“I thought so.” He winked and walked back to Alyssa, and together they made their way into one of the houses. The smell of barbecue filled the air.
Alec’s eyes narrowed in on me before he took one step forward, then another. He was bigger than I remember, like becoming a dad had finally forced his muscular body to erupt into its pure masculine glory, his ever-present swagger made it impossible not to look at his tight black jeans or the way they hugged his legs.
Once, a very long time ago, after the sadness of losing Will had dissipated, Alec Daniels had been a god.
I gulped as he took his little girl from Nat and approached. My attention was immediately captivated by the tiny bundle in his hands, she was older than I expected, so pretty. Before I could stop myself, I was reaching for her, giving her my hand.
She grabbed my thumb giggled and bit it just as Demetri walked back outside.
“Whoa!” I laughed hoarsely. “She’s got teeth.”
“Six.” Alec’s voice softened. And then he did the strangest thing he handed his baby back to Nat. Her face was indifferent as she took the baby and walked inside, and then Alec, the guy who had the most reasons, next to Will to hate me, pulled me in for the biggest hug I’d ever received, lifting me off the ground and then setting me back, gripping my shoulders with his large hands. “Welcome, home.”
“Home,” I repeated.
Will stepped away and barked “what” into his cell.
“It’s where the heart is, right?” Alec’s one dark eyebrow shot up as he looked between me and Will.
“Oh.” I gulped. The pain was almost too much to bear. “No, I mean, it’s not like that… if your hate was the moon his would be a burning star.” I lifted my shoulders and let them fall. “His hate is basically Canis Majoris.”
Alec’s lips twitched and then his gorgeous smile filled the space between us, the once painful space that caused my body to freeze.
And suddenly my limbs were my own again.
I felt my body relax.
My lungs sucked in much needed air.
Because Alec Daniels was laughing.
“Yeah well, hate breeds more hate. Sometimes it just takes losing everything that matters most — to realize that it’s not worth it, hm?”
My eyes narrowed. “You grew up.”
“I can defrost a chicken.” He shrugged. “And last night I fixed the dishwasher.”
“What? They break?” This was news to me.
“Demetri bakes bread.” He offered as we fell into step beside one another.
“Demetri… bakes.” I gave my head a little shake. “The guy used to have trouble ordering takeout. Alec, the number was on the menu, and he still had trouble.”
“Chinese intimidates the best of us.”
“Eh, I think it was the numbers.”
“It was the freaking bird on the logo, and you know it!” Demetri suddenly interrupted us, his tattooed arms crossed as a scowl darkened his face. “And who the hell names their Chinese restaurant Dirty Bird!”
How had we make it into the backyard already?
Lincoln ran over, nearly out of breath. “Who went to Dirty Bird?”
I pointed to Demetri. “He’s scared of the logo.”
“The one with the black bird?” Lincoln frowned.
“Birds are birds,” came Demetri’s explanation as he put on an apron that said “Kiss me I’m one half of AD2.”
I pointed at the apron. “Christmas present?”
“To myself. I sew now.” He gave me a completely innocent grin.
I felt my eyes widen to a painful degree. Do not laugh. Do not make fun of him. They’re being nice. Don’t be yourself. “Wow, that’s… really cool.”
Everyone burst out laughing.
“Ang, I’m totally shitting you, I bought it on Etsy.”
“He knows what Etsy is?” I whispered under my breath so only Alec could hear.
“Don’t get him started,” was his response before slapping me on the back and walking off, leaving me alone with the gang.
My eyes greedily searched for something to do, a place to sit, something to help with. Frozen again.
And then a hand touched my back.
I knew that hand like I knew my own.
I turned.
Will jerked his hand free and slapped a cell onto my palm. “New phone, new number, I can’t have you calling any old contacts and—”
Special moment completely ruined.
Embarrassment complete, I jerked it out of his hand and scowled. “Got it. Wouldn’t want me making you look bad.”
“You do a good enough job with yourself, don’t worry about me.” He snarled.
Behind him, Demetri held up his hands like who the hell pissed in his Cheerios.