by Toni Aleo
“I mean, maybe not fire, but I’d walk through some glass for Brie.”
When a jab came to his back, they all laughed, turning to find Brie standing behind him with a huge plate of nachos in her hand. “I’ll kill you dead.”
Taking a nacho, Vaughn nodded to her. “I mean, I’d walk through a volcano for my love.”
“That’s better,” she said, cuddling into his side as she munched on her nachos. “Where is my bestie?”
Vaughn moaned as Jensen laughed. “She wasn’t feeling well.”
“I should have said that.”
“Hey!”
She beamed up at Vaughn. “Even.”
“Even.”
Jensen laughed as he leaned into Wells. “Don’t worry about it, man, it will work out. But if, for some reason, you wanna call off the wedding, please let me know first so Wren and I can leave before your mom finds out.”
Wells laughed at that as he nodded, holding his fist out. “Deal.”
Jensen tapped his fist to Wells’s and they shared a smile, but Jensen knew Wells would be okay. Wells loved Alex, Jensen knew that. Though he didn’t care for the guy much, Alex was Wells’s dude, so Jensen would treat him like he did Wells, with nothing but love. But Jensen wouldn’t be naïve to the situation. Wells had loved Matty like Jensen loved Wren, and that kind of thing didn’t quit. He knew that firsthand, and Jensen wasn’t sure what that meant for Wells and Alex.
Either way, he prayed he and Wren weren’t there for the aftermath of whatever the hell happened.
“Where is Alex?” Vaughn asked them, and Jensen glared.
Shrugging, Wells was looking at the ice. “He didn’t want to come.”
Vaughn made a disgruntled face. “Well, that’s not good. We are family, and you gotta celebrate with us. What, he doesn’t like us?”
Jensen jabbed him with his elbow when he noticed Wells getting upset. “Let it go.”
Vaughn glared. “But, really—”
Before he could finish, though, someone said, “There they are! The Turbulent Three.”
Holy shit, he hadn’t heard that in years. As he turned around, a grin covered his face when he saw who had said it.
“Bradley Washington! Man, how are you?” Jensen said, taking his hand and being drawn into a man-slapping hug. He hadn’t seen Bradley in years. Every time Jensen was home, Bradley was usually up in Colorado Springs where his law firm was, so they kept missing each other. “It’s great to see you.”
“You too, man. I was worried I’d miss everything. I was hauling ass back. How are you?”
“Great, thanks,” he said as Vaughn hugged him tightly and then Wells.
“I just saw you, like, last week,” Wells laughed, and Bradley nodded as Vaughn brought Brie out, wrapping his arms around her.
“This is my girl, Brie, and, yes, I knocked her up.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Bradley teased as he shook her hand. “And I have to say, you did good, Jo.”
“Damn right, I did,” he said, kissing Brie’s cheek as she rolled her eyes.
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” he said, clapping his hands together. “So you guys are going to have to let me buy you a beer, celebrate this big win!”
“Yeah, we’d love that. Because I love beer, especially free beer,” Vaughn said, and everyone laughed.
“Yeah, ’cause I’m sure you’re hurting for money.”
Vaughn pressed his lips together. “Yes, help me, I’m poor.”
“Stop! Don’t listen to him,” Brie laughed, smacking Vaughn’s chest. “He’s insane.”
“Hey, Shanna! Over here!”
Everyone looked to where Wells was yelling as Shanna grinned, coming over toward them, a baby on her hip and one holding her hand. “Hey, everyone!”
“Hey,” they all greeted as she handed off one of the kids to Bradley.
“I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find you guys. This is some crowd. Congratulations, guys!” She leaned over, kissing Jensen’s and then Vaughn’s cheek before she waved Wells off. “I just saw you.”
“You did, but I think you’re more gorgeous than yesterday.”
She laughed. “I combed my hair.” Everyone laughed as Jensen looked Shanna over. She hadn’t changed since they were kids. Still with the big, dewy eyes and thin as all get-out. He wasn’t sure he believed what Wren had said about Shanna judging her because it seemed to him she was exactly the same, and still kind. But then, he had only been around her for like five seconds, so what did he know? Her brother, though, was bigger, goofier-looking. Jensen never thought Bradley would do much with his life, but he had been wrong. Big-time lawyer, but still put out a douchey vibe.
