Page 36 of Embraced in Ink
“You know, I was thinking of writing a western thriller,” Liam said.
Marcus frowned. “Don’t you write one main series where your leading character goes on adventures and almost dies like every other book?”
“I do, but I’ve had an inkling to write a second series.”
“Really?” Marcus grinned, his interest piqued. He loved Liam’s work and was a closet fanboy. Not that anyone other than Bristol needed to know his true love for Liam’s books.
“I always forget that you’re a junkie for his work,” Aaron said, laughing.
Marcus shrugged. “Considering I have a Lincoln painting, some of your blown glass, and Ethan built my computer, I’m pretty sure I have a collection of Montgomery creations in my house.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re marrying one of us, then,” Liam said dryly. “You can finally get that family discount.”
“Wait, there’s a discount?” Aaron asked, his mouth agape. “You always make me pay for your damn books.”
“Hell yeah, I do,” Liam said, laughing. “You don’t get things for free. Remember, you’re already spoiled and coddled.”
“I hate you all.”
“You love us, but that’s fine.” Ethan looked over at Marcus. “Okay, you ready to work out? We’re lifting tonight.”
“How the hell is this a guys’ night? Shouldn’t we like…watch sports and eat wings or something?” Aaron grumbled but still looked eager.”
“That’s next time,” Lincoln said dryly. “I don’t think we’re allowed to gorge ourselves on fried food until after all the weddings so these guys can fit into their tuxes.”
“Hey, I’m still the best-looking,” Aaron said, sliding his hands down his chest. “Don’t you think?”
“No,” they all said at the same time, and Aaron flipped them off.
“Seriously, though, we planned on lifting because we needed to get a workout in, and finding time and spotters isn’t always easy with our schedules. Next time, it will be wings and junk food and tons of beer.” Liam looked around. “Of course, there might be beer after the workout. Just saying.”
“Then let’s get to it,” Marcus said, rolling his shoulders back. “I could punch something, too,” he said, wondering why that had come out.
Liam raised a single brow. “If it’s because of our precious baby sister, then we’re going to need to take you out back and teach you what it means to be married to a Montgomery.”
“I have no idea what that means,” Marcus said dryly.
Lincoln smiled. “All it means is that they’re going to needle you to death to try and figure out exactly what’s going on between the two of you. They’re not violent. Thankfully.”
“You know, I’ve been part of this family somehow since I was what, six? And I’m still scared of the Montgomerys.”
Lincoln laughed. “I feel you. I might’ve taken a little bit longer to be part of the Montgomerys, but from the outsider’s point of view? It’s like a cult.”
“One of us. One of us,” the three Montgomerys said and then laughed at their joke.
Liam shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. “There has to be another cult that doesn’t say that phrase. Right?”
Ethan shrugged. “True, but I’m not really in the mood to be part of the Donner Party.”
Marcus laughed. “The Donner Party isn’t a cult, is it?”
“As a studier of the occult…” Aaron began and then went off on a tangent about cults, cult leaders, and Kool-Aid.
Marcus pinched the bridge of his nose and made his way down to the basement.
The group did a little lifting, while Marcus also used the punching bag, Aaron being his spotter. They laughed, talked about work, art, and the next game. They pointedly didn’t talk about women.
And considering that was usually what they focused on these days, Marcus knew it was because of Bristol.