Page 12 of Never Going to Care

CHAPTER 5

HALE

Landon turns to me, and I already know he’s going to give me shit. I start to back up, but he gives me a pointed look and I barely stop myself from rolling my eyes as I stop moving. I do flip him off though causing him to bark out a laugh.

“So,” he arches his eyebrow, “you want to talk about it?”

I scoff and stare him down. “What’s there to talk about?”

“Are you serious right now?” Before I can tell him to fuck off or anything else, he adds. “You want her. It’s clear as fucking day.”

“I do not want her,” my voice sounds weak as fuck even to me.

“You don’t want who?”

I spin around at Remington’s voice to find him standing there with Owen and Barrett. Owen and Barrett are looking at me with curiosity, probably because they’re happy in their relationship. Both of them, along with Colt, are with Landon’s sister, Ella.

That was a fucking clusterfuck around the office for a little while. The tension was enough to choke us. I don’t necessarily blame Landon. I wouldn’t be happy to find out if one of the guys I work with went after one of my sisters, let alone it being an unconventional relationship involving three of them.

Not that I judge the relationship the four of them have. It’s none of my business and I can see how happy they are. Then again, Ella isn’t my sister. It adds a whole other layer of fucked up on top of the whole working for Landon and being some of his best friends thing. He grew up with the guys and they knew Ella before they all joined the military.

Still, they light up like fucking Christmas trees whenever Ella is even mentioned, let alone when they’re around her. Colt used to be a cold as ice motherfucker, but I’ve seen him smile in the months since they fell in love with Ella. Barrett speaks now, which is a huge change. Owen has always been a happy guy, but now he’s not so…manic about everything. His energy is focused.

They’re better with their woman in their lives.

Landon is better now that he’s accepted the love he’s always had for Piper.

I know there’s a lesson there, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to admit I see it or not. I’m certainly not willing to learn it. Being with Celeste would be a disaster. I’m pretty sure.

“No one,” I deflect horribly.

Remington’s eyes light up like the damn golden retriever he is. If he wasn’t such a damn good soldier and series as fuck when it matters, I wouldn’t be able to stand the guy. I guess between Blaze and me, it helps to have someone a little lighter around. He helps to balance our gruff bullshit.

“I think you’re full of shit,” Barrett deadpans and my eyes widen slightly.

Owen barks out a laugh. “Yup,” he pops the p and points at me. “It’s clear there is someone and it’s clear you want her.” He looks over my shoulder at Landon. “Who is she?”

“Celeste Payne,” he drops her name casually as if it doesn’t light up my body like I’m floating amongst the galaxies just to hear it.

I clench my muscles to fight my reaction to something as simple as her name. I flip Landon off, again, and school my features. It’s more difficult than it’s ever been in my life.

“Ezra Payne’s sister?” Barrett is watching me closely as he asks, and I can feel the mask slip slightly.

It’s a damn good thing I know he’s her brother or else it would be even harder. I don’t give a fuck that she’s his sister. I don’t like the idea of any guy being around her and I know they’re close.

I maybe asked Piper about growing up with them the other day. I don’t think she knows I was doing it to get some intel on Celeste. I was very careful with my questions.

I can hear the humor in Landon’s voice, “Yeah, Hale grilled my woman about Celeste the other day like she’s an idiot and can’t see what’s really going on.”

I spin around and glare at him. I wonder if I could get a hit in. We all train together and spar together. I might normally go a round or two with Blaze, but I’ve traded blows with Landon enough to know it would be a close fucking fight.

“I did not,” I bark out the words.

The moment they’re hanging out there between these guys who I consider my brothers, I realize my misstep. My fists clench but then I force them open and shake them out.

Remington teases, “What’s the saying about protesting too much?”

“Whatever,” I mutter. “I wasn’t asking her about Celeste. I asked her about what it was like to grow up with Ezra.”

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