Chapter Fifty-FourSpencer
Chapter Fifty-Four
Spencer
“ D o you want to do anything special next?” I asked Riley. We were at Andre’s dress shop, doing a fitting. She’d just finished, and now it was Grace’s turn.
I worried about Riley. While she said she was fine, she’d seen someone try to shoot her brother, which was a lot.
Riley scowled. “I’m fine. I’ll talk about it with my therapist if I need to.
Like I told the other overprotective assholes, I knew one of you would take out the shooter, and the fact that it was Grace makes me love her more.
Also, yes, I’m fine with her mating my brother and marrying him–well, as long as they let me make sure it’s fun. Which she will because she loves me.”
Grace did care for Riley, which made things so much easier. I concurred with Jett and Brennan–seeing Grace take down the shooter was terrifying. But unlike them, I wasn’t surprised that Evan had mated her during their romantic weekend. He had mentioned it. Several times.
I looked over to where Andre was overseeing alterations on Grace’s dress.
“Would you be okay if I courted her?” I was already putting plans into place.
Riley’s shoulders shimmied. “You fucking bet your dick I am. But please get her something cool like a motorcycle for a courting gift.”
Actually, I was planning a trip to take her to see the particle cutter. But that was a thought…
“Ooh, you like her,” Riley sang.
“There’s something there. I feel it when we dance, when we talk about science, when she passes me the salt at dinner.” I gazed back over at her in that poufy silver dress, and she waved.
Riley snorted. “Okay, Sappy McSapPants. But seriously, I’m happy for you.”
“Your voice is important. If things are happening too fast, if your needs aren’t being met, please speak up,” I added. Riley wasn’t less important because Grace was in our lives.
“Oh, my fuck.” Her eyes rolled. “You know what? I think I need to go to the movies and the fancy pizza arcade.”
“Perfect. Are we bringing Grace or is it just us? Either is fine,” I assured her.
Riley pondered this for a moment. “We can bring her. I want to see her play the dance game with you. If you want to invite everyone else to join us at the pizza arcade, that’s fine. But I want just us three at the movies.”
“That sounds fun.” I pulled up the theater schedule on my phone. Riley chose a movie for us, and I booked the tickets.
I texted the chat I had with the guys.
Me
I’m taking Grace and Riley to the movies and then to the fancy pizza arcade. You are welcome to join us for a pizza dinner.
Evan
If I didn’t have a staff meeting, I’d join you at the movies. The arcade sounds fun.
Wes
Oh, so this is your important meeting?
I sent a picture of Grace on a pedestal in front of the big mirrors and one of Riley.
Me
No, this was my big meeting.
Not that my taking them to their fitting was a secret.
Evan
Very important.
Wes
Shit, she’s beautiful.
Brennan
The pizza arcade? It’s very noisy.
Jett
You know Riley loves that place.
I added when we’d be there and the movie information.
Finished, Grace came over to us. “All done.”
“Spence is taking us to the movies and the fancy pizza arcade. I think the boys are joining us for pizza,” Riley said as she got her things.
Grace beamed. “Sounds good to me.”
The movie finished, and Riley looked over at me and smirked. Grace had fallen asleep on me halfway through.
I loved every moment. Her small body fit perfectly into mine.
“The movie’s over, my good doctor.” I shook her gently.
Her eyes flew open. “I fell asleep? I’m so embarrassed.”
“You didn’t snore. It’s fine.” Riley waved it off, hopping up out of her seat.
Grace sat up and realized she’d been asleep on me. “Oh, I–”
I cupped her face in my hands. “Don’t be sorry. I adored being your pillow.”
“Okay.” Her voice went small.
“You can sleep on me anytime,” I added. It was the first time we had really cuddled, and I yearned for more.
Grace gulped. “Okay.”
Riley snorted. “What’s the point of having giant dudes around if you don’t use them as pillows? Now come on, we have prizes to win and pizza to eat.”
Standing, I offered my hand to Grace. She put hers in mine and smiled shyly as she stood. Her hand stayed in mine as we left the theatre and went across the plaza to the pizza arcade.
“We’ll order food, play games until the food comes, eat, then play more games,” Riley told us as we entered what I personally thought of as overstimulation paradise .
Everywhere you looked there were bright lights, games that flashed and made noise, children running and screaming, adults watching the sports ball, and people drinking beer.
Grace’s face said it all. Yes. That was why Brennan didn’t like it here.
I pulled Grace into me. “Everyone’s coming. I'm pretty sure that if it gets to be too much that someone will take you home. We come here for Riley, not because we like it. The wine list leaved something to be desired, but the pizza is wood-fired, and apparently they have a lot of nice beers.”
