Page 217 of King of Pain

I snicker to myself. Yeah, Deek’s hot. “Deacon, this is Jason Ciccone. He’s the star pitcher for Atlanta.”

“Oh, I know who you are,” Deek says with a grin.

Wait. Did he just actually smile? The fuck?

“I—uh, um, it’s nice to meet you,” Jason barely gets out. His eyes drop to the floor, and he rubs his neck.

Wow. Mr. Confidence was never this bashful when he was chasing me. It’s kind of cute, honestly.

Liz swoops back in like a stylish hurricane, zeroing in on Chance with laser precision.

“Sorry, boys,” she says, voice brisk and commanding. She grabs Chance’s elbow. “I need to steal this one. People to meet and all that.”

Chance tosses me one last glance over his shoulder before Liz leads him away into the crowd.

Deacon excuses himself to run another security check, and I’m left there, sipping champagne, trying to shake the feeling that something in that conversation was more than it seemed.

Jason’s still standing with me, sipping his champagne like he’s in no rush to disappear.

I’m about to ask what the hell that was—Have you met before? But before I can get a word out, I see a ridiculous blur of color and energy.

Amotley crew, headed right for us.

Jen is leading the pack in a sharply tailored tux—black with a neon magenta cummerbund and matching bolo tie. She pulls it off and makes it look like runway couture.

Lexi and Beau trail behind her, fingers laced. Lexi’s in a sleeveless, floor-length red dress that shows off every inch of ink on her arms. Her hair’s swept up into a braided crown and she’s carrying a gold clutch that’s giving lethalandelegant. She’s awalking Bond girl. Her Viking, Beau, is beside her in a classic black tux.

And of course…

Butters is wearing a powder blue tuxedo.

Trailing behind him, rolling his eyes, is Spence—his eggplant-colored tuxedo hugging his frame like it was stitched on. Not a jet-black hair out of place.

He’s definitely been lifting since I last saw him.

Jen reaches me first, eyes lit up, and grins. “Well, if it isn’t the man of the hour.”

I laugh and let her pull me into a tight hug. “Yeah, yeah. Have your fun. I’m just proud of my man. He’s the real star.”

Jen pulls back and lets out an overly dramatic swoon. “Your man.” She cups my face in both hands like a proud aunt. “I will never, ever get tired of hearing you say that.” Then, gentler, “Or seeing the look on your face when you do.”

Jason coughs softly beside me. Jen glances at him, slightly sheepish. “Oh, sorry, Jason. That was a little insensitive of me.” She softens, eyes warm. “But let’s be real—Anthony’s heart was spoken for years ago.”

The tips of my ears heat.

Jason just smiles and says, “I wouldn’t be here tonight unless I was happy for them.”

Lexi swoops in next and wraps me up in a hug.

Then Beau shakes my hand with enthusiasm. “Congrats, man. I look forward to—”

Lexi immediately slaps his chest and cuts him a glare.

I blink. “Okay, seriously. Why are you all acting so weird?”

Butters bursts out laughing. “It’s nothing. Beau’s taken one too many hits to the dome. He probably thinksthisisyourexhibit.” He claps a hand on my shoulder and pulls me in for a hug.

“Bring it in, PacMan.”