Salem tosses me a pointed look. “We're staying at his house and you didn't even ask.”

Dev lets his head thump against the window again. “Trust me, I wanted to stay behind. I’m not even supposed to leave the state on probation.”

“I didn't force you, motherfucker,” I argue. “Just thought maybe you'd want to go on a trip like friends do?”

Okay, maybe I'd guilted him into it a little. So what?

“Begs the question,” Salem murmurs, turning to look at me again. “Why did you want him along, anyway?”

I clench my jaw until the muscles ache. “Why does there have to be a reason?”

Truth be told, there is a reason, but I'm not telling her shit. As much as I want to trust Dev, I'm not sure I do yet—definitely not enough to leave him alone all weekend with Logan and Owen after he made out with them. Look, the last time I left Dev alone with someone he's fucked, he did it again. Only then, it was Arya and it was behind my back.

I'm gonna need a little more time to trust him again. And despite what he thinks, I wasn't planning on bringing home that chick from the club. I'm an asshole, but not that much of an asshole.

The remainder of the trip goes smoothly. Salem and I spend the hours talking business while Devon mainly sleeps. Guy is not a morning person at all. When we finally pull into Xed and Matty's driveway after ten hours on the road, I'm fucking exhausted.

Of course, Hannah's already waiting on the large front porch, jumping in excitement.

“Auntie Sal!” The nearly seven-year-old launches herself down the steps at full speed when we get out of the truck, almost tripping over her shoelaces before slamming into Salem’s legs.

“Hi, Bean!” Salem laughs, dropping her camera bag just in time.

I ruffle Hannah's long brown hair. “Swear you get taller every time I see you.”

That earns me a beam of pride and a hug. “I grew two inches. Daddy measured me.”

Devon climbs out of the passenger seat, rubbing his eyes with a stretch. Hannah freezes, then tugs on Salem’s shirt until she leans down. “Who's that?”

“That’s Dev. You met him a couple of years ago at your grandparents' house, but you probably don't remember.”

And thank God, because that trip had been a disaster. We'd all traveled to Lake Havasu for Matty's wedding to Hannah's mother, Val. Xed showed up in the nick of time and caught the bitch cheating with one of Matty's teammates. Real romantic, love story shit. Now the two of them are married instead.

Hannah shrugs, distracted by Huck and Tay when they pull in behind us. She skips off to greet them and I look over to see her dads standing in the doorway.

“What up, what up,” I say, trudging up the porch steps to pull Matty in for a bro-hug. He's still built like a brick shithouse, all muscles and light blond hair. Beside him, Xed stands in his usual all-black attire, dark hair grown out from the mohawk he used to have.

“How was the drive?” Xed asks, though his eyes are trained over my shoulder on Dev.

I give a little shrug, feeling awkward when I remember that the two of them used to have a thing. Or some kind of thing. And Xed's name is tattooed on Devon's ass. “Long and boring.”

“Sounds about right.” Xed glances up at his husband, who still hasn't spoken. When I follow his gaze, I find Matty staring at Dev as well.

“He won't cause any trouble,” I mumble, wincing internally when Matty's blue eyes swing my way. He looks unconvinced.

“Last time I saw that asshole, he nearly ruined my wedding.”

Xed rolls his eyes. “Ex wedding. He didn't ruin our wedding.”

“Yeah, well. Still. He ruins almost everything.”

Salem appears beside me to draw Xed in for a tight squeeze. “Missed you so much,” she says, kissing his cheek before punching Matty on the arm. “Stop sulking. It'll be okay. Devon's turned a new leaf, hasn't he, Christian?”

I just glare at her as Tay, Huck, and Hannah join us in the doorway.