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“What?”
His friends shared a look before they each leaned against the wall.
“What’s really going on with you and Emma?” Tully crossed his arms, showing off his tattoos as his massive arms flexed.
“Sounds like you’re getting serious.” Mitchell had a long-sleeved Henley on which hid his markings. He hooked his ankles as he reclined.
“Because I’m taking her with me to San Antonio? I told you why that was happening.”
“Don’t bullshit us, Linc.” Tully frowned at him.
Mitchell mimicked the motion. It was their thing, being truthful with each other. No matter how much they didn’t want to.
So, he came clean. “I like her. A lot.”
They shared a “no shit” look between them before they glanced to him.
“And Greer.”
Tully grinned wide. “She’s freaking adorable, no argument. Even Legs has mentioned how much more outgoing the kid’s become.” He shook his head. “But this is more than a work thing.”
Linc zipped the weekender bag closed after shoving the last shirt in and flopped on the bed next to it. “I’m falling in love with this woman. Hell, perhaps I have already. Christ, I’m…” He toyed with the metal keyring on the main zipper, the roaring lion which had been the symbol of his life for a long while. “I don’t know.”
“Far be it from me to tell you you’re not in love with the woman. Both of you know how fast I fell for my Legs.”
He glanced at Tully then Mitchell.
His friend pushed a hand through his locks while releasing a sigh. “We all know how my marriage went into the shitter. I’m not going to lie and say I am a true believer in love right about now, but I can say I see how happy this woman and her child make you, Linc. For what it’s worth, to me she seems like one of the good ones. You know this, though, we talked about it. A WAG you wouldn’t have to worry about.” A shoulder bump. “Not like that’s a thing that needs to concern you now, but still. You know how I was raised.”
Mitchell held out his hands when Linc opened his mouth.
“This isn’t about me and my screwed-up outlook on things because of how I was raised. This is us supporting you and the woman you’re in love with.”
Shit, he loved his friends.
“Thanks.”
They both nodded and jumped on the bed beside him, making the bag bounce off. “So, we haven’t caught up in a while,” Tully said, lying on the bed like he had a right to. “Tell us about getting caught at the drive-in.”
“And bowling at Spare.” Mitchell nudged him in the arm. “You’ve been holding back on us.”
“Fuck you both.”
They snorted.
“Sounds like that’s what you were doing at the drive-in,” Tully said, stroking his beard. “On your lap, under a blanket.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Fuck off, it’s not like that with us. Don’t make me tell Dawson on you for being rude.”
Tully sobered up. “Low blow, man.”
“Keep being mean and you’ll be blowing yourself. I mean, if you could reach that tiny dick.”
Mitchell leaned against the headboard, a smile teasing the corners of his mouth.
Tully cupped his junk through his pants. “Suck this.”
Linc just punched him in the shoulder. Tully retaliated and it was like they were kicked to childhood where everything turned into a scuffle. They fought for headlocks and rolled around. Wrapped tight around one another, they both stiffened when the door opened and Mr. Conner poked his head in. Large feet planted on his shoulder and shoved. He and Tully slid off the bed and onto the floor, courtesy of Mitchell.
Mr. Conner watched them for a moment, lips twitching. “Good to see some things never change. Just remember, you’re bigger and stronger now. Don’t break anything.” Then he shut the door on them.
Linc looked at Tully and as one they rushed Mitchell, who sat there entirely too smug for just having pushed them off the bed.
After they finished behaving like the little boys they had been, they went downstairs where Mr. Conner had set out a large spread.
“Thanks, Pops.”
The man smiled at the three of them. They stood still, aware he was double checking for anything which may need to be patched up.
“Gotta feed my boys.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m off to take my walk. If I’m not back before you leave, Linc, take good care of that woman and knock ’em dead.”
“Yes sir.”
After giving Linc a hug, his father got one from each of his friends and left with a wave over his shoulder. As they stood at the table and put together their sandwiches, Linc pointed the knife in his hand at Mitchell.
“You know, he’s going to start on you next.”
Mitchell glanced up from where he spread Miracle Whip on one side of the cut hoagie bread in his hand. “What are you talking about?” The panic in his gaze told Linc Mitchell knew exactly what he meant.