When Shanna met his gaze, Jensen smiled as she beamed before saying, “I hear I need to send you an even bigger congratulations.”
His grin grew. “Thanks. We’re really excited.”
“Where is Wren?”
“She wasn’t feeling well. She’s always so tired, so she’s back at the house.”
Her shoulders fell. “Well, hell, I wanted to see her. I haven’t spoken to her in forever,” she said sadly, and Jensen nodded, unsure what to say.
But then Bradley asked, “Wait, what?”
Shanna looked back at him. “You know, Wren and Jensen got married, are having a baby! Isn’t that awesome? I always knew you guys would end up together. She had such a crush on you when we were growing up. Even after that horrible kiss you two had.”
Vaughn and Wells sputtered with laughter as Jensen glared. “It wasn’t that bad!”
“That’s not what I heard,” she laughed, and even Brie was laughing. Everyone was, except for Bradley.
“Wait, what? You married Wren? Wells’s baby sister?”
Jensen eyed him as he nodded slowly. “Yeah, about a month ago. I mean, I don’t see her as a baby,” he laughed, waggling his eyebrows at Wells, to which he gagged.
“Please. Don’t.”
The laughter surrounded Jensen, and he missed Wren. He wished she were there.
“You married Wren Lemiere.”
Looking back at Bradley, Jensen furrowed his brow. “Yeah, why?”
Bradley protested, shaking his head. “Dude, it’s weird. I never saw that coming.”
Shanna scoffed. “What? They were totally hot for each other! For, like, ever.”
That made Jensen smile, but he didn’t know how he felt about Bradley’s confused gaze or the way his mouth was still hanging open. “I didn’t realize.”
“Yeah, Jenny here has been sticky-sweet for Wrenny-boo his whole life. Now he’s got her, got himself a son coming along, and yeah, we’re proud of the man he is becoming,” Vaughn teased, and Jensen rolled his eyes. “He finally lost his virginity.”
“Stuff it, asshat,” Jensen shot back as they laughed at his expense. “You’re doing the same thing. Shit, so are you.”
Wells shrugged. “Hey, I’m happy for you.”
“So am I, I just like teasing you,” Vaughn said, smacking him on the back.
“So, it’s a boy?”
Confused, Jensen looked back at Bradley as Vaughn said, “What?”
“Wren is having a boy?”
Jensen’s face scrunched up, and he couldn’t help but notice that Bradley looked as if he was having a coronary. “Yeah, she’s due in September. We haven’t named him yet. We are kind of sucking at that,” he laughed, trying to ignore Bradley, though it wasn’t working. Something didn’t seem right about his reaction to all this.
“I told you, Vaughn is a solid name.”
“So is Wells.”
“No and no,” Jensen said simply as Brie and Shanna beamed up at him.
“I really wanna see her. Maybe we can all do lunch? I know Jay would love to see you again. He’s at home with my oldest, he’s got strep.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. Let me talk to her, and she’ll get ahold of you. I’ll make sure of it,” Jensen said sweetly, though Shanna didn’t seem co
nvinced.
“Wow,” Bradley said again, and now Jensen was glaring. “I can’t believe it.”
He wasn’t sure how to take that. Staring his old friend down, Jensen almost told him to shove it, but Shanna beat him to it.
“Believe what, Brad? People have babies and get married all the time. You just did it, so why is it weird for Wren and Jensen? You’re being stupid, stop.” Shanna scowled, shaking her head. “He isn’t too bright.”
But Jensen wasn’t sure that was the issue.
No, he was pretty sure it was more than that.
“Dad is pretty set on Gunner. He said it again when you guys got home.”
Looking over at Jensen from the list she and her mom had made that afternoon, Wren pursed her lips. “But I don’t have a middle name to go with it.”
