“Do you need a ride or did you take Aidan’s car this morning?” Cash asked, running a hand through his dark hair.
“Negative on the car. Claire took it to run a few last-minute errands before she leaves.”
Jackson glanced over. “Where is she going?”
“Los Angeles, for business. She’ll be gone for three weeks,” Dylan told him.
“I guess that’s the good thing about living a life of sin—your girl’s away but you’ll still have your man at home,” Seth cracked.
“Actually, Aidan’s gone too,” Dylan said glumly. “He’s got some downtime so he’s spending a few days in LA with the missus and then heading to Chicago to see his dad. Which means I’ll be all by my lonesome for three whole weeks.”
Seth rolled his eyes. “Poor baby.”
“Poor baby is right,” Dylan muttered. “That means no sex for twenty-one days.”
“That’s an eternity in manwhore years,” Cash agreed solemnly.
Jackson snorted. Cash had totally called it—there was nobody who loved sex more than Dylan Wade. Men, women, didn’t matter the gender. Dylan was a serious horndog, which probably made it a good thing that he was now in a relationship with not one, but two partners.
Truthfully, Jackson still had no clue how he felt about Dylan’s unorthodox love life. Growing up in a tiny town in Texas, he hadn’t encountered many polyamorous relationships. The residents of Abbott Creek were hard-workin’, God-fearin’ folks who loved their football and believed that marriage was reserved for a man and a woman, thank you very much. If there were any liberal-minded folks in town, Jackson sure as heck hadn’t encountered them. That was one of the reasons he’d skipped town and joined the navy—he hadn’t been able to put up with those narrow-minded busybodies for one more second.
Needless to say, the fact that one of his best friends was involved in a permanent ménage a trois was a bit of a head-scratcher, yet Jackson honestly couldn’t say he disapproved. He adored Claire McKinley, Dylan’s girlfriend, and thought Aidan Rhodes, Dylan’s boyfriend, was pretty dang awesome. And as long as Dylan was happy, who was he to pass judgment?
The four of them continued chatting as they left the base, but Jackson’s head was elsewhere now. He was going to see Mia again. In about, oh, ten minutes, according to the tactical watch strapped to his wrist.
He couldn’t frickin’ wait.
“See you boys later,” Cash said when they reached the parking lot.
Dylan glanced at Jackson. “We still on for that COD sesh tonight?”
“He might have other plans,” Seth spoke up with a barely restrained grin.
That got the other two men’s attention.
“Another date?” Cash blurted out. “Oh man, if it’s another date can you please, please videotape it for me?”
“Are you seeing the sex addict again?” Dylan demanded. “Because I want pictures of her cowboy outfit—oooh, and try to get a shot of the two of you where you’re holding your gun.”
“Fuck you both,” Jackson said darkly.
Cash’s blue eyes twinkled. “Aw, come on, turn that frown upside down. A sex addict broke into your house. Most men would consider that a high-fivable story.”
“Seriously, though—you, me, Call of Duty tonight?” Dylan prompted.
“We’ll see,” he answered, shrugging. “I’ll text you later to let you know.”
“Cool beans.”
Fortunately, neither Cash nor Dylan pressed him about why he might not be available, and a moment later, the duo waved goodbye and hopped into Cash’s SUV.
Jackson had caught a ride with Seth that morning, so he slid into the passenger seat of Seth’s Jeep and waited for his buddy to start the engine.
“So, you excited?” Seth grinned, then went on in a singsong voice. “Jackson and Gardener sitting in a tree, K-I-S—”
He promptly slugged the other man in the arm. Hard.
“And that’s enough of that,” he said, rolling his eyes. “You’ve been spendin’ too much time with the twins.”
Seth sighed. “I know, right?”
“And her name isn’t Gardener. It’s Mia.”
“Gee, I’m so sorry. Jackson and Mia sitting in a—”
Another hard punch shut Seth right up.
“You’re no fun today,” the other SEAL mumbled. “I’m simply showing some enthusiasm over your impending love connection, asshole. Not only that, but you should be thanking me. Because of you, a strange woman is currently puttering around in my yard. What if she decides to snoop inside and finds my porn stash?”
Jackson had to laugh. “One, she’s not gonna snoop around on the job. Two, why do you still have a porn stash? I thought married men threw their porn away once they tied the knot.”
“No way.” Seth steered the Jeep toward the security gate across the lot. “Miranda demanded I keep it all. We watch that shit together, bro.”