Calum saw Laurella safely into a cab then rode the subway to Fred’s bar. For the past six years, he’d looked forward to these get-togethers, yet right then, standing outside the place where he and his buddies had shared many a great night, he could easily be heading for the gallows. Jesus. Had he been whipped into shape by Laurella so quickly? He needed to slap a smile on, and damned quick, because Zane and the others would see through him in a fucking heartbeat.

He walked into Fred’s and glanced around. A loud cheer came from the back, over by the pool tables. Zane, Jacob, and Leron all started clapping as he walked over.

“The prodigal son arrives,” Zane said, standing to slap him on the back.

“You’re a bunch of dicks,” Calum said, shaking hands with the other guys. A bottle of beer was pressed into his hand, along with a pool cue.

“So, how come you forgot?” Zane asked, leaning across the baize to set up the balls.

Not exactly the balls Calum thought he’d be playing with that night. Or rather, Laurella would be playing with.

“No particular reason. It’s been a busy day is all.”

Zane tossed a coin. “Call.”

“Heads,” Calum said, his mind totally on how many times he could go down on Laurella the following morning before she begged him to stop.

“You win,” Zane said.

Calum lined up the cue ball and broke. Two balls immediately went into the far left and right pockets. “Stripes,” he said, moving around the table to take his next shot.

Zane’s keen gaze cut into Calum. “We’ve been doing this for six years, Calum. You’ve never forgotten or missed a night. Want to talk about it?”

Calum hit a bad shot and cursed. “What are you, a woman? There’s nothing wrong, and even if there was, I’m not going to sit around the table drinking homemade lemonade and knitting scarves while I pour out my troubles.”

Zane bent over the table and easily knocked in his first solid. He went on to sink the next two before he missed a tricky shot. He straightened and leaned on his cue while he took a swig of beer. “I meant to ask, how are you getting along with Laurella? You two manage to iron out your differences yet?”

Calum wasn’t sure whether Zane was fishing or not. He schooled his expression into cold, no-nonsense stare. “For now.”

“Well, try to keep the peace,” Zane said, laughing. “With all the schmoozing she’s been doing with that big client, I need the girl operating on top form.”

“I’m sure that won’t be a problem,” Calum drawled.

“You haven’t talked her into bed yet, then?”

“Jesus, what is this—twenty fucking questions?”

Zane held up his right hand. “Christ, what did I say?”

Calum hit another ball into the pocket. “Too fucking much.” He needed to get this game over with, and quickly, before Zane tied him to a chair and shined a light in his eye, torturing him until Calum spilled every detail.

Zane frowned. “I don’t know what’s eating you, Calum, but either shake it off or fuck off. We don’t get much downtime, and what little we do get shouldn’t be spent taking chunks out of one another.”

Calum ignored him. He hit another shot and missed, and to add insult to injury, the white ball slowly trickled into the corner pocket.

Zane laughed. “Jeez, you’re on shitty form tonight.”

“You taking your shot or what?” Calum growled.

Zane’s mouth twisted, but he didn’t respond. He did, however, pot the remaining balls without giving Calum a chance at a comeback. Zane’s triumphant grin grated on Calum’s one remaining nerve.

“If you’re going to play so badly, then feel free to turn up in a foul mood next time, too.”

Calum laid his cue on the table, and Jacob wandered over ready to play the next game. They’d been following this routine for years. Calum and Zane always started off, then the winner played one of the other guys. And so on. Except normally, Calum was the last man standing. Not tonight, though. His mind wasn’t on the game—well, not this game anyway. He flopped into the chair next to Leron.

“You okay, man?” Leron asked. “You seem out of sorts, if you don’t mind me saying.”

Calum swung his beer bottle by the neck before taking a long pull. Unlike Zane, who could be as blunt as Calum, Leron had a quiet way that made it difficult to be obnoxious around him.

A cheer came from the pool table. Zane was winning the second game of the night.

“Not really in the mood for a get-together is all.”

“That’s not like you. Normally, we have to drag you home at the end of the night.”

“How’s Kayla?” Calum asked when the gold band on Leron’s left hand caught the light, giving him a perfect reason to change the subject.

Leron’s face lit up. “She’s great. I never thought I’d say this, but marrying her is the best decision I ever made.”

Calum nodded. “You snagged a good one there.”

“Yeah.” Leron laughed. “Better than I deserve.”

Calum stared into the distance. His insides felt all wrong, like a jigsaw puzzle that had been put together and was found to have missing pieces.

“I can be discreet if you want to talk.”

“Not really my thing,” Calum said, his smile fleeting.

“Is it a woman?”

Calum briefly nodded.

