Page 20 of Zero Divergence
“The deal? What do you mean?” Sawyer asked. Was Felix approaching his question from a different angle, hoping to trick him into answering him?
Felix chuckled. “Is he single?”
“Oh.” Sawyer hadn’t seen that coming. “I honestly don’t know anything about his personal life.” That wasn’t entirely true. Sawyer knew something very interesting and decided to have a little fun at Felix’s expense because he deserved a little payback. “Other than Commissioner Rigby is his favorite aunt.” Sawyer didn’t know about the favorite part, but Felix was no stranger to embellishing a tale.
The look of dismay on Felix’s face was so comical Sawyer couldn’t stifle his laughter. The reporter would get no encouragement from Rigby’s direction if he pursued her nephew.
“You’re an asshole,” Felix said, shaking his head.
“Only Royce is allowed to call me that,” Sawyer said seriously.
“You two are so fucking weird.”
“If by weird you mean amazing, then I agree,” Royce said when they joined him. He handed Sawyer a plate piled high with enough food to feed four men. “I might’ve gotten a little carried away. I’m just happy to see your appetite returning.”
It was amazing what returning to daily orgasms could do for a man’s outlook on life, as well as his appetite. Still, until Sawyer could return to the gym full time, he needed to keep an eye on what he ate and the size of his portions. Then he noticed that nearly half the food on his plate was fresh vegetables, and the simple gesture made him lean forward and kiss Royce without considering their audience. Then again, everyone knew they were a couple. Rocky and Jonah probably hadn’t known it until they visited Sawyer in the hospital and had witnessed Royce’s dragon-like protectiveness firsthand.
“God, how times have changed,” Holly said from the opposite side of the island. “A few months ago, we would’ve been eating processed cheese from a can on crackers, and Royce would be dodging texts and calls from lady friends all night instead of smooching his boyfriend.” She bit into a meatball, happily humming while she chewed. “Who said change was bad?”
“Not me,” Royce said, waggling his brows at Sawyer, earning catcalls from Blue and Ky. When Royce’s smile faltered, Sawyer knew he was thinking about Marcus. A few months ago, they wouldn’t have been in Sawyer’s house for poker night, and Marcus would’ve been alive. He suspected Royce’s mind had traveled to the cassette tape he kept tucked away in his bedside table drawer next to Marcus’s lucky hat and cell phone.
He’d seen Royce pick up the cassette tape several times since returning home from the hospital, but instead of listening to it, Royce released a long sigh and placed it back in the drawer for safekeeping. He’d listen to it when he was ready to hear Marcus’s confessions to his priest and not a moment before. This was their first poker night since Marcus’s death, and Sawyer had known it would be hard on everyone in the unit.
“The players are sure as hell different,” Ky groused, glaring daggers at Felix.
“He’s on our side this time,” Royce told Ky.
“What side? Poker isn’t a team sport,” Blue said. “Are we playing Pictionary instead of poker?”
“Eat, then I’ll explain,” Royce said. “I promise.”
“This won’t go well,” Holly mumbled under her breath.
“What are these?” Jace asked suspiciously, gesturing to the cocktail sticks.
“Meat, cheese, and melon. Don’t act like a jerk,” Royce said. “Just eat it.”
“Who’s acting?” Jace asked. “I’ve never seen this kind of meat.”
“It’s called prosciutto, and it’s a thinly sliced Italian ham,” Royce said. “It’s the best thing you’ll ever eat. So, shut up and stick it in your mouth.”
“Save your dirty talk forafterwe leave,” Holly told Royce. Then she held up a cocktail stick so Jace would take a bite instead of glare at his brother. Just like Royce, Jace made a big show of slowly pulling the food off the stick with his teeth. Holly seemed to be as equally affected as Sawyer had been earlier.
Shut up and stick it in your mouth. Sawyer laughed because Royce had used similar words during foreplay when he was eager for Sawyer to suck his cock. Jace turned a questioning gaze his way, and Sawyer wasn’t sure if it was because the man-on-man talk made him uncomfortable or what.
“Please tell me you don’t let him talk to you like that,” Jace said to Sawyer after swallowing his food.
“Mind your own business,” Royce said. “Eat your food.”
Jace rolled his eyes and walked away with a giggling Holly by his side.
“Did you know Holly giggled?” Sawyer asked.
“Only when things are going well with Jace. They’re going to make it this time, GB. I can feel it in my gut.”
Sawyer leaned closer. “Maybe what you’refeelingis lingering arousal from our unfinished business?”
Royce winked, then shifted the conversation back to something more appropriate. “I’m glad Jace came with Holly, but I’m not sure what to do with him when it’s time to discuss our plan.”