Nathan tugs my shoulder and pulls me onto my back, half of his body hovering over mine.
“Pretty sure she just got an eyeful of my arse,” he says, his cheeks flushing.
And with that, I burst out laughing, his lips quirking into a smile before he captures my mouth, my laughter dying in my chest as I let him kiss me.
ChapterThirty-Seven
NATHAN
I lay there and watch as Vi pulls on a pair of shorts and a vest, sans bra. She is the epitome of my perfect slice of heaven.
Vi’s eyes dart to the bedroom door and then back to me as she tosses me my t-shirt. “Up,” she whisper-shouts, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Already am, baby,” I say with a wink and glance at my arousal, then back to her face.
Colour touches her cheeks as she takes in my erection and throws me my trousers.
“I’ll go make coffee,” she says, but I don’t miss how she sashays out of the door.
I groan and cover my face with my arm, willing myself to calm down. The last thing I need is for Lottie to see me sporting a boner after giving her a view of my backside.
Vi’s gaze slips to mine from her position on the sofa next to Lottie when I make my way into the living room. Something in me needs to go over and prove that I’m all in, so I don’t think as I cross the distance. She tilts her head as I lower my face, my finger brushing her cheek as I lean in and kiss her sweetly before pulling back. Her eyes focus on me, so I make sure not to break the connection, and her cheeks take on a beautiful flush I love so much.
“Your coffee’s there,” she says, her voice gentle.
“Thank you, Tink,” I reply, reaching for my coffee. “Good morning, Lottie,” I say, acknowledging her before bringing my mug to my lips.
Lottie tilts her head slightly, watching me, her engagement ring tapping the mug between her fingers.
“Nathan, you know I love you, right?” she asks.
I give her a slight nod and wait because I know she’s not finished.
“But if you hurt my best friend, I will castrate you.” There’s a playful tone to her warning, but her eyes, on the other hand, hold mine with meaning, one I heed because the last thing I want to do is hurt Violet.
“I’d expect nothing less,” I reply honestly.
I take a few well-needed mouthfuls of coffee before taking my mug into the kitchen and quickly wash it up and leave it on the drainer.
“I’ll let you ladies catch up. I need to meet the guys at the gym anyway.” I lean down to kiss Violet once more and then salute Lottie. “Call me later,” I say to Vi, looking at her once more, her hair mussed, her makeup from