AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Without taking my eyes off her, I murmured out of the corner of my mouth, “I’m so fucked too, Fletch.”
“Well, let’s cheers to being fucked,” he drawled.
When his fresh beer bottle thrust into my peripherals, I clinked mine against it, secretly over the fucking moon that he and I finally had something in common to bond over: our love of hot, inked women.
CHAPTER8
THE ENTIRE CREW
~ CHRISTMAS DAY—CHAPTER 1 ~
LIL’S POV
“Yay, more presents!” Elodie cheered from the lounge window overlooking the front yard.
I joined her and laughed at Trav staggering his way up the driveway, arms laden with brightly wrapped gifts and Ainsley jogging to catch up.
Meeting them at the door, I whipped it open and stepped back to allow Trav to barrel through.
“Who wants presents?” he yelled, hyping El up.
“I do, I do!” she sang while following him like he was the Pied Piper.
Ainsley groaned as she hugged me. “Sorry, he’s drunk.”
I laughed and squeezed her back. “I expected nothing less. I assume lunch with his parents wasn’t great?”
“It was surprisingly good. Him and his brother had this crazy bonding moment over Fletcher’s new girlfriend, then they both got happy-drunk.”
“Oh fuck,” I snickered, leading her into the lounge where Trav and Elodie knelt under the Christmas tree, shaking the presents.
“Yeah,” Lee deadpanned. “Their mum was trying so hard to be chill, but in the end, me and Megan decided it was best to hit the road before the boys got too rowdy.” She studied Trav for a moment and smirked. “How long do you think it’ll take the guys to notice their matching shirts?”
I giggled and met her hushed tone. “Gage is super reluctant to wear his. He’s still needing some convincing…”
Her light-green eyes danced with amusement. “Is that why he’s not here?”
I scoffed. “He’s here but needed an afternoon nap. Let me go wake him.”
“I’ll stop these two from opening the presents early,” she drawled, walking over to Trav and Elodie.
Their combined laughter and fun banter grew distant as I tracked down the hallway to our bedroom. I paused at the door to enjoy the fleeting moment of peace within the festively chaotic day.
Gage slept on his back with one arm above his head, hand furled into a loose fist. The other rested on his stomach, rising and falling gently with each steady breath.
He’d changed dramatically over the years. The night he’d turned up to a crew party, he was nothing but an angry, broody stranger. Now his smile lit the world more often than not and it warmed my heart knowing he’d found his happy. He sure as hell deserved it.
My past had broken me for a time, and then on a second occasion when Jono returned in a vengeful rage, but Gage’s history was utterly devastating in comparison.
I silently crossed the room and softly laid a hand on his shoulder. He woke with a large inhale and a sleepy smile.
“Hey, Sunshine.”
“Hey yourself. Good sleep?” I perched on the side of the bed when he shuffled across.
He hummed. “I needed it.” A twinkle of desire entered his eyes as he smoothed a hand up my thigh. “Is El asleep too?”
I snagged his fingers before they dipped under my sundress. “You wish. I left Ainsley supervising her and Trav to make sure they don’t open the presents prematurely.”
