All the Missing Pieces

by Catherine Cowles

“You could get hit by a car or snatched by a goddamned biker,” I growled. “Or abducted by aliens. Or clobbered on the head by Bigfoot,” she singsonged as she slid a worn brown leather jacket over her shoulders.

“Don’t you dare, Colter Brooks,” I snapped, pulling my bag over my shoulder and grabbing my coffee. “She full-named you, Colt. I’d watch out,” Sam said. “When my wife does that, it means Couch City.”

“She’s staying with me,” Baker snapped. “The hell I am. I’d rather swallow shards of glass followed by ghost pepper juice.” Tater hissed as if to punctuate the point. “You can stay at my place, Chaos.”

The douche scrunched up his nose as if he smelled something bad. “Ridley doesn’t want to stay with you.” “Ridley can speak for herself. I’ve found she’s real good at that.”

“Be safe, Chaos. It’s going to piss me the hell off if you end up dead.” She grinned up at me. “You say the sweetest things, Law Man.”

“Maybe she thought you secretly wanted an ear piercing.” I glared at the ridiculous woman opposite me. “Has anything about me ever led you to believe that I secretly wanted an ear piercing?”

“I love you, Colt.” His body jerked. “Chaos.” “I love you.” My own cheeks were wet now, the overload of emotions only having one way out. Colt’s throat worked as he swallowed. “Think I loved you from the moment you told me the cat had fucking AC in that van.”

“Colter Brooks, did you threaten to kill someone to get this?” “Full-naming me, baby?” he asked, amusement clear in his voice. “Yes, because I don’t want the FBI busting into my wedding to take you down.”