Jensen was leaned back in the seat, his hand hanging loosely on the wheel as he drove up to Colorado Springs. Since their little town didn’t have a trendy club, as Alex had put it, for everyone to gather at, they were making the trek up to the nearest one, which was about thirty minutes away. Plus, Alex wanted everyone to get dressed up and be ritzy for the night. And boy, did her husband come sporting. He wore a nice, fresh blue suit that hugged his thighs perfectly, and Wren was getting hot staring at him from the seat beside him. His hair was brushed to the side, his face freshly shaven since apparently Wells said he wouldn’t have Jensen looking like a lumberjack in his wedding pictures. She sort of missed it, and soon, she found herself reaching out, cupping his chin.
“I miss your beard.” He smiled before nipping at her hand as she giggled, letting her hand fall to his thigh. “So what do you think?”
He had been quiet since he’d gotten home. She was pretty sure he was pussyfooting around her parents. Though, they both hugged him tightly and told him they loved him dearly, she knew he was nervous about upsetting them. Even when they were getting ready, he seemed to be in his own world. “I miss my beard too.”
She smacked his thigh. “I mean the name, dork.”
“Oh, yeah,” he said, flashing her a grin. “Gunner…Gunner, yup, I got nothing.”
She laughed. “Gunner Antoine?”
“No.”
“Gunner Winston?”
“Ew, no.”
“Gunner Wells?”
“Wren, no.”
She giggled. “Gunner Vau—”
“You say it, and I swear on everything holy, I’ll never put my mouth between your legs again.”
That had her laughing from her gut, shaking her head. “Fine, Gunner… What’s your middle name?”
His lips quirked. “You don’t know my middle name?”
“No.”
“Jesus, what kind of wife are you?’
She scoffed. “’Cause you know mine?”
“Yeah, it’s Josephine.”
She shrugged. “That’s cause my mom yelled it all the time. What’s yours?”
He laughed. “Cade.”
A grin came over her lips. “Cade? I love that. Jensen Cade Monroe. That’s hot.”
“I’ll tell my mom you think so,” he teased, and she beamed over at him.
Saying the name over and over again in her head, she finally said it out loud. “Gunner Cade Monroe?”
He nodded, obviously thinking it over. “I think I love it.”
“I do too!” she gushed, circling Gunner on her list and then writing Cade beside it. “Did we finally name our kiddo?”
Covering her hand with his, he nodded. “I think we did.”
“Hear that, kiddo? You got a name now, it’s Gunner Cade. What do you think?”
She waited for something, a kick or movement, but her little guy must have been sleeping.
“What did he say?” Jensen asked.
“Nothing, he’s probably sleeping.”
“Well, if he’s anything like you, that’s definitely a possibility.”
She shot him a look as she said, “Har, har, har.”
Kissing her palm, he held her hand at his lips as he pulled into the trendy nightclub that Alex had picked out for them. It was large and made of brick, but she knew the inside would be insane. Lots of techno music and lights. Parking the car, he kissed her hand once more before looking over at her. “You seem to be in a good mood.”
She smiled with a shrug. “It was good to have that talk with my mom.”
“I’m sure, and I’m glad you did.”
“Me too,” she agreed, her eyes meeting his. He looked so damn good, so handsome that she found herself moving without even realizing it, and she pressed her lips to his. “You look really good tonight.”
“I have to say, I was thinking the same about you,” he whispered against her lips. “I wanna slide that naughty skirt of yours up, take ahold of that gorgeous ass of yours.”
“Mmm,” she murmured against his lips, kissing him once more. “Who’s stopping you?”
A devilish grin came across his lips as he slid his hand to her thigh, taking the hem of her skirt in his hand. But before he could lift it up, pounding came to both sides of the car. Jumping in surprise, they bumped heads before groaning. “What the hell?” he snapped before looking over to see her idiot brother grinning at them through the window like a ten-year-old. On the other side was Vaughn.
“Fucking children,” she muttered as her door opened, and Vaughn was there to take her hand.
“Did we interrupt something?”
“Shove it, Jo,” she spat at him as he helped her out before he scoffed.
“God, you’re getting big.”
“Thanks,” she bit out as Brie smacked him.
“Don’t say that! You aren’t, Wren. You look gorgeous. I wish I looked like you.”
