He cleared his throat. “But that’s not why I asked. We want you here because you belong here. Because you belong to us.”
“And we to you,” I winked from the couch.
“Besides,” said Ander, “you’re usually here anyway. Or we’re there. It’s about time you start pitching in on the laundry, the dishes, taking out the garbage…”
“Oh you shut up!” Chastity laughed. “I’ve been doing all those things anyway. Plus some of your laundry, to boot.”
She had, and we’d been pretty happy about it. No one had asked her. She’d just started pitching in.
“Ares comes too, of course,” said Ander with a chuckle. “If he’ll have us.”
I pictured the little orange tabby and smiled. Already he was significantly bigger than when we’d first met him.
“He might be a little territorial at first,” said Chastity, “but he’ll get used to it.”
“Territorial?” Senan frowned. “What does that mean?”
“He’ll piss all over your stuff,” laughed Ander.
“What?”
“No he won’t,” Chastity said quickly. She threw Ander a pretend dirty look. “He might shred a few things… but other than that—”
She winked back at us when Senan wasn’t looking, and we knew she was kidding. It was funny as hell, leaving him completely in the dark.
“So when is this gonna happen?” asked Ander.
“As soon as you big strong men can move me in,” Chastity said sweetly. “My lease is month-to-month. I’d give my landlord a little notice, but he’s been looking to sell the place for a while now. He was holding off while I was there just to be nice. It’s a win-win.”
I stood up, and we surrounded her like we so often did. This time we had reason to celebrate, even more so than normal.
“Hang on a sec,” she said, slipping deftly away.
She disappeared into the kitchen, and we followed not far behind her. My stomach was rumbling. I was apparently hungry in more ways than one.
“Brett-san!” Chastity called suddenly, in her best Mr. Miyagi voice. She bowed low, and produced an ice-cream cake from the freezer. “Here is number one birthday present!”
I laughed and wiped the haze of condensation from the cake’s plastic viewport. Beneath the red gel script wishing me a happy birthday, it looked delicious.
Ander and Senan however, were staring blankly at each other.
“You forgot his birthday, didn’t you?” Chastity wrinkled her nose at them.
“No,” Ander said instantly and defensively. Then a little more sheepishly: “Err… maybe.”
“We really don’t do birthdays around here,” Senan admitted. “I mean, we do, when we remember.” He shot me an accusatory glance. “Or when someone reminds us.”
“You’re such guys,” Chastity huffed. “You know that?”
“Yeah,” we pretty much all agreed, nodding.
“You’re lucky you’re all so damned good-looking.”
Senan reached for her, but she twisted away. She rubbed her stomach and looked at me.
“We’re going out to dinner instead of ordering take-out,” our girlfriend declared. She pointed to Senan and Ander. “And you two are paying.”
My friends smiled wryly. “Fine.”
“It’s the least you can do to make it up to him,” she insisted smartly. “And from now on, we’re celebrating birthdays. None of this ‘we don’t do that’ crap.”
“Shit,” Senan grinned. “She hasn’t even moved in yet and she’s already making rules.”
“Damned straight,” Ander countered. He threw Chastity an approving nod. “And I’m liking it.”
“Good. Now everyone get dressed,” she said, “and meet back here in ten. And you…”
She kissed me full on the lips before spinning from the room. It left me reeling with the taste of her soft, beautiful mouth.
“You get to pick the restaurant.”
Fifty-Six
CHASTITY
“Are you ready?”
I poked my head into the living room, which had been dimmed to a soft, welcoming light. The pillows we usually arranged when I stayed over were already there, spread perfectly between the couches. Sheets and blankets too.
“After all the time you took in there?” Senan smirked. “Yeah, we’re ready. Bring it on.”
We’d had a fun dinner, followed by yummy ice-cream cake. Brett had blown out his candles and made his wish. And now here I was, hoping I’d be making at least some of it come true.
“And now, for your number two birthday present,” I called in my Miyagi voice, then stepped into view. Sauntering sexily, I strutted halfway across the room, turned around, then bent over to lean on my mallet.
All three of the guys’ mouths dropped open.
“Holy fucking shit.”
“So you like my Harley Quinn cosplay?” I asked, my voice going low and sultry. Or rather, as sultry as I could while chewing two fresh pieces of Double Bubble.
The outfit was outrageous, as of course it was meant to