The Confession

“I’m not sure they do anything as practical as shop for groceries. They’re both too focused on one-upping each other.” Seth groaned. “You ought to see the place now. Let’s just say that Dean took over the decorating, and that isn’t a good thing.”

Heavenly gaped. “What did he do?”

“Hang Dogs Playing Poker everywhere?” Beck drawled.

“Worse.” Seth shook his head. “He’s slapped up pictures of Jasmine—as a little girl with pigtails and braces and missing front teeth. In a Girl Scout uniform and at dance recitals, way before training bras, and doing things like playing with Barbie. They’re on every wall, every surface. There’s even one of her as a toddler in the john. Dean told me that was in case River felt compelled to jack off to thoughts of his sister in the shower.”

Beck howled. “It’s horrible and underhanded. I like it.”

“Right?” Seth agreed. “But River got the last word in. He snapped a picture of Jasmine, um…post-coital, looking all soft and sated in his bed. He blew it up to poster size and hung it in his room, where it’s totally visible from the hallway. So every time Dean has to use the can…he has to walk past that image.”

“He didn’t!” Heavenly looked scandalized.

“Oh, he did,” Seth confirmed. “And he’s proud of it.”

Beck just shook his head. “So things are going really well at the swinging bachelor pad, huh?”

Seth shook his head. “Be glad you don’t work with either of them. Every fucking day I hear about some new, petty disagreement. I’m ready to duct-tape River’s mouth shut. I swear, there’s no enemy like a former friend. They know exactly how to push each other’s buttons.”

“Hammer and Liam proved that before they got smart and took Raine together,” Beck pointed out.

“You two weren’t exactly slouches in the prank department,” Heavenly scolded. “I still have nightmares about Madame Zelda and Clovis.”

“Hey, maybe that would have been a good show.” Beck flashed her a cheesy grin.

“Bite your tongue, mister,” she scolded.

“Well, we might have pranked, but just like Liam and Hammer, we worked it out by taking the girl together. Since Jasmine is Dean’s sister and River is too hung up on her to walk away, that’s not going to happen.”

“And they’re both too stubborn to move out. Men.” Heavenly rolled her eyes. “River has to stop following her like a stalker.”

“I’m trying to keep him busy with cases.” Seth shrugged. “But the stupid bastard is single-minded.”

Beck leaned in. “Like a dog with a juicy bone. Don’t you think it’s interesting that he keeps insisting he doesn’t have feelings for her, but he won’t back the hell off?”

“He’s lying to himself. One hundred percent.” Seth nodded.

“Yep,” Beck agreed. “Is Pike getting anywhere with her?”

They both turned to Heavenly, who shrugged. “I know she spent a lot of time with him after the disastrous move-in, but I don’t know if he’s out of the friend zone yet. I didn’t get a chance to ask her before she left on that big cruise with the elderly couple she works for.”

The conversation and the miles whizzed by as the sun sank closer to the horizon in their back windshield. Finally, the iconic, Welcome to Las Vegas sign shimmered in the headlights.

Twenty minutes later, Beck savored the familiar comfort of Gloria’s tight hug. He couldn’t name a time or date when her embrace had gone from inciting teenage lust to a feeling of homecoming. But watching her hug Heavenly and Seth with the same affection warmed his heart.

After Buddy greeted them with bro-hugs and gave Heavenly a friendly squeeze, they each grabbed a cocktail and strolled out onto the patio. Seated by the pool on the thickly padded outdoor sectional, they laughed and talked while the warm desert air kissed Beck’s skin.

“It’s not too hot out here for you guys, is it?” Buddy asked.

“At night, with the overhead fans, it actually feels good,” Seth assured while Beck nodded in agreement. “What made you decide to get married now?”

“You mean when it’s hotter than Satan’s balls?” Gloria grinned.

“Yeah.”

“Vegas is never unbusy, and we got tired of waiting.” She shrugged.

“Besides, we don’t plan on being out in the heat for long,” Buddy agreed. “Just into the chapel so Elvis can marry us, then out again before coming back here to celebrate.”