Page 13 of You Are Cordially Invited

“I saw that look,” he grumbled, sliding his arms around me, his warm body pressed against mine. “And no, not really.”

“Well, at least you smell a lot better.” I turned to snag those pouty lips in a kiss, slipping a little tongue inside. “Mmm. Taste a lot better too. Now, get some food in you.”

“Oh, god, I couldn’t.” His hand went to his mouth and his olive complexion took on a distinctly khaki tinge.

“You’ll feel better for it.”

He scowled at me. “Says you. I think I’ll take my chances. Besides...” His arms dropped from my waist and I turned to watch him creep up on Mark who was still talking on the phone. He waited until Mark disconnected and then grabbed him around the waist.

“BOO!”

The poor guy nearly fell into the giant ficus.

“What the fu-fudge, Cam? What was that for? You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“Shh.” Cory scolded them from the couch.

Cam tiptoed over and planted a soft kiss on Cory’s cheek. “Sorry, little man. Want some pancakes?”

“Yes, please, Cam.”

Cam returned and fisted Mark’s shirt before hauling him into the kitchen. “Thatwas for exposing me to the terrifying sight of you in those obscenely tiny booty shorts last night.” He kept his voice low. “Whichever one of you lot came up with that idea needs their head read. I’m never gonna be able to look at Lycra again without remembering your scrawny arse, amongst other unmentionables. As it is, I may never find my dick again; it’s still recovering from the shock of discovering that yes, cocks really do come in extra small.” Cam smirked.

“Fuck off,” Mark whispered and hauled Cam in for a sloppy kiss on the cheek. “We’re talking XXL at the minimum.”

“In your dreams. And only if XXL stands for extra, extra Lilliputian.” Cam wiped his cheek with his sleeve and loaded a plate with pancakes for Cory, while Mark eased slowly onto his barstool.

“And there’s nothing scrawny about this arse.” Mark slid his phone onto the counter. “Carla’s heading over to feed Tink and Nana and let them out. The little shits probably slept on our damn bed.”

Cam returned from the lounge and slid onto the barstool alongside Mark.

“So.” Mark turned sideways to Cam. “Honest answer. It was a good night, right?”

Cam gave one of those wide grins that melted my heart every damn time. “Yeah, it was. Surprisingly.”

Mark snorted. “You only say surprisingly because you didn’t get to micromanage every damn second of it like you usually do.”

I chuckled because it was true, and Cam stabbed the back of my hand lightly with his fork. “Yeah, yeah. You’re all being very brave at the moment. I can see I’ve let things slide. Time to tighten those reins.”

I leaned around the breakfast bar and pressed my lips to his. “I can’t fucking wait.”

“Oh my god, I am not sitting here for this.” Mark slid off his barstool. “My stomach’s barely coping with the pancake. If you want me, I’ll be reacquainting myself with my boyfriend in the spare room. It may take a while. Talk amongst yourselves.” He took the remainder of his pancake in his hand and headed down the hall.

I walked around the breakfast bar and spun Cam’s stool until he was in my arms and his legs wrapped around my waist. “Now, where were we?” I dipped my lips to his just as his phone went off in his pocket with a familiar ring.

His mum.

We broke apart with a simultaneous sigh.

“Hold that thought,” he said with apology in his eyes and walked off to take the call.

I let him go and grabbed myself some breakfast, taking just a single pancake alongside a bowl of fruit and cereal. The AB’s worked on a 90:10 nutritional plan. Eat the good stuff ninety percent of the time, with ten percent treats. I was tired and the gym work wasn’t gonna be a picnic, but with a few weeks off for a hamstring earlier in the season, I needed the strength work.

I tried to listen to Cam’s side of the conversation as I ate, but he was unusually quiet. Margaret Wano was a force of nature, just like her son. A fierce Polynesian woman with both Samoan and Fijian heritage, and she protected her family like a big-toothed mumma bear. The two strong personalities fed off each other with often hilarious results, but not today. From the little bit I heard of the other end of the conversation, Margaret sounded upset, and that wasn’t like her.

I went across and cupped Cam’s cheek as he listened, gently turning his face to mine. “Problem?” I mouthed.

He held my gaze, then frowned, shrugged, and walked the phone over to the window, leaving me standing there.

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