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Chapter Nineteen
~ Mars ~
“A lot an happen in a week,” I mused, holding up my beer while the guys surrounded me on Bare’s deck. I hadn’t seen Ian and Flip in weeks. I had been busy with Willa, who had come with him to the gathering and was in the kitchen with Reba, Petra and Flip’s woman. They were all oohing over the new baby and leaving us guys to our devices.
“Yeah…” Flip agree, yawning.
“Speaking of, how’s the dad life.”
“Awesome.”
“My dad’s selling the house,” I announced, knowing they were waiting for me to broach the subject.
“I’ve heard the shit’s really hitting the fan since last week,” Ian said. He peered past me into the house, finding his wife, before he refocused on our circle. He was completely infatuated. We all were. It was kind of a miracle that we were out here and not in there with them.
“Oh yeah, people are coming out of the woodwork with things to say about Ardith and Niles. She’s trying to rally some support against Mars’ dad but it’s not really happening,” Bare agreed.
I just sipped my beer and listened while they talked around me. By now, they all knew what had happened. It was embarrassing yet strangely empowering not to have that secret hanging over me anymore. During the past week, each of them had spoken privately with me and let me know how they supported me, and how I was still their good ol’ Mars—except maybe stronger in their eyes
I didn’t feel so strong. I’d woken with nightmares every night and sometimes turned agitated for no reason. Reba was always there to soothe me though. The doctors told me it was a side effect of the Rohypnol in my system. That fucking pissed me off.
I took another sip of my beer before I got lost in my anger.
“So you going to your place tonight?” Bare asked me. His eyebrow lifted and I knew he’d changed the subject on purpose.
My condo was finished. Willa and Ian had moved into their place yesterday and tonight, Reba would get to see our new home for the first time.
“Yeah, looking forward to it.”
“Man, me, too,” he said. “You snore.”
“Aw, fuck you. I do not.”
“How do you know if you’re asleep?” he returned.
“Reba would tell me.”
“Tell you what?” she asked, choosing that moment to come outside.
“Bare says I snore.”
“Oh, you totally do,” she said, her eyes twinkling. She looked around. “I’ve been sent too see if anyone need another drink?”
“I do not!” I protested.
“Okay, no drink for you. Guys?”
“I don’t snore.” I set my beer on the deck beside me, then pulled her into my lap, tickling her. “Take it back.”
She laughed, wiggling to get away. “Okay, okay!”
“Say it.”
“You don’t snore.”
I let her up then looked at the guys. “See.”
“But you do,” Reba trilled and dashed into the house. I jumped up and ran after her. I scooped her over my shoulder.
