We make our rounds greeting everyone then grab some drinks to catch up with the gang outside. Oran comes to greet us. His hair is perfectly coiffed waves and his beard is cut low and trimmed. He’s wearing a quarter length sleeved soft peach shirt that leaves nothing about his muscular body to the imagination and dark jeans.
Damn these Hale men.
He pulls me into a hug, wrapping me in his scent then pulls back and rubs my cheek.
“How are you today, Angel?”
“Good! It’s been an exciting morning.”
He smiles sweetly at me. “I heard.” He shows me his phone. “That overly excited brother of mine has the four of us and a stupid ass group chat.”
At first glance I see a bunch of “assholes” and laughing emojis. He scrolls before I can read anything good and there are pictures of Wyn and Berke with gifts.
“It was sweet of you to include Berke.” He smiles but I’m pretty sure low level hurt is involved. He does buy me just as much stuff as Wyn does.
“He was shocked too. I don’t think anyone has ever given him anything just because, ya know?”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t know what it’s like if it weren’t for my mother and Karessa.”
“And me,” I correct him.
“Huh?” His forehead creases with confusion.
Reaching into my tote I pull out a shiny box and his eyes get big when he sees the embossing. Inside, nestled in luxury is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak silver-toned watch I bought him. Oran gasps like a mistress and takes the watch out and secures it on his wrist. It sparkles in the sunlight.
“And I made sure it costs more than the motorcycle,” I whisper to him.
“I’m not worried about anything like that,” he dismisses my statement but his smile stretches like the Cheshire cat.
Jagger appears and bumps Wyn with his shoulder. “Dude, every time I call my fucking best friend you’re in his office. Cousin or not that shit ain’t cute, go visit your other cousin in the same fucking building.” He grabs Dallas as he passes. “And you, I need to be in that group chat.”
Dallas laughs. “It’s a Hale men chat, Jagger.”
Jagger snorts. “So the fuck what? Last I checked there is a Jagger Hale. He can’t read yet so I’ll be his proxy. Fucking add me bitch.” He looks around. “Nice house by the way.”
Oran, who was taking pictures of his new watch, ignored the entire exchange and Jagger continues on to mess with Bowie and Markos Nix.
I settle into a conversation with the girls while the men talk about whatever catches their fancy until the roar of the motorcycle announces Berke’s arrival. He appears shortly after wearing a leather jacket, white muscle shirt, black fitted jeans, and boots. His hair is slicked back now and not at all affected by the helmet he left with his bike.
He greets a few people with tight nods before he finds me. Grabbing my hand, he pulls me aside for a private word.
“Bug, don’t freak out. I checked in on some of my affairs and need to return to Manchester to take care of a few things.” He rubs my forehead to ease the worried crease. “It won’t be like last time.” He smirks at me to be reassuring. “I’m thinking of moving back. On my own terms of course.”
“We’d like that. When are you leaving?”
“Tonight or in the morning. I have to check in with a jackass, first.” He pulls me into a hug. “That bike rides like a dream. It almost made my dick hard.”
I laugh and push at his chest. “You’re so inappropriate.”
“And you like it.” I sigh when he kisses my forehead.
“Oh I’m telling Wyn,” Esme teases.
“Berke gives some of the best hugs,” I tell them. “Berke, a round of hugs and forehead kisses for the ladies.”
“The fuck? I’m not an attraction here for women’s entertainment. Pay me first. I know my worth.” I bat my eyes at him and he frowns. “That’s cold. That’s the shit you reserve for Wyn or Oran.”
Even with the protests, he grabs Karessa. She sighs just like I did and Oran threatened to kick his ass when Berke kissed her. Oran grabs Karessa and glares at Berke while he moves unfazed on to Esme.