“Course,” I told him with a scowl.
“Well then, nothing to feel guilty about. Not when Aoife has to be a bit fucked up over what went down. She doing okay?”
“Yeah. Could be better.”
“I like her, Finn. I’m glad you married her.”
His remark surprised the hell out of me. “I figured you wouldn’t approve.”
“I only disapproved of the fact you wouldn’t let me organize a damn bachelor party. Fucking party pooper.”
“That’s me,” I told him with a grin. “I fucking hate that shit. You know that.”
“Still, it’s not for you, it’s for me! And you didn’t even need a goddamn best man. I’m hurt, bro.”
“Don’t worry about it. After that fuck up, well, let’s just say we’ll be renewing our vows at some point.”
His eyes sparkled. “You gonna go the whole hog?”
After he’d almost fucking died when his femoral artery had been severed? Sure as shit I was.
“You can do the whole shebang, but no goddamn strippers.”
He pouted. Honest to God, pouted. Fuck me. The man was thirty-seven.
I pointed at his lower lip. “That shit might work with the nurses, but it doesn’t with me.”
His smirk said it all. “Okay, no strippers,” he conceded. “Pussy-whipped already. I mourn you.”
“You don’t have to mourn me when the pussy that’s whipping me is twenty-four carat gold.”
Aidan puffed out his lips. “Well, I didn’t think any less would snare you. In fact, never thoughtanyonewould snare you. You’ve always been shy around women.”
I gaped at him. “Shy? You were with me when we fucked those three chicks in Denver, right?”
He grinned. “Don’t mean timid. Meant shy as in ‘not even a shotgun up my ass will get me to the church’ and Aoife didn’t look like she was carrying a Voodoo doll and making you sayI do.”
Despite myself, I had to chuckle. “Okay, you’re right. But she’s different, man. Can’t tell you how, she just is.”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t get sappy on me. Last thing I need is you working with Mom to get me to settle down.” Then, even though he’d just been joking, his mouth firmed. “Knowing the bitches around our way, they won’t want a dude with a fucked-up leg.”
“You’re the heir to the Five Points, Aidan. They’d want you if you looked like Mutley.” I tapped my chin. “Or do I mean Dick Dastardly?”
His nostrils flared. “Fuck. That’s the best compliment I’ve had from you in five years. Minimum.”
I waved my hand in a bow. “I try, I try.”
His tone turned somber again. “They’re saying I might have to use a cane, Finn.”
“Just for a while, Aidan. Don’t worry.”
“No. Forever. The pins didn’t take well. Might have to go in for another surgery.”
“Shit. I’m sorry, bro.”
He blew a breath. “I always did have the luck of the angels. Must have been my time to get burned.”
“Those fuckers… we’ll make them pay, Aidan. Don’t you worry.”