Chapter Ten

“God, I love that girl. Fearless.” Mason laughs while staring at his phone. We just finished dinner and I have one stop to make before dropping them at the hotel and heading home.

“What did Breck do?” Deacon laughs.

“Oh, it’s Aves.” He shoves the phone in my face and Deacon angles his body so he can watch. Some slimy fucker puts his hands in my girl’s hair and I see red.

“Where the fuck are they?” I grunt.

“Wait for it.” Mason blows me off.

“Savage.” Deacon utters in wonderment as Avery took the fucker down.

“Where are they?” I repeat.

“A bar. We can’t go.” Mason sits back and folds his arms.

“Like hell we can’t.” I glare at him.

Deacon’s phone rings and I can hear Saylor shouting through the phone. His curses follow but stop. I freeze when I hear her voice. Straining to make out the words— but catching her voice is enough. It calms me. It reminds me what we’re here for.

Deacon ends and chuckles. “They’re good. Let’s go home.”

“I know they’re good. The five thousand dollar bodyguard I have watching them is making sure of it.” Mason gloats. God, I love my friends.

“We have one stop first.” Both grumble but go along with me.

“You don’t think this is overkill?” Deacon questions for the ninth time.

“Nope.” I answer the same way each time.

“You’re fixing to start med school and she’s gonna have a business to start up. I think you’re biting off more than you can chew.” He is like fifty in a twenty-three year old’s body.

“Shut it, blowhard. Did you see the white one? I think it’s perfect for Julie. I may look into the reddish one for Breck.” The saying a kid in a candy store— that's Mason in a pet store. He wants them all and has picked an owner for each dog.

“No. Fuck no.” Deacon threatens him.

“We’ll see.” Which in Mason code means Deacon better prepare for a puppy.

“Shit.” Deacon acknowledges he’s fucked. Without lube. He may as well start stocking up on puppy supplies.

“What are you naming him?” Mason cuddles the chocolate lab I just bought for Avery.

“Seems how it isn’t my dog I’m not naming him.” I state the obvious.

“How about D.O.G.— if you say it like a name it sounds like diogey.” He ruffles the pup’s head.

“Did you hear me?” Sometimes I wonder if he makes up shit in his head to suit his purpose.

“Yep. Hey Diogey. Hey pretty boy.” He’s a complete idiot.

“Stop calling her dog by a name.” I snap.

“Well what do you want me to call him?” I don’t know why I enter into conversations with him.

“Nothing. Just hold the fucking puppy until we get home.” He’s a toddler.

“I can’t go all night calling it nothing.” He huffs.

“You may not make it alive through the night so no worries there.” I quip and he shuts up.

“If you don’t get Julie a dog, I’ll let you name it Diogey.” Deacon supplies from the back.

“Okay. Deal. You’re a true friend.” Mason puffs his chest for a second and I watch it deflate when realization hits. “That was fucked up, DD.” We both chuckle as Mason pouts.

“You can give Julie this dog if Avery tells me to fuck off.” That thought makes me cagey.

“Not a fucking option.” Mason enunciates. “Hey, pull into this store.” I oblige him and stop at the convenience store. He runs in and returns with a bag full of lollipops. I chuckle to myself.

“What the fuck?” Deacon leans to look over the seat.

“I can’t get her a dog. I figure I can pump her full of sugar, she’ll behave like a wild beast and my mom gets off my ass wanting Breck and me to reproduce. We aren’t ready for that.” He thinks he’s figured out trade secrets.

“There’s a fatal flaw in your plan, asshole. My parents will give her to me for the night and we’re sharing a room. Fucknut.” Deacon groans.

“I have a credit card that works. I can get my own room. Can she have a puppy now?” Mason smirks.

“Fuck you.” DD throws his head against the seat and ignores us the rest of the way to the hotel.

I walk in the lobby to have a beer while the kids are with the grandparents. “You ready for this?” Deacon asks as he takes a drink.

“Yeah. It’s been hell sitting here waiting knowing she was hurting. It’s taking everything I have to wait until tomorrow.”

“It’ll be worth it. My plan is epic.” Mason boasts.

They don’t have a clue— only the girls know the grand gesture of the plan. “Wait until you see what I’ve done. I think I set the bar and you’ll recognize it when you see what I’ve planned.” I goad him.

“We shall see.” He’s wary.

“You may have to take my man card.” I joke.

Deacon looks at me and shakes his head. “Dude, the second those women let us into their hearts— none of us kept a fucking card. They own us.”

“Word.” Mason smiles. “And it’s the best thing in the world.”

“Cheers.” I give blessing to the truth.