Chapter 15
WEST
Excited chatter and loud laughter filled the bar around us.
Like usual around dinnertime, Dave’s was packed, all the locals coming out for their few hours of social time before heading back home.
We had scored a four-person round top toward the back with a decent line of sight to the front door so we could watch for Eric and Stephanie.
A roar of laughter from my right had me twisting in the seat with a grin.
Seemed everyone was having a great night.
Well, everyone but the gorgeous woman across from me.
I studied the way she sat up straight, shoulders back, gaze locked on the large front door, jerking every time it swung open.
It was clear she was nervous, but like we’d discussed on the way to Dave’s, it was her best option to gain control of the situation.
Disgust and rage burned in my gut, stealing my appetite, the longer I thought about the deceptive way the couple went about blindsiding Juno.
They knew she wouldn’t want to see them, especially here together, yet they staged the surprise visit, which was a total asshole move and made me wonder what they were hoping to achieve by doing all this.
Though after hearing Langston’s perception of them, the whole messed-up plan had to be that dipshit Eric’s idea.
Not that her stepsister was innocent by any means, but the more Juno talked about Eric, the more I understood that he wasn’t just a selfish asshole but a manipulative one too.
“How long do you think we should wait?” Juno asked, focused on the empty water glass she spun along the tabletop. “I’m worried.”
Brow furrowed, I pitched forward, pressing both forearms to the edge of the round table. “About what?”
“What if he got hurt or something went wrong? You should call him to see if everything is okay.”
No clue why she thought I would have Eric’s number, but also, why did she sound upset at the thought of him being injured?
“I don’t have his number, but I have to admit, I wouldn’t care if he did get hurt, or hell, fell into the bay on his way here.
It would solve a lot of problems, if I’m being honest.”
Juno’s head popped up where it had dropped forward, shock written all over her features.
“How can you say that? He’s your best friend, and you two being a package deal is not a problem.
I’m fully aware that you’re a buy-one-get-one type thing, and not just because of how hands-on he was with you last night.
Plus, we live in a multi-partner community.
Did you actually think I would want to split you two up?
And of course you have his number, so why are you lying—”
My heart swelled with her ramblings. Reaching across the table, I threaded my fingers through her thick hair to pull her lips to mine, ending her speech with a demanding kiss.
It only took a second for her to melt into me, lips moving against mine and parting, allowing me to tangle my tongue with hers.
I pulled back a fraction with a smirk. “I thought you were concerned about that dipshit ex of yours being hurt, not Langston.” Her nose scrunched in the most adorable disgust. “But good to know that you understand Lang and I are what we are and you’re not interested in splitting us up or asking us to stop.
One thing is certain: You either get both of us or neither, sweet cheeks.
But it sounds like you already knew that.
” I shifted to brush my lips against the shell of her ear.
“And I think you like the idea of him and me together. Of having two men worship you, yes, but the thought of us together turns you on, doesn’t it? ”
Her sharp inhale and hissed breath confirmed my suspicions.
“What are you two to each other?” she asked, bright eyes searching mine. “Boyfriends? Friends with benefits?”
An ache built in my cheeks from the wide smile splitting my face.
“We’ve never labeled ourselves, but I guess you could say friends with benefits who would kill for each other but are exclusive with men.
” I chuckled at the way her lips parted in surprise.
“You can ask any of the questions you want about us; we’re not shy about who we are.
But I want Lang involved in the conversation, so maybe we put a pin in it for now. ”
As if saying his name reminded her of his absence, Juno’s gaze jerked to the door. “Can you call him, please. I didn’t like leaving him there alone.”
Warmth swelled in my chest at the genuine concern in her tone.
Though she didn’t need to be. Langston could handle almost any situation with his military background, anger management issues, and sharpshooting skills.
The man was a badass in every sense of the term, but it was sweet that she was worried—it meant she cared for the asshole.
Teeth sunk into my lower lip, attempting to smother my wide grin, I reached into the front pocket of my jeans to slide my phone free.
Tapping his number, I pressed the smooth screen to my ear, her eyes tracking each movement like a hawk.
It rang several times before going to voicemail.
Staring at the screen, I called again but had the same result.
