Chapter 10 #3
“I’m just saying if you want one of the others, then go for it. They are hot as fuck and look all dark and delicious. You need to find out if any of them are gay. Hook a brother up.”
“They aren’t.”
His brow furrows. “How do you know?” Before I can come up with a reason, he continues, “Are you trying to be stingy, McStingy Pants?”
“And cockblock you, dear brother? Never.” I pat his chest.
“All I’m saying is that you can’t have them all.”
“Can’t I?” I retort without thinking.
He gasps, “You little hoe bag.”
“I learn from you.”
“Touché. I’d do them all at the same time if they’d let me.”
“Are you going to find someone to settle down with?” I need to change the topic.
His lip snarl. “Eww no. Where’s the fun in that?”
The music starts behind us.
“Care to dance?” He holds out his hand, clearly wanting to change the topic.
“I’d love to,” I say after sweeping my eyes around the tent.
My guys are with Mrs. Mary Mae, and Winston is talking to an attractive woman by the tent entrance.
He catches my eye and panics, but I wave my hand and point at the girl, giving a thumbs-up.
We aren’t going anywhere, and we both know that.
I don’t want to fill up his entire weekend when he might find someone else.
Beckett and I dance like crazy children to the upbeat song, hands flailing in the air, with our hips shaking. He spins me a couple of times, then brings me back in, and we continue to dance. I’ve missed him. This.
“You should come visit me sometime. I miss you.” I catch him off guard.
“Are you okay? Are you sick?”
“No, why?” I laugh.
“Because you aren’t the sentimental type.”
“I’m just enjoying my time with you, asshole.”
“There we go. That’s better.”
The song changes to a slower song, and Beckett and I look at one another.
“Well, this just got awkward.” He laughs.
We start walking back to the seats around the border when I feel a hand on my arm. Turning, I find Emmett.
“Would you care to dance with me?” he asks with a twinkle in his eye.
“Yes.” I wave off Beckett, whose eyes grow wide. I mouth for him to stop, trying to downplay it.
Emmett moves to wrap his arm around me, but pulls back and puts his hand on my hip instead. For people who just supposedly met, we can’t seem too comfortable with each other. I place my hand in his and we move back and forth, a respectful distance apart.
“You look nice,” he whispers.
“So do you. The beard is new.”
He smiles. “Do you like?”
“I do. I want to run my fingers through it.”
“There will be time.”
“Promises, promises,” I tease.
“Most definitely.” He leans forward so his cheek is barely touching mine. “I can’t wait to taste you and have your sweet juices all over it.”
“Emmett,” I pant, my pulse thumping in my ears.
He pulls back some. “That’s not all that changed.”
I study him curiously. “What else?”
His lips pinch into a hard line. “I don’t want to tell you. I want you to find out on your own.”
I smile. “Can I see it?”
“Right now? No.”
My eyes pulse wide, and I suck my bottom lip into my mouth, as a mixture of excitement and anticipation course through me.
“Don’t do that, Trouble. You’ll make me suck it back out and we’re in public.” His low hum resonates through my body, sending a wave of desire that tingles my nipples.
Glancing around the floor, I find Jax dancing with Mrs. Mary Mae, and Callum right behind her, ready to catch her if her legs get tired. It’s so interesting to see them with her, so loving, so gentle. I can’t help but wonder what their story is. How did each of them end up with her?
When the song ends, I realize during the course of it, Emmett and I had edged closer together, our chests touching, with his hand on my lower back.
Nerves coursing through me, I quickly glance around the room to see if anyone noticed, and land on Beckett, who is holding up a fire extinguisher in the back corner. My brows pinch together, curious about what he’s doing, and he points at Emmett and me and then fans himself. I roll my eyes.
“Your brother is funny.”
“Don’t encourage him.”
“It’s nice to see you here. Like this.” He pauses for a beat, then says, “But I’d rather see you tonight with nothing on.”
A flush sweeps across my cheeks.
“Samesies,” I hear whispered behind me, and turn to see Jax sweeping by to sit at the table.
Body on fire and heart pounding through my chest, I follow Emmett back to our seats and sit down. “Are you leaving tonight?”
“And miss out on the festivities for tomorrow? Mrs. Mary says we’re expected to be here,” Jax answers. “And we rented a house about fifteen minutes from here. It’s on the lake and has some amazing views.”
“You’re on a lake?” I ask hesitantly.
“Yeah. Why?”
“My parents live on a lake about fifteen minutes from here.”
Jax smiles a ruthless smile. “It’s not a very big lake.”
“No, it’s not.” A sort of nervous excitement flows through me. Could they really have rented a house close to my parents? There’s no way. Right? I mean, there aren’t a ton of rental homes in the area, so that definitely improved the odds.
Oh, no! What if they are right beside them? I mean there’s a good amount of space between houses, but next to, may be too close.
Winston jumps up on stage and thanks everyone for coming out and celebrating the wonderful Mrs. Mary Mae, and reminds us all to be here at seven in the morning to hide eggs for the children. He also reminds us about all the competitive activities planned for tomorrow, so we can come prepared.
We get in the car and my mom turns around and asks what happened with Winston. She’s in a kerfuffle because she saw him with another woman. I let her down softly, telling her it won’t work out with us, and then she immediately starts talking about Emmett and how he doesn’t look like my type.
I want to bark back and tell her we aren’t the same person.
That her type and my type are very different.
Drastically different. But I don’t. I don’t want to ruin the weekend, so I just cross my hands in my lap and look out of the window.
I smile to myself as I imagine her expression in the event she ever finds out about all of them.
That makes me happy. Her sheer terror and mortification.