Zion rubbed his nose against my cheek. “Their what, lover?”

“Friend,” I said.

He snorted. “Bullshit.” His arm dropped from my shoulders to slap my ass. I let out a shocked cry and glared at him.

“Quit it,” I clipped.

“Only if you tell me what you were gonna say.”

I sighed and looked to the ceiling before shifting my gaze to the side and scowling at the man. “Tell me why I’m hangin’ with you again? You’re fuckin’ annoyin’.”

He grinned. “Annoyin’ in the best way, and besides, we already worked out you like me, and that right there is the main reason you put up with me.”

“Fuckin’ hell.” I started pushing the cart again. “Are you even lookin’ for the food you want?” I asked. Another slap landed on my ass. “Zion,” I growled.

“Tell me, or I’ll make up my own assumption.” He tapped his chin. “Hmm, let me see. You were going to say that every guy likes to hear that from their scrumptious man, from their fella who has the biggest—”

I quickly put my hand over his mouth when a mother and a toddler walked around into our aisle. “Boyfriend. I was going to say boyfriend or partner. Now stop.”

Behind my hand, I could feel his mouth tilt up into a big smile. He took my hand from his mouth, kissed my palm, then moved ahead of me, looking at the items on the shelf.

Had the pain meds made him crazier than normal?

Then again, he was always the one to mess around with the brothers.

And even when I felt slightly annoyed, a smile lifted my lips because I fucking loved being around him. Shit, I wasn’t sure if I’d been shot the previous night that I’d be in a good mood like him. It was as if nothing could get him down.

After we grabbed a few more things, we stood in line at the cash register, and I kept fighting with myself.

Fuck it. I’d just do it.

I curled an arm around Zion’s neck and gently tugged him into my side. His hand landed on my waist, and his eyes met mine.

“I do like you,” I told him.

His lips twitched. “I knew it when you shot someone for me.” His hand tightened on me. “Like you too, Kylo.”

“Next in line, please” was called.

Zion faced the cashier and grinned. “Sorry, can’t help it when he distracts me. He’s smokin’ hot, right?”

The cashier blushed and looked down at the register, then nodded.

Zion chuckled. “Don’t worry, darlin’. I know what you’re seein’, and he drives me crazy.”

“Zion, shut it,” I bit out as I placed our items on the conveyor belt. My face was burning. Zion made a move to zip his lips. He winked at the cashier, but thankfully, he stayed quiet. Didn’t stop him from touching me at the waist, the arm, the shoulder, fuckin’ anywhere every time we moved around each other.