“Pictures or it never happened.” With thatridiculous comment, Seth bounced over to the refrigerator to start gettingeverything out. At least someone was paying attention to what they weresupposed to be doing.
Wait.
What was I supposed to be doing?
Shit.
It was going to be a long day.
****
“Now, mytroublemakers said some things earlier that brought up some questions.” I wastrying to ask it carefully, but Wade found something funny because he wasdesperately trying not to laugh. “Hey, I’m trying to be tactful.”
Giggles filled the car for a few secondsbefore he waved his hand and fought to catch his breath. “I’m sorry. Iappreciate tact. Honestly. Please continue.”
Snorting, I rolled my eyes. “Sure you do.Fine. Ari and Seth said they talked to Russ and that he gets chatty when he’suncomfortable. He mentioned some of the shenanigans you guys have gotten up toat the pool parties you’ve had lately.”
Wade’s cheeks pinked, but his eyes stayedstraight on the road in front of us. “Well, I guess that’s an apt description.Jonah’s going to have to talk to him about that, though.”
“The boys won’t say anything. I’ll makesure of that.” I reached over and ran my hand over his head. “But what should Iexpect from the barbecue? You said hanging out and dinner, making it soundcasual and fun.”
“Technically, that is correct, and I gaveeveryone a lecture about behaving and not doing anything overly outrageous.” Helet out a dramatic sigh that sounded a bit like my omega dad when I’d been akid pushing every limit he’d laid down. “But I’m not sure how well thediscussion we had will stick.”
The way he was squirming and how tight hishands were on the wheel said he thought their conversation hadn’t stuck at all.“What kind of lecture did you give them? And was this just Austin or everyone?”
I’d been at functions with most of the guysbefore. Nothing was sticking out in my head. “I don’t remember them doinganything outrageous before. Austin had a few stories he told the guys at thestation to get a rise out of them and flirt, but nothing overly shocking.”
Wade groaned. “Um, picture that level asAustin being a kindergarten teacher who’s never dated and is waiting patientlyfor their fated mate. Now slide to the other end of the scale with a stripperwho’s not doing it for the money but because they’re ridiculously smart andthrive on attention.”
Interesting.
“Really?” I chuckled when his nod looked abit frantic.
“And then times that by three or four ifhe’s feeling like he needs to test you.” Wade sighed again. “They’re a bitprotective of me.”
His shoulders came down like he was makinga deliberate choice to force his muscles to relax. His normally laid-backexpression was tense and nervous. I could understand if we’d been talking aboutour relationship, but this was about his friends.
“They knew Matthew for a long time. I canunderstand them worrying about you.” I had a feeling that wasn’t all, though.“I want to fit in and for them to be themselves.”
Wade let out another breath. “Yes, you’reright. I just worry, and I know you’re not going to be shocked by theirbehavior. You’re in the lifestyle and you’ve enjoyed going to the club. Right?”
This was definitely a new side of him.
Stroking my fingers softly over his neck, Inodded. “Yes, I’ve had fun going to the club. You’ve got a great mix ofemployees and members. And I even had fun watching you get flogged once I gotover the shock.”
He chuckled, pink coloring his cheeksagain. “Yeah, well, I think I was more surprised.”
“Oh no. I get to claim that. I waswandering around a BDSM club and suddenly I saw someone I thought was thissweet, innocent, completely vanilla friend from a past life nearly naked andthen getting flogged. Nope. I will always win this argument.” My voice waslight enough he knew I wasn’t upset, so by the end of my teasing rant he waslaughing again.
“Okay, maybe I’ll let you win this time.But you’ll never be able to claim it again if you get shocked by anything theguys do. Deal?” He was smiling, but I could still see nerves behind his smilingface.
“Deal.” I knew I could win because tohonestly be shocked you had to care what they were doing, and really, the onlypeople I cared about were the boys and now Wade.
I’d always been a fairly private person, somaking friends in the department had been hard. Yes, in some ways they’d alwaysbe family, but not the type of family Wade had surrounded himself with.
“We’ll see if you can keep that. I can’tpromise Austin will keep his clothes on and I have no idea what Simon will do.He looks so innocent, but he’s a handful too.” Wade was shaking his head likehe didn’t know how that happened.
“Other people might believe that innocentact, but I know better. Matthew always said you surrounded yourself withtroublemakers and drama queens because you loved the excitement they broughtinto your life.” I had to grin when Wade gave a sheepish smile.