Slater chuckled. “You forget to take your Geritol or something, buddy?”
“No.” I gave him a hard stare. “I’m horny.”
He popped to his feet. “Enough said. I’m outta here.”
“Thanks for all your help the past few days. I appreciate it. We appreciate it,” I amended, clapping him on the back.
“You’re welcome. I’m happy to help. It’s been a while. She looks damn good, Fox.”
“Yeah.” I couldn’t keep the pride out of my voice as my gaze returned to Mia one more time. She was like my true north, always pulling me back over and over again. “She’s amazing.”
“I’d say I was jealous, but she’s a bit too much for me.” He grinned. “I need a sweet, quiet, domestic chick.”
“Like Li?” I didn’t even know anything about this girl he was seeing, other than hearts shot out of his ears every time he mentioned her name. I’d suggested we all get together—after the fight, because there could be no regular life until Mia had kicked Evie’s ass—but he’d vetoed it, saying Li was too shy and wasn’t ready to meet “the crew” yet.
I was still trying to figure out what cre
w he was talking about, especially since she’d been supposedly ready to meet us for dinner last week until she’d fallen ill. Whatever. I had bigger fish to fry at the moment.
He smiled and slung his bag over his shoulder, then reached for his health food shit. God forbid he left any of it behind. “Yeah. She’s incredible. Did I tell you she’s making me a sweater? Out of Irish wool.”
“You don’t wear sweaters. They don’t really work with your boogie board.”
“Winter, dude. Can’t ride the waves all year.”
“True enough.” I had no desire for my girl to make me sweaters, but Slater had always been searching for his one twue wuv in the midst of all the blonde surf babes he collected like trophy wives. In his mind, that included handicrafts and keeping the homefires warm.
Maybe he’d finally found a keeper. He was overdue for one, especially after that awkward situation with him moving in with his brother’s girl. Said brother’s girl had gone right back to Liam the moment he’d shown up again after medically retiring from the SEALs. They were currently in the midst of domestic bliss, and Slater was on his own again. Or he had been until Li had suddenly come onto the scene.
“I’m happy for you, man.” I clapped him on the back one more time to hurry him along. “Now go home and bang your girl while I bang mine.”
My best friend blushed. Actually blushed. “Oh, we’re not there yet.”
I cast a distracted glance at Mia. She was working on her uppercut now, and sweat gleamed on every visible inch of her skin.
My gaze snagged on her abs, and the way they rippled over her yoga pants with every punch. Christ. My cock reared up against my shorts, my erection making its presence known.
Soon, pal. Almost time.
If I had my way, I’d in inside her within five. Maybe four, depending how fast I could pin her. She had to get tired eventually.
“Not where yet?” I replied, not really caring.
Leave. Please. Now.
Slater took a swig from his bottle. “You know, doing it. We’re not there yet.”
I stood up so fast I nearly lost my footing. “Say what?”
“It’s not a requirement for a good relationship, Fox,” he snapped, showing a rare hint of temper. Like seriously rare. I think the last time he’d gotten annoyed at me was when I’d slipped caffeine powder into his berry blend protein drink. That was three years ago.
“Says who? Dr. Phil?”
“Keep your voice down.”
“Why? No one’s here but Mia, and she doesn’t care who you screw. Or don’t.”
“It’s not just about screwing.”