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I study Maddie as she tenses, and her spine goes straight. She’s watching Liam’s every step as he rounds the banister with half-opened eyes. His hair is messy as hell, which is his norm. It only looks tamed after a shower and he finger-combs it. We’ve been friends and roommates for way too long for me not to know his routine. Maddie is gawking and possibly drooling at the fact that he’s built like a linebacker, and his shorts aren’t concealing much.
Sophie blinks, shifting her eyes from him, and I wonder if she’s blushing because of how he looks or because we all saw more than we bargained for.
“We aren’t alone, dude,” I tell him, chuckling. He’s halfway to the kitchen when he pauses and looks over his shoulder, finally realizing Sophie and Maddie are on the couch next to me. As if his luck would have it, Lennon comes out of the bathroom at the same time and runs into him.
“Oh my God!” She pushes his chest. “Put some clothes on, Liam!” Lennon covers her eyes as she walks around him.
I laugh, knowing Lennon is one hundred percent devoted to Hunter and will more than likely tell him about this later.
“Yeah, Liam,” I mock. “Your booty shorts are a bit revealing.”
“Last I checked, I live here!” he shouts, flashing me the bird over his head as he continues walking toward the kitchen, no doubt about to snag a cup of coffee.
“Oh my God. I must be dreaming,” Maddie mutters, her body still frozen in place.
Lennon comes over and pinches her arm.
“Hey, what the heck?” Maddie rubs a hand over the spot.
“Just confirming you’re not dreaming and still virginal.” Lennon shrugs with a knowing grin. “Let’s go.”
“That was uncalled for!” Maddie whines, standing up and following Lennon.
I stand with Sophie and walk her to the door. “You’ve got this.”
She nods and pinches her lips together into a small smile. “Thanks. We shouldn’t be too long.”
Wrapping one arm around her shoulders, I pull her into my side, then kiss her forehead. “See ya soon.”
I watch as Lennon drives off with Sophie in the front next to her. Maddie’s in the back, leaning forward to be closer to them. I wave to them, and then they’re gone.
“What happened to getting our boys-only crib back?” Liam complains the second I sit on the couch next to him.
I snort at his choice of words. “Sorry, man. Back to pants you go.” Narrowing my eyes at him, I add, “And not only for her sake but also for mine. Did you shrink your clothes or something?” I ask, laughing.
“Dude, shut the fuck up. I was on the road and needed some new ones. These were the closest to my size I could find at the time.”
“You might want to retire them then.” I lean over and grab my mug from the coffee table. “If you bend over, they’re going to rip right down the middle.” I can’t stop laughing as I try to take a sip, and without another word, Liam stands up, pulls his boxers down to his feet, then kicks them off before sitting back down.
“Better?” He faces me with a shit-eating grin.
I fly off the couch, nearly spilling the hot liquid on myself, and glare at him. “Pretty sure I’ve had a chick on that couch at one point,” I tell him as I head to the kitchen for food.
“Pretty sure I did too,” he calls out.
“Jesus fuck. I’m done with you.”
An hour later, Hunter comes over, and Liam finally gets dressed. I refuse to sit by him, though, just in case he decides to do another strip show. Hunter can get that surprise instead.
“So where’s Allie?” I ask when I notice Hunter carrying two six-packs of beer instead of a car seat.
“Mrs. Locke wanted her for the day, which means I’m getting shitty. It’s been way too damn long,” he explains, grabbing a bottle and twisting it open. They’re lucky to have Brandon’s mother in their lives to give them little breaks.
“It’s not even noon.” I can’t help laughing, knowing how exhausted he’s been with their six-month-old. Now that Lennon is pregnant again, I know Hunter is probably taking more of the diaper duties at night. He’s been fiercely protective of her ever since she got pregnant the first time.
“It’s five o’clock somewhere.” Hunter chugs his beer until it’s nearly half gone.
“Been rough or what?” I ask, deciding to grab one too.
“Lennon has been sick all week, even worse than the first time she was pregnant. She didn’t have morning sickness then, but certain smells would make her nauseous. Now she’s puking her guts out all day long, so on top of taking care of her, I’m trying to take the baby responsibilities at night so she can get some rest.”
Hunter’s a damn saint, and I know he loves her more than anything. He has put Lennon’s and then Allie’s needs in front of his own since the day Brandon died, and I’m so proud to call him one of my closest friends.
