Chapter Seven
Wolf
Catalina Island is definitely my reset button. From the moment I touch down on the tiny airstrip at the top of the mountain, I can smell salt in the breeze and feel my blood pressure drop a solid ten points. There aren’t a lot of areas of California that are still paradise, but this island is a place all to itself, a whole other world away from bustling cities. I dare anyone who comes to the island not to instantly fall in love.
I arrived early in the morning and spent the day hiking on my own. Tonight, though, is boys’ night out. There will be no fawning women, no work, no worries, just the Young brothers, Armstrong brothers, and a whole lot of alcohol that always tastes better on the island, where all worries are instantly carried away in the breeze.
I move from the house to JL’s Sports Bar and can hear the excited buzz as I step through the doors. There’s the usual mix of locals, yacht guys in flip-flops that cost more than some cars, such as the eighteen-thousand-dollar Chipko’s, and tourists trying to act casual while taking selfies with their buffalo milks and Jello shots.
I make my way to the back, where our usual spot has been secured. A few high-top tables have been pushed together, and they’re already full of pitchers of beer, expensive shots of tequila, and enough testosterone to knock a hole in the wall.
Cooper raises his glass as I confidently stride toward them. “Look what the ocean breeze blew in.”
“And he’s not alone,” Maverick adds, eyeing the phone in my hand like it’s a nuclear device. “Still leashed to the mysterious woman you can’t stop texting?”
Nick groans dramatically. “It’s been six weeks of whining about this woman and two full weeks of texting. You might as well get the marriage license and head to the courthouse.”
I roll my eyes. “Texting is nowhere near marriage,” I say with a laugh. I slide in next to Jayden. “It’s a very effective form of communication.”
“With little emojis showing your brain is no older than thirteen,” Drake says, grinning at me as if he’s caught me belting out a teeny bopper tune.
“Maybe an emoji or two, but how else does a person show what they’re feeling?” I think it’s reasonable. Their teasing doesn’t bother me in the least little bit. I’m too wrapped up in Audrey to take offense.
Ace leans forward, his arms crossed on the table. “I’ve never seen you texting one person this much. Hell, you never even call a woman for a second date. And when you message any of us, it’s short, sweet, and to the point. I bet there’s more than texting going on, I bet some steamy stuff’s happening.”
Right on cue, my phone buzzes. I can’t stop the smile from appearing on my lips, which doesn’t go unnoticed as the men around the table laugh at me. I wait to check the message for a moment, not needing any of them to be looking over my shoulder. It’s killing me to wait, but this is boys’ night so I can’t be texting her the entire time. I need to have some boundaries... right?
Audrey : As I lie back in this tub covered in bubbles, I realize it really is big enough for two. I can stretch out so much better all on my own, though.
I’m instantly turned on and grinning like a lunatic. I’m going to have this woman beneath me . . . it’s only a matter of time. She might be skittish, but she’s a lot flirtier and more open through texting. If this is what it takes to win her over, I’m willing to put in the time. I like it anyway. I’m getting to know her in ways I’ve never tried getting to know a woman before. I don’t realize how much I’m grinning until Drake speaks.
“That’s it. The man’s officially gone.”
“Wolf’s been abducted by the girlfriend aliens,” Cooper agrees, raising his glass in mock sympathy.
“She’s not my girlfriend,” I insist. “Hell, we haven’t even had an official date yet.”
“Don’t matter, it’s gonna happen. You’re both hooked even if you might’ve found your match in a very stubborn partner,” Jayden mutters.
“She’s... different,” I say, not knowing why I’m explaining myself. The table quiets for a beat or two. It isn’t much, but I’m admitting that it’s more than me trying to get her into my bed only to forget her the next morning. A man who doesn’t care doesn’t admit this.
Cooper gives me a quizzical look. “You really do like this woman, don’t you?”
I don’t respond immediately. I don’t have to. My face says it all. This has gone past obsession into something more. I’ve never had a serious relationship before so I’m unsure how to proceed. I can’t imagine being exclusive with a woman, but the thought of hurting Audrey is like a knife stabbing me. If I go all in with her, I’m going all the way. I haven’t made that decision yet, which is why I haven’t pushed harder for a date. I also haven’t been with another woman since meeting her. That’s really saying something because I’ve had many offers.
