Page 73 of Marvelous

I knew that was the most he was going to say, so I nodded, then I whispered, “Thank you for telling me.”

He pressed a kiss on my temple.

Then he said, “Sucks. But can’t have pictures of my face on social media.”

I nodded, “Since I don’t do social media, not a problem.”

He chuckled.

Then he tipped his beer bottle to the rain, “You know, a buddy of mine, he calls this the sins of our father weather.”

I looked at him, “What do you mean?”

“He used to say that when it rains heavy like this, it’s the ones who have passed, their tears. Crying over the misdeeds that they did. In a way, it’s in the belief that they are saying sorry.”

I looked out at the driving rain and thought about it for a few moments.

Yeah, I could see this.

“Your buddy sounds like a smart man,” I told him.

He winked, “Cause he is. His name is Dalton, just so happens to live over in Clover Valley. He’s Smoke.”

I nodded, “Ah. Gotcha.”

Even though I technically didn’t.

I would find out about Smoke, though, and his team.

Later, the next day, while Alec was in the shower, his phone had started pinging with text messages.

He asked me to check the text thread.

When I told him it was Operation Fubar, he nodded, then he said, “Show me the screen, but don’t read anything.”

I did as he asked.

Then he read it, swiped, and chuckled. Then he said, “Read it out to me?”

I did.

Wolf – My balls are on fire. What the fuck?

Smoke – Got something you want to share with the class?

Ice – No, I won’t put ice on your nuts.

Hyde – Should have double wrapped it.

Jekyll – Warn us on what not to do.

He told me what to say, and I texted back.

Me – Share with the class, Wolfie.

Wolfe – You didn’t.

I snickered.