Page 36 of Beach Bats

And like the asshole that he was, Robbs offered another apple when Aries and Luka finished the apple quickly.

“Enough,” Vin growled.

“They’re sharing!” Robbs defended.

Zany, sitting close to Robbs’ side, giggled and nodded. “Aries never shares.”

Vin cut them a firm look. “And they’ve shared enough. Dinner is about to be ready.”

“Ten minutes!” Thomas called out. He, Marlin, and Lithis had taken on the task as a thanks for inviting them. They’d been assured they didn’t need to do anything, but the trio had insisted. And really it was amusing them to see Thomas and Lithis boss Marlin around. Although someone was going to have to tell Nix that there was no romantic interest there at all from any of them.

“Ten minutes,” Vin repeated. “Last apple.”

Aries made a sad sound but as Vin watched, he also offered Luka the last three bites. And Luka kissed the top of Aries’s head before Vin’s boy returned to his lap.

Cuddling Aries close, Vin whispered, “Good job, baby.”

Aries nuzzled in return.

This was family. The summer would be chaotic, possibly dangerous, and yet Vin was where he was meant to be. With the people that were his. Vin had family again. All because of the cocky rookie that had taken his world by storm. And made Vin love again.

Zany

Shuffling his feet in front of the bathroom door, Zany didn’t know if he should knock or not. Robbs was inside but the shower had turned off over twenty minutes ago.

Zany should just knock. Instead, he was being his usual nervous self. Even though Robbs had pushed himself into Zany’s life, it was still difficult for Zany to put himself out there. Already Robbs knew more about him than anyone else, including Aries, who Zany considered his best friend.

Like Robbs knew Zany’s biggest secret.

The bathroom door opened, steam escaping, before Zany had decided if he should return to his room or knock.

“Oh!” Robbs drew up short. “I didn’t know you were waiting.”

“Sorry.” Zany shuffled his feet nervously again.

“Hey.” Robbs’s warm hand cupped Zany’s cheek. “What’s the matter?”

Immediately Zany’s entire body reacted. He shivered while heat shot down his spine. Stupid hormones. The fae in him having already decided that Robbs would make an acceptable partner.

It was a good thing that Zany wasn’t ruled by those damn hormones or he would have made a complete fool of himself so many times. Already some of their teammates had noticed the weird tension between him and Robbs. Even Aries had asked about it. Zany just wasn’t good at hiding things.

“You know that you can talk to me. About anything.” Robbs dropped his hand and Zany already regretted the loss of contact.

“Are you sure it’s okay that we’re here?” The words were out before Zany could even think about them. “I just mean…we’re not imposing, right?”

The soft look in Robbs’s eyes had Zany dropping his own gaze.

“Aries wants you here,” Robbs told him. “Hell, all the guys do, but Aries especially. Why would you think otherwise?”

Zany shrugged. It was hard to explain. When he was younger, Zany had been ostracized because of what he was. It had gotten better once he’d left his clan but that old sore spot remained. It was the reason why he’d only allowed fae put on his stats and not his species.

“Hey.” Robbs leaned against the doorjamb. “You don’t have to tell anyone anything you don’t want.”

“You know.” The words came out accusatory even if Zany was kind of relieved that one person knew his secret.

“And I had no trouble accepting it. And you. I know Aries and our other friends would feel the same way,” Robbs said.

“You don’t know that.” And that stressed Zany out.