Jayden leans back, his face growing more serious. “What is it about this woman that makes her different?” he asks. It’s rare we talk seriously on boys’ night. I could wave it away or talk for a minute about this woman before I tuck her away and have a good time with the guys.
“She doesn’t seem to care who I am. She looks past the swagger and show I always put on. She’s not impressed with me being a pilot, and doesn’t seem to care if I have money or not. She hasn’t tried to see what I can do for her or how much money I make. She does, however, like to call me out on my crap, which I’m not used to. She’s funny, sexy, and has such a quick wit that it makes me want to beg her to keep speaking. I don’t know. I can’t imagine ever growing bored with her. She’s... unique.”
Maverick gives a low whistle before grinning. “She puts you in your place, huh? Can’t say I don’t enjoy that.”
“She challenges me. I love it,” I admit with a laugh. “Probably love it more than I should.”
The teasing slows. For just a moment, we’re a bunch of guys who’ve flown too many miles, made a few too many headlines, and have had love and loss in our lives, and actually care about each other’s happiness. Considering that most of my friends are now happily married men, maybe they’re thinking it’s about time I settle down. A shudder runs through me. The word marriage is terrifying even though I’ve seen a hell of a lot of great examples of true love all around me for most of my life. I know there are a lot of bad ones out there, but all those good ones are beginning to make it look better than I’ve always thought.
A few more questions are asked before laughter ensues. We can’t stay too serious very long on boys’ night or we’d break the bro code we set years earlier.
“What I’m hearing is that it’s time for a bet,” Drake says with an evil grin, one he mastered at the age of five.
I groan and roll my eyes. “Not going to happen.”
“Too late,” Ace says as he rubs his hands together. “Old-school rules. First one to get a yes to a date wins. Can’t be a repeat date. No calling up your guaranteed hookups. It has to be someone new.” He pauses. “And clearly only applies to the single men sitting here.”
All of the Armstrong brothers laugh as they’re all happily married men who wouldn’t think of cheating on their beautiful wives. I respect them immensely for this.
“What’s the prize?” Nick asks. He’s all in on this since he’s going to sit back and watch my brothers and me scramble at this game if we choose to play.
“Losers clean the Avalon house next time we’re all here,” Drake immediately says. “Including the bathrooms from top to bottom.” A collective groan circles the table.
“What are you guys groaning about? You won’t have to clean,” I point out as I look at Cooper.
“It’s a sympathy groan. Sorry brother, you’re most likely losing. I don’t see you even attempting to get any date other than with Audrey,” Cooper replies.
“I haven’t been on a date with her yet, so if I get her to say yes, I win,” I tell him, feeling confident. I know she’s close to saying yes. It’s going to happen; it’s just a matter of when.
“I think you should have to try to get a date with a local,” Maverick says.
I immediately shake my head. “Nope. I’m out then,” I quickly reply, making all of the men laugh.
“Come on, it will build character,” Drake says.
“You aren’t getting out of this. You’re the one who’s practically monogamous now so that makes you the contestant to beat,” Cooper says.
“I agree. You’re the wild card, the player with a soul,” Maverick says with a flutter of his lashes that makes me laugh. These men might drive me nuts half the time, but I honestly am glad to have them in my life. Friendships like this don’t come often enough for most people. But this isn’t what I say.
I shake my head. “You guys suck.”
“But you love us,” Jayden says.
“That is, unfortunately, true,” I admit. I look up and see a familiar face sitting at the bar looking at us, and swallow. Uh oh. “Who in the heck invited Joseph Anderson?”
Everyone laughs. “You know you can’t keep Joseph away when he wants to go somewhere,” Maverick says. Joseph, the most famous meddler of all, is sitting at the bar next to Sherman, one of his partners in crime, who happens to be the uncle of the Armstrong men sitting with me.
