“Are we … okay?” I ask. I definitely feel like this game made things worse for us. I’d rather her ask me a hundred sex questions. Even the most embarrassing question is more enjoyable than this awkward shit between us.
Bristol shrugs. “Yeah, I guess so.” She can barely make eye contact with me. My hands rest on her hips, pressing her back against the cabinet to stand, before moving one hand to guide her chin to meet my stare.
She exhales loudly, and I swear everyone else in the living room is being quiet so they can eavesdrop on us.
“You can keep playing!” I shout in the vicinity of the living room.
“We’re waiting for you guys,” Harper shoots back.
“I guess that’s our cue.” Bristol slips past me, and just as she turns to walk away, I capture her hand in mine. “I need to drop this in my bag before I forget.” She reminds me, her pillbox in her other hand.
“I’ll do that for you. Go sit, hang out with everyone.” I offer her my palm, and she deposits the plastic container in my hand.
“Thanks.” Bristol hurries out of the kitchen, and I hear her soft, nervous laughter when she returns to the living room. “Whose turn is it?” she asks.
“Nova’s.” Harper points at her, seated on Ashton’s lap on the floor. Ashton has since climbed onto the beanbag, but Nova has still found her way onto his lap.
I walk past them on the way to my bedroom, drop the plastic container of Bristol’s medications into her bag. I try not to snoop, my gaze curious, but I stop myself from causing more drama.
Nope.
None of my business what she brought in her backpack.
All I see are clothes, and I’m not snooping to discover what’s on the bottom causing her bag to weigh as much as my hockey gear.
That would have been a great question to ask her: What the hell did she pack in her overnight bag? I just have to hope we can survive another entire round of this dreadful game.
“Hurry up, Liam!” Harper shouts for me to come join them.
I resume my position on the sofa, resting my arm on the back of the couch, my fingers playing with Bristol’s dark tendrils as she leans back to get comfy.
My fingers delve from her hair to the back of her neck, and eventually, she scoots closer, her body pressed up against mine.
I listen to the soft breaths of air and try not to get turned on, but the truth is her proximity is enough to make my body respond. She smells amazing; whatever her shampoo or perfume is, it’s riveting. All I want to do is drink it in, brush my lips across her neck, and listen to the soft sounds she makes as I tease her.
I shift on the sofa, trying not to let my mind wander to Bristol getting turned on by me, because the next thoughts would be of her naked. That’s a fantasy for the bedroom, not while I’m seating next to her playing rapid fire questions.
I definitely don’t need her asking me why I’m sporting a hard-on midgame.
“Are we playing?” I ask, glancing at Harper, waiting for her to start up the timer for the game.
Nova whispers something into Ashton’s ear, and his face reddens. “We’re going to head to bed, guys. Have a good night!”
Nova climbs off his weight, and he’s got a definite bounce to his step. It’s obvious what they intend to do.
“Keep the noise level down,” Luca growls at them. “Zeke is sleeping.”
Right, like he and Harper ever keep it down. The two of them don’t know how to have quiet sex. There have been nights that I had to put on my noise cancelling headphones to keep from hearing the two of them, and their room is closer to Zeke’s than it is to mine.
That kid is lucky he can sleep through anything.
“Harper.” Luca gestures for her to join him on the love seat.
She tosses her middle finger up at him. It’s clear she’s still pissed. I don’t want to meddle, and as much as I hate seeing them fight, I get the feeling that they will find their way back to each other. They always do.
Luca stands and strolls across the room. Growling, he grabs Harper, lifts her up, puts her over his shoulder, and carries her into his bedroom.
“Put me down!” Harper squeals, pounding his ass with her closed fists as she fights him the entire way.
