Page 42 of Lucky Boys
Everyone was waiting for us when we got home. Obviously, they’d all been watching the feeds, and Diego was chomping at the bit to look at everything. While he ran into his new office to work, Mav and I took Skye and Brooks to my office to get their opinions on everything.
Skye got comfortable on the leather loveseat. I pretended not to notice that he dragged Brooks down with him and how Brooks leaned into his side. I was absolutely not staring at Skye’s arm wrapped around Brooks’s shoulders or how his thumb was caressing his bicep. Not at all.
By Skye’s grin, I wasn’t fooling anyone.
I was thrilled that Brooks was finding comfort in Skye and Maverick. That boy was touch starved and he deserved all the cuddles he could handle. I just couldn’t help how badly I wanted to be the one giving them to him. Soon. I would talk to him soon and hopefully he’d give me the chance to prove myself.
“So, what do you two think?” I asked, pushing my personal feelings to the side.
“You know I’m down, boss. If Diego gives the stamp of approval, I’m ready to go. We’ve been sitting around here for too long anyway.”
True. Even I was ready for another job, and I wasn’t nearly as antsy as Skye.
“Brooks?” I asked.
He startled like he wasn’t expecting me to ask him. “Oh, um. Whatever you think is best, I guess.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Cut the crap, Brooks. I’ve never known you not to have an opinion. You’re a part of this. Of our team.” Those dark blue eyes widened in surprise, even as he lit up. Did he not realize we were headed that way? “So, what do you think?”
Brooks fiddled with his bracelets. I dug my fingers into the armrest of my chair to keep from stopping him. “I think if this kid is really in danger, we need to find him and help him. If it turns out that Covington is playing you, well, that can be dealt with after Matthew is safe.”
Nobody could ever say I didn’t have willpower after I somehow managed not to go over and hug Brooks after that. Especially after Mav did just that, sitting on the armrest next to him and ruffling his hair. Skye kissed the side of his face. And I . . . didn’t fucking move. I hated it. I hated not knowing if my touch was welcome. The longer I spent with Brooks, the more obvious it became that he was mine. If I could just prove tohim that I deserved him. Which would never fucking happen if I didn’t talk to him. Fucking coward.
We chatted for a little longer, settling on a plan. By the time we were done, Diego was back, stating that everything looked legit. He was able to confirm Larsen’s last place of residency, the closed bank account, and that at that time Matthew was with him. He already had some searches in place to hopefully locate where they were now.
After one more talk, this time with Diego, who also agreed we should go, we all made the decision to take the job. I looked at the guys. “I’m gonna call Covington and accept this. The sooner we go, the better, and it will likely take a few days to get everything settled. Brooks, can I talk to you when I’m done?”
His eyes widened, but he nodded. I left the room to make the call and get details settled. It took longer than expected. By the time I got back to the office, Brooks was sound asleep on the couch, curled up on Skye and Maverick like a puppy.
I couldn’t bring myself to wake him, so I told the guys we were set and left. Tomorrow we’d talk.
CHAPTER 18
BROOKS
I kickedmy feet in the pool, staring out into middle distance. It had been about a week since Luca agreed to take the job, and we finally had a possible lead on where Larsen could be headed, so we were leaving in the morning.
I would’ve thought these guys would be focused on preparing, but instead Luca had announced they’d be having a cookout.
In fairness, he’d had it planned for a few weeks now and refused to cancel it, even though we were leaving. He said it would be good for us to relax first. So, Wes, Ri, Beck, and their friends, Jay and Dakota, were all on their way. Because Luca was a boss at avoiding his problems, he still hadn’t told Wes that we were leaving for who knew how long, and planned to do that today. The man had communication issues, as I could attest to.
I didn’t really mind that we were doing this though; Beck and Ri were cool as fuck. But I was feeling a little out of sorts.
Things were settling down here. We hadn’t put words to it, butsomethingwas happening with Skye, Mav, and me. We still hadn’t had a chance to have the big limits discussion Mav kept talking about, but I found myself falling asleep cuddled in their arms nearly every night. We haven’t had another scene or doneanything sexual, but our connection was building past physical attraction.
Even Diego was getting comfortable. The office he’d made was completely his now, and he was even bantering with the guys. A few times, I’d found Skye sitting on the other desk, just keeping Diego company. Usually, I was the only one who was allowed to do that, so it made me all fluttery and happy inside to see him opening up to someone else.
It wasn’t just Skye, either. I’d learned yesterday that D had been talking to Wes through text every day this week. I’d tried to ask what that was about, and D had shut down. But still, that was a good sign, right? Especially since I planned on asking Wes to keep an eye on Diego on the down-low while we were gone. I knew other members of Luca’s team would be around, but I didn’t know them, and Diego didn’t trust them for shit. I thought everyone would feel more comfortable with Wes.
The only snag in my happiness was Luca. He had still been avoiding me like I avoided homework in the third grade unless it was specifically work related. It left me in such an off-putting place. Like, I really wanted to explore this thing with Mav and Skye, and I knew they didn’t necessarily have to be dating the same person, but with my and Luca’s history, it just felt so up in the air without us at least hashing everything out. If he wanted to leave us in the past, then . . . I guessed I’d be okay with that. I’d managed the last three years just fine, hadn’t I? But this not knowing, limbo bullshit didn’t work for me. I told myself I’d leave it in his court, but if he didn’t fucking do something soon, I’d be stealing that ball back.
Groaning, I lay down so my back was against the concrete, squinting into the sun. I really needed a pair of sunnies. I couldn’t keep track of them on a good day, so finding them and remembering to bring them in the chaos that had been myhouse had been a no go, but someone here must have an extra. I covered my face with my arm.
A few minutes passed while I considered if it was worth the effort to get up when I heard someone walk up next to me. I opened one eye and peeked through my arm to get a glimpse of tanned, toned legs. Luca. I swallowed and closed my eyes again.
“Do you mind if I sit here?” he asked, his voice a little stiff.
I grunted as I sat up, propping myself up with my hands behind my back and staring up at him. “It’s your pool,” I reminded him.