I know the look in his eyes as he gazes at me. I’ve seen it more times than I can count, and I’m well aware that when this man meddles, wedding bells seem to chime not much later. My heartbeat picks up its pace, and my throat closes slightly. I grab a tequila shot and down it.
The two men move toward us now that they’ve been spotted. All of the guys are grinning at me, knowing what I’m in store for. I want to punch each one of their smug smiles away. I’m trying to figure this out, and Joseph’s meddling won’t help at all.
“So, I hear love is in the air, Captain Young,” Joseph says.
I try to give a cocky grin like I’m carefree and not even thinking of love. “Don’t you have an empire to run?” I quickly ask.
He ignores me. “Sherman and I were chatting, and it seems like a waste for a promising romance not to get the spark it needs to ignite.”
“No sparks are needed,” I assure him.
“Oh, don’t be foolish, boy.” He smiles with far too much innocence, while his eyes show his true intentions. “Sometimes you young’uns simply need a little nudge or two.”
Sherman chuckles. “You know how we feel about happy endings.”
“There’s more than one kind of happy ending,” Jayden says with a laugh. Sherman gives him a stern look that makes my brother gaze into his beer glass as if it’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen.
“I don’t need any interference,” I warn the men.
Joseph laughs. “We’d never think of interfering. However, helping out a friend is something we’d never think of turning our backs on.”
I turn to the men at my table with pleading eyes. They laugh and shrug as if to tell me there’s no help for me once Joseph and Sherman get their hooks into me. They aren’t risking those two turning their sights on them.
“Who invited Joseph and Sherman?” I whisper again, determined to find out and make that person pay.
Nick raises his hand. “It was me,” he says gleefully. I owe him a big payback for this, and he’s not going to like it.
“Traitor,” I mutter.
“They like coming here. Besides, they bought our first round,” Nick says with a shrug. I roll my eyes. There isn’t a single thing any of us can’t afford so that’s no excuse.
Joseph isn’t fazed by me not wanting him here. He’s confident in who he is and knows he’s loved by the world. He leans close. “Just remember that sometimes fate needs a little help.” He pauses as his smile grows. “You’re lucky we’re very good at helping.”
My throat closes again as Joseph and Sherman turn and walk out of the bar. I wonder if I could have them kidnapped and hidden away for the next couple of months. Yeah, that’s not going to happen without WWIII breaking out. Joseph has far too many friends and family, not to mention a team of special ops men at his beck and call, to ever get kidnapped. It looks like I’m truly screwed.
The topic quickly changes, much to my relief, and soon we’re talking about things we normally discuss on boys’ night. Things like who grills the best, who can handle the most shots, and who’s the better pilot. Of course, there’s zero agreement on any of these topics as we’re all incredibly confident men who think we’re the best at all we do.
I manage to step away for a few minutes and walk down the street to look out at the calm waters of Avalon Bay. I lean back and take a few breaths as I look up at the stars gleaming like a box of spilled diamonds. This place truly is a haven I’m incredibly grateful to have... even if it means taking a lot of crap from my friends and brothers. I pull out my phone.
Me : I can’t seem to stop thinking about you, morning, noon, and night. That means something. We’re going to have our first date sooner rather than later.
I hit send before I can change my mind. She doesn’t immediately respond, as I knew she wouldn’t. This message will catch her off guard, and she’ll need to think about it. We’re both so far out of our comfort zones at this point that I’m not sure we’ll ever find them again. I’m okay with it, and I have a feeling she is too. Maybe fate really is involved here, and we’d be fools to mess with it. You don’t want to tick off the fate women. They can be mean. I’ve watched that Supernatural episode when they’re messed with. A shudder runs through me.
I also know we don’t stand a chance if Joseph’s now meddling in our lives. I might as well leap quickly because I don’t think I have a choice anymore. I smile as I put my phone away and turn around, heading back to the bar.
Obsessing about it isn’t going to help tonight. What will help is to laugh with the people I’m closest to in the world. Tomorrow’s a brand-new day to obsess over the woman who I’m sure will visit me in my dreams tonight. I don’t mind that one little bit. As a matter of fact, I’ll be smiling in the morning after dreaming of her. It should scare me, but it doesn’t.