Page 49 of Tied Over

“Me, my father, Davis, Bodhi, you, all of us.”

I nodded. “I can’t play golf, right?”

“Oh no, I know. But you can sit in the golf cart and drink with the rest of us.”

“I won’t be doing that,” I informed him, “because I’m supposed to be resting, since I was shot and all.”

They were all silent, staring, like perhaps I’d just reminded them.

“Of course,” Hank said after a moment. “The house is yours, Jed. You just relax.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“And I’m sure we can talk Bodhi into coming along with—”

But he shifted then, curling into me, arm sliding around my waist, face pressed into the side of my neck, leg over both of mine. He was so comfortable in my space, as I was in his, but still, it had to have looked odd from Hayden’s perspective.

It felt tense until Stella mewled beside me, jerking in her sleep. Gently, I put a hand in her short black curls, scratching her scalp until she quieted.

“Bodhi hasn’t slept in days, and I think Stella’s still spooked.”

“Yes,” Hank agreed, glancing at his son. “Perhaps we’ll just have tonight’s meal catered and have a game night. We can go out tomorrow. I’m sure Zach will be tired from his flight out anyway, so that will be good.”

“He’s Angie’s husband?”

“He is, yes,” Hank said with a smile. “He normally can’t take time off to see us, but Angie insisted once everything happened.”

I looked at him. “I really like her.”

His smile lit his face. “She’s quite fond of you as well.”

The silence was odd, just ticking by. When Emily joined us, everyone was so happy to see her.

“So I assume we’re staying in tonight instead of going out,” she announced, sitting down, bringing me a margarita. “I think we should just have a veg night instead of doing anything, don’t you all agree?”

I nodded and took a sip of the margarita, which was amazing. She must have noted the surprise on my face because she snorted out a laugh. “You were worried.”

“Bodhi had one earlier,” I said as he turned over, getting comfortable, wedging himself up against me, just as Stella was on the other side, but no longer worrying anyone with the closeness. And yes, he was still plastered to my side, but not entangled like we were lovers. “And he said it wasn’t great.”

“Oh, he’s right, they were terrible,” she agreed, shaking her head. “The catering company brought a bartender, and he was not good.”

“Did you make these?”

She nodded.

“Outstanding,” I praised her.

“Thank you,” she replied, beaming. “Now tell me all about yourself, Jed. Bodhi’s a bit tight-lipped when it comes to you.”

“Not much to tell.”

“But you’ve been partners quite a long time.”

“We have. Nearly six years now.”

“And I feel you have a bit of shorthand going between you two. Do you?”

“No,” I lied, thinking that Hayden didn’t want to hear that. “Not any more so than any other team.”