She nodded, tucking herself into me.
“You are so fucking cute together,” Riley told me as we found a table big enough for all seven of us.
“Is that okay…” Her scent went a little sour.
“Please, feel free to date all of them. You’d look hot on the back of Brennan’s motorcycle.” Using the tablet attached to the table, she proceeded to order enough food for an army.
Grace bit her lower lip. “I don’t think that would happen.”
Yes, I should get myself one, then I could take her on rides. Mmmm. What would she look like as we rode through Greece or Italy at sunset?
Riley pushed the tablet toward us. “I’m happy you mated Evan, and that you make Spence happy. Approve.”
“Thank you, that means everything.” Grace looked at the tablet and ordered a beer and some onion rings.
I ordered everyone’s usual drinks, as well as mine, and some additional food items, taking everyone’s likes into account.
“Game time. Yes, we’re playing the dance game.” Riley dragged us over to the dance game.
There were two platforms and a game screen. The moves flashed on the screen, and the players moved on their platforms to match as music played. Score was kept, and fun was had by all.
“Spence and I will show you how it’s done. Then you can try it with him. He’s bad at it,” Riley added.
Opening the app on her phone, she swiped it on the game console to pay for our turn.
“If you insist,” I told her, getting onto one of the platforms.
“Oh, I do.” She grinned as she chose the song and level.
Grace peered at the screen. “I’ve played something like this.”
Huh, I suppose she might have.
The music played, and I followed the movements on the screen, making just enough mistakes so she’d win, without her thinking I was letting her win. It was good exercise, especially since I didn’t play tennis after work today.
The lights blinked around her platform, marking Riley as the winner. We then played again. Grace stood watching us, grinning.
Or rather, she was watching me.
Riley won again. Bowing, she hopped off. “Your turn.”
“Okay. Warning, I have done zero cardio lately other than Jett’s living room dance practice.” She got onto the platform.
“I’ll choose an easy one.” Riley paid for another game and selected a beginner song.
The game started, this time I didn’t hold back–but I didn’t show off. Grace, however, knew exactly what she was doing. It was difficult to focus on the movements flashing on the screen so I could replicate them, and not her lithe form.
Or the pure joy on her face.
Oh, my heart. The song ended, and the lights declared her the winner.
“Yay, you won.” Riley gave her a hug. “Well done, Spence. I knew you’d get the hang of this game, eventually. More?”
Grace smiled at me, joy still in her eyes. “That was fun, but I’ve got my cardio for the day. Does this place have the game where you roll balls into holes?”
Riley laughed. “Um, what? I don’t think so? But let’s play the blaster game.”
She dragged us to the other side of the arcade.
“You’re very good at that game–and you hold back with Riley.” Grace smiled at me again.
Something about those smiles and her blue eyes sparked long-forgotten joy in my soul.
“Shhh. I don’t hold back that much. She’s good,” I whispered back.
We played a shooting game that gave you points to use at the arcade shop. A game which Grace excelled at.
“Wow. If your job with Spence doesn’t work out, maybe you should join the academy.” Jett stood there, holding an iced coffee.
Grace laughed. “Do I even meet the height requirement?”
“For your designation, maybe?” He rested his arm on her head, and she laughed again.
“Ooh, how many points did you get?” Evan bounded over, still in his Center polo.
“She won,” Riley told him.
Evan kissed her. “You did, great job.” His eyes lit up as he saw the iced coffee in Jett’s hand. “Is that for me?”
I was so happy Evan had found such good people to love him. All of them were great guys–even Brennan.
Jett leaned in and kissed him. “You know it is.”
Evan took the coffee. “Thanks. Can I join in? Did we order food? I’m so hungry.”
I glanced at my phone. “The appetizers will be here shortly. The drinks are on the table.”
“Found mine. Or what I hoped was mine.” Brennan held up a bourbon. “If it’s not, it’s mine now, sorry. Oh, fuck, who got that score?”
“Grace. I’d love to see her and Lexi at the range,” Jett said, arm still around Evan.
“Yeah? That sounds fun.” Wes came over holding a beer and gave her a kiss.
“Why don’t we all play a round together,” Riley suggested.
“Perfect, then the food should be here,” I replied
We all took a seat, and I used the app to pay for all our games. The countdown went off, and music played as the targets moved, and we shot as many as we could before the timer went off.
The targets stopped, and the scoreboard lit up. Grace had won, again, but Jett was only a couple of points off.
“Well played,” Jett told her.