The earlier grin had dimmed, my concern mounting.
“I’m sure he’s fine,” I placated with more confidence than I felt.
Opening our ongoing text string, I shot Langston a quick message for him to call me and set the phone down, face up, to know immediately when he responded.
“Langston can handle himself. I’m sure he’s busy updating Hudson or something like that. ”
No longer focused on the night’s plans, hoping to see Langston’s picture flash on the phone screen, we stopped watching the door and monitoring who entered. Which had to be how Eric and Stephanie came in and weaved through the tables with us completely oblivious until they appeared next to Juno.
“Juno Bug.”
Juno went unnaturally still; she didn’t blink or even look like she was breathing. The preppy douche standing next to her chair smiled, clearly loving her discomfort. She refused to look at him, instead fixing her stare on the table in front of her.
Not me. I needed to catalog every inch of the asshole who’d fucked with our Juno.
A sneer pulled at the corner of my lips at his perfectly styled short blond hair, his clean-shaven face, and pressed polo that he’d tucked into a pair of loose-fitting khaki pants tailored to hit right at his loafers.
This guy made Juno question her worth?
Her throat worked with a hard swallow, gaze finding mine before she straightened and turned to the soggy sandwich. “Eric,” Juno rasped. Nostrils flaring with a deep inhale, she twisted to see behind him. “Stephanie.”
At Juno’s blank tone, Stephanie’s skin turned a sickly green.
Good. I hoped she puked all over herself and Eric for doing this to Juno.
Other than looking so nervous that she was about to vomit, Stephanie was unremarkable, forgettable if you asked me.
Perfectly put together just like Eric, everything was ironed and fit her slim frame like it was tailored for her specifically.
Only a sliver of pale skin showed between the hem of the ankle-length skirt and her short black wedge boots.
A thick coating of makeup covered her entire face, meant to highlight her cheekbones and make her brown eyes pop, but it only made me wonder what she hid beneath the perfectly done mask.
Desperate to give Juno all the support I could without overstepping, I shifted in the hard wooden seat until I could drape an arm over the back of her chair.
One soft curl pinched between two fingers, I slowly twirled it around, never dropping the stony stare leveled directly at Eric.
He tracked every movement, nostrils flaring when I planted a reassuring kiss to her shoulder.
Calculating blue eyes met mine, and it was in that moment that I saw the fucker for what he was: a selfish asshole who thought the world owed him something.
Maybe it was how he was raised, or he was just that damn arrogant because of what he thought he offered the world.
I would need to ask; I had zero doubt she knew.
“Surprise,” Stephanie said with a stiff smile, cutting through the awkward silence.
“Yes, yes, it is. A big surprise.” She glanced at me and winked. “What are you two doing here in Anchor Bay, let alone together?” When neither of them responded, Juno gestured to Eric. “I never took you as much of an outdoor lover, Eric.”
His fake laugh grated on my nerves. “You know I love to hunt, June Bug. Though that isn’t why we’re here.”
“Sending someone out to track big game and then radio you to come shoot it is not hunting,” Juno corrected in a bland tone. “That’s just killing.”
“I guess we see it differently. You’d know if you ever cared enough to come out with me.” Eric turned to me. “She’s not the outdoorsy type. I don’t know how she can stay inside all day playing games with other losers.”
“Watch it,” I ordered, tone so commanding it surprised me.
“Who’s your friend?” Eric asked, turning back to Juno with a tight smile.
Call me possessive, but that question combined with the disgust in his tone had me gripping the back of Juno’s chair and sliding it until our seats bumped.
“Oh, I’m more than a friend, but I have no damn clue who you are.” I twisted to Juno with fake concentration. “Who is Captain Douchecanoe, sweet cheeks? I don’t remember you mentioning an Evan.”
“Eric,” the asshole snapped.
Juno’s teeth sank into her lower lip in a failed attempt to stifle her widening smile. “Yeah, I don’t think I ever mentioned him. It wasn’t important.”
“We’ve been too busy doing more… physical activities rather than talking.” I planted a kiss to the corner of her lips and turned to Eric with a dull expression. “She can’t get enough of me, and I’m worse.” I twisted to lock eyes with her. “I’m addicted to her taste.”