All They Wanted (Wanted 5.6)

Ari glared at Josh. “No. I want pig bacon. Not soy or buffalo or almond!”

Josh pinched his brows? “Almond?”

Waving her hands about, Ari stood. “What the fuck ever! Almond milk, almond bacon, soy bacon. It’s all healthy shit. I don’t want healthy shit.” She threw the soy bacon to Gus who sniffed then went and laid back over by Gunner.

“Even the dog doesn’t want healthy crap,” Ari stated.

“Actually, soy really isn’t—”

When Ari turned to me, I stopped talking. I slid the plate of bacon her way. “I’ve got plenty of bacon.”

Jeff glanced Josh’s way and said, “You fucked up again, dude.”

With a huff, Josh went back to cooking more bacon as Gunner and I both let out a soft chuckle.

Ellie and I walked arm in arm along the path while Gus followed close by. “How are you feeling?”

Smiling, I replied, “Amazing. The morning sickness still gets to me, but other than that, I feel really good.”

“I can’t imagine carrying two.”

“What about you? How are you feeling?”

Her smile would have lit up a room, had we been inside one. “I feel wonderful. Alex is wonderful, Gunner is wonderful. It’s all wonderful!”

I chuckled then let out a contented sigh. After everything Ellie had gone through with her father leaving them and her mother turning into an alcoholic, I was beyond thrilled to see her getting the happiness she deserved.

“So, the wedding,” Ellie said as she looked at me.

“I don’t want to talk about the wedding. Honestly, no stress this weekend. Let’s just pretend like we have no responsibilities and have fun!”

Ellie laughed. “Done!”

Josh and Jeff were ahead of us arguing about something.

“What are those two going on about?” Ellie asked.

Ari walked up next to me and took my other arm with hers. “Something about who could climb up and back down that hill faster.”

My mouth fell. “Are you serious? Why would they even want to? It’s steep!”

With a chuckle, Ari nodded her head. “Yep. Gunner egged it on and is sitting back listening to the two of them argue about who is the tougher, stronger guy. I swear these men of ours. If I didn’t love them all so much, I’d want to nut roll them.”

Ellie and I both looked at Ari. “Nut roll them? What does that even mean?”

Ari’s only response was an evil grin.

All three guys stopped while Josh and Jeff faced each other. Gunner picked up a stick and threw it for Gus who took off after it.

“Good lord. Why must everything be a competition between them?” Ellie pondered while we approached the two of them.

Jeff tossed his head back and let out a loud laugh. “Honestly, Josh. There is no way you can scale that hill.”

“And you can, oh-mighty-one?” Josh spit back.

“Yes. Face it, you were raised in the city. You don’t have what it takes to do things like this.”

Josh jerked his head back. “You were raised in the city too, asshole.”