She gave Brennan a look. “I can contribute to protecting the pack.”
“Noted.” Brennan nodded.
“Protect me, Peaches.” Evan scooped her off the stool and clutched her to his chest, planting a kiss on her forehead.
“Wow, Grace, you have so many points. We’ll play more after dinner, and you can win something cute for Evan as a bonding gift,” Riley said as she led us back to our table.
“I love that idea. I’ll play a few more games after dinner and win something for you, too,” Evan said as he carried her through the arcade.
“That sounds fun,” she said as he set her in a chair.
She grabbed a beer and took a long drink, lips wrapped around the bottle’s neck in the most tantalizing way.
The server brought out a bunch of appetizers. Probably enough for most people to have for dinner if we didn’t have a teenager who regularly consumed her weight in chips, and a bunch of alphas.
“Ooh, who ordered onion rings for me?” Brennan’s face lit up as he took one.
“I ordered them, but I’ll share.” Grace took one.
Brennan nodded. “Thank you for being a good sharer, Grace.”
She smirked. “Likewise.”
We went around the table and talked about our days, not unlike family dinner. Riley also filled us in on who’d gotten detention. As we finished our appetizers, the server brought the pizzas and refreshed our drinks. She also brought some chicken wings and fries for Evan.
“You’re right, this is good pizza.” Grace took another bite.
“You have cheese on your face.” Wes leaned in and licked it off.
“No licking at the table.” Riley dipped her pizza in sauce.
Jett shook his head. “Not a rule.” Leaning over, he licked Evan.
Brennan licked Jett’s cheek.
Jett waggled his eyebrows. “You mean that, Honey?”
“Oh, I do, Dear.” Brennan kissed him.
Riley covered her eyes. “I’m trying to eat here.”
I chuckled. “You’re the one who said that they could join us.”
We finished our pizza, and Riley dragged Evan and Grace off toward the arcade games. Jett and Brennan went to play darts.
“This is fun,” Wes said, eyes on Grace as Evan taught her to play a racing game.
“Indeed.”
Wes went to play games with them, and I paid the bill. Then I checked my email and did a few things, content that everyone was having a good time.
Now Grace was playing pool with Brennan, Jett, and Wes, while Evan and Riley were fighting aliens.
“You are a cheater.” Brennan scowled at Grace.
“I… I must play by different rules. I’m sorry.” Her head hung. Grace’s scent soured, and my fists clenched.
Wes pulled Grace to him. “Hey, easy, Bren. We didn’t tell her what rules we played by. They’re probably different where she’s from. Just tell her what she did that broke a rule, and we’ll redo it. Easy peasy.”
“I wasn’t trying to cheat.” She sniffed.
Oh. No, I’m sure she wasn’t.
“Okay, you’re right. That’s how I got my ass kicked on a business trip.” Brennan’s look went wry. “Sorry, Grace.”
“I mean, if you want to play dirty, I can teach you the game I used to play in grad school when I needed food money.” Grace grinned.
The look on their faces said it all. Brennan might still have his reservations, but she was one of us. The idea of her hustling pool so she had enough to eat broke us.
Brennan also shot a look at Wes that clearly said She’s your mate, where the fuck were you while she struggled to have enough to eat? You should have been taking care of her.
At some point, we were going to need to explain Grace to him.
“We’ll play dirty another night,” Jett soothed, getting between Wes and Brennan. “Let’s finish our game so you can go buy an overpriced toy for Evan with all your game points.”
They finished their game, and she, and Riley went off to pick something out.
“Did you have fun at the movies?” Evan asked me.
“She fell asleep on me.” I grinned.
Evan bumped me with his side. “Lucky fucker.”
“This is okay, me and her?” I said softly. “I don’t want to encroach.”
He hugged me. “I’m happy for you, my friend.”
“That means everything.”
“Evan, look what I got you.” Grace ran over and got down on one knee. “Will you be mine?” She held out a blinking ring.
“Peaches, I already am.” He held out his hand, and she slid it on. “This is for you. I crown you Princess Peaches.” Evan placed a crown on her hair.
“I love it.” She giggled and leaned in for a kiss.
Riley came back over to us. “While this has been fun, bitches, I have school tomorrow. Who’s taking me back to the dorms?”
“I will,” I volunteered. Grace could go back with them.
Riley said her goodbyes and followed me down to my car.
“Did you have fun?” I asked as she hooked her phone up to my stereo and played something.
“Yes. We should do this more often,” she told me.
I nodded. It was nice to see everyone having fun together like a pack. “Yes, I think we should.”