“Shove it, Brie,” she teased, and Brie laughed as they hugged tightly.
“But, really, can I borrow this dress? You look smoking in it.”
Wren looked down at the dress that held to her curves like a second skin. Jensen had picked it out for her when they had gone shopping after her suit fitting. Yes, she was wearing a suit to her brother’s wedding, despite her mother’s protests. Wells was adamant about it. Even if it was annoying and Wren looked dumb in a suit, she did it for him. It was his wedding. Though, her mother was trying her best to change it even after Wren said she’d wear a dress to the reception.
Either way, it was a bunch of pointless drama, but that was her brother.
But her dress was pretty. It was a wrap dress with a long slit in the front and was strapless, which was becoming an issue with her huge tits, but Jensen had loved it. He had been basically drooling in the shop, so of course, she’d bought it. Paired it with high, sparkly pumps that made the purple of the dress pop. She’d admit it, she looked damn good.
“I mean, if it can fit your itty-bitty body, then sure.”
Brie waved her off. “We’re the same size.”
Wren scoffed. “On Mars.”
That had both women laughing as they locked arms and walked toward the building, and the boys followed behind them. “So you missed one hell of a Cup party.”
“I know. I’m bummed, but I was so tired. I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Yeah, and at least you came out tonight since I’m pretty sure this Alex guy doesn’t like me.”
Wren scoffed. “I don’t think he likes any of us, except for Wells.”
They giggled together as Jensen held open the door, and soon they were seated in the VIP spot Wells had secured for them. The club was rocking, lights and bodies moving as one as Wren sat down on the couch. Jensen sat beside her, his body pressed against hers in such a natural way. Drinks were ordered, along with Wren’s not-wine, which was water, and it wasn’t long before the conversation was flowing just as the music was. Things were going great, everyone was having a good time, the appetizers were great, and Wren couldn’t take her eyes off Jensen.
He was gorgeous.
Leaning into him, she pressed her lips to his ear. “I want to do you, right here.”
He smiled so hard as he covered her hand with his, stopping her from feeling him up in front of everyone. “Are you sure you’re only drinking your not-wine?”
She giggled. “Yeah, I’m not intoxicated by anything but you.”
Turning his face, he met her hot gaze, and she swore she had never seen him smile so brightly. “I can’t with you. Stop it before I carry you out of this place.”
Testing him, she moved her hand up, coming right to the bulge in his pants. “Promise?”
“Fucking evil,” he muttered, shaking his head before he captured her mouth and everything just stopped. His lips were magical, his hands were sinful, and she couldn’t handle it. She really couldn’t. She was two seconds from climbing in his lap, when he pulled back, once more shaking his head. “Stop.”
“What?” she asked innocently.
“You’ve got those damn sex eyes blazing at me. Quit.”
She giggled softly as she pursed her lips. “Kiss me.”
He did as she asked, cupping her face as he did. When he pulled away, his eyes were soft as he whispered, “I love you like this.”
She exhaled dreamily. “Me too.”
He gave her a wink just as Wells called for their attention. Kissing her once more, Jensen turned back to the conversation he was in before Wren interrupted him. Not that she cared. She could if she wanted.
He was hers.
The thought made her fucking giddy.
When Alex reached over, taking Wren’s hands in his, she was shocked since he had never touched her before, but she smiled nonetheless. Alex, on the other hand, was drunk, but still, this was her future brother-in-law. “Wren, I need you to teach me to do makeup. You’re amazing!”
Brie nodded, holding her water up. “I tell her that all the time. She’s so gorgeous.”
“She is. You have to teach me your ways.”
But Wren laughed. “For what?”
Alex grinned. “Because I’m going to start competing in drag shows. Wells didn’t tell you?”
Wren’s face scrunched up because she hadn’t heard that at all, and that was well beyond what she thought her brother was into. He liked his men low-key gay, but manly. He wasn’t into flamboyant types. She knew that for a fact since she’d tried hooking him up with a lot of her ex-coworkers. “Oh. No. Okay. Yeah,” she was sputtering since she was confused, but who was she to judge?