“A special woman?”

He blew out a heavy breath. “If you’d asked me a couple weeks ago, I’d have told you I hated her.”

“And now?”

He stroked his beard. “Well, let’s just say I don’t hate her anymore.”

“And that’s who you were with when Zane called?”

Another nod. “On my way back to her place.”

“Ah.” Leron chuckled. “No wonder you’re in a bad mood. Blue balls will do that to you.”

For the first time since he’d walked into the pool hall an hour earlier, Calum’s mood lifted. It was difficult to remain crabby around Leron.

“Can I ask you something?” Calum said.

“Sure.”

“When you asked Kayla to marry you, how did you know she was the one? I mean, how could you be sure you wouldn’t meet someone you were more attracted to the following week?”

Leron laughed. “And there speaks a man who’s never been in love.”

Calum nodded. “True.”

“I’m sure it’s different for everyone, but for me, it was simple. I couldn’t imagine living even one day without her. When we were apart, it was like I’d lost an arm. When we were together, I felt whole. She’s my safe place to fall, my soul mate.” He laughed again. “And if you tell Zane or Jacob I just told you that, I’ll nail your nuts to the wall.”

Calum grinned and placed a finger over his lips. “Not a word.”

“Leron,” Jacob called over. “You’re up.”

Leron got to his feet. He started to walk over to the pool table then paused and turned around. “If you like this girl, then don’t be afraid to tell her. Because if you don’t, someone else might get there first.”

He ambled toward Zane, aiming a high five at Jacob as he passed. Jacob flopped into the seat next to Calum. “He’s killing it tonight,” Jacob said, referring to Zane’s pool-playing prowess. No doubt, Zane would remind them of this night repeatedly over the coming months.

“He must be. He beat me.” Calum got to his feet. “Another beer?”

Jacob drained the last dregs from his bottle. “Yeah.”

Calum sauntered to the bar rather than call the waitress over. It gave him five minutes alone. While he waited for the beers, he lifted his cell from his pocket. The need to text Laurella consumed him. He craved that jolt of excitement when she replied. With Leron’s words of advice at the forefront of his mind, he typed a quick message.

I’m missing you.

After he pressed Send, a funny sensation came over him, sort of like the one he’d had earlier in the evening. If someone had asked him to describe it, he’d have said it was like standing on the edge of a precipice. He had to decide whether to jump and potentially crash onto the rocks below or to back away and never know whether someone would catch him at the bottom.

His cell vibrated, and her name appeared on the banner. He swiped to the left to read her message: Miss you more.

His stomach vaulted, and a warm feeling spread through his midsection. Calum paid for the beers and headed back over to his friends, but for every step he took, it was like an invisible thread kept tugging him back, urging him to go to her.

He forced himself to keep going. He’d set the beers on the table when Zane and Leron joined them.

“That was quick,” Calum said.

Zane blew on his fingertips. “The master has arrived.”

Calum snorted. “Keep dreaming.”

The four of them bantered, and the evening began to feel more normal, but when his cell buzzed again and he spotted another text from Laurella, his pulse jolted: I’m off to bed. Wanted to say goodnight. See you tomorrow.

He glanced at his watch. Ten-thirty. Normally, these get-togethers went on well into the small hours. He faked a yawn.

“Fuck, look at Granddad over here,” Jacob teased.

“Sorry,” Calum said, even though he was anything but. “It’s all Zane’s fault. He works us like slaves.”

“Bullshit,” Zane said. “And even if I did, you’ve got more stamina than anyone else I know.”

Calum yawned again. “You’re right, but I’m still helping Jax out at the hotel.” Liar. “Must be taking its toll, even on me.”

Zane offered an understanding nod. “Sorry. Of course you are.”

“Jax is okay, though, yeah?” Leron asked.

A twinge of guilt pinched at Calum’s insides. Using his brother to further his own ends was low—but necessary. “Oh yeah. He’s well. Fully recovered. I want to make sure he doesn’t overdo it, though, so I try to fit in a few shifts a week.”

Yep. I’m going straight to Hell. But it’ll be worth it. He got to his feet. “I’m going to call it a night.”

He expected Zane to give him a hard time, especially as these get-togethers were infrequent, but instead, his best friend stood and clapped him on the shoulder. “Take it easy, okay? Can’t have you burning out on me.”

“It’s all good.” Calum shook hands with Jacob and Leron. “I promise I’ll be bring my A game next time.”

His friends waved away his apologies, and ten seconds later, Calum found himself on the street. He paused outside the subway, removed his cell from his pocket, and sent her a response:

You’re not going to bed without me. I’m on my way.

She replied instantly:

I’ll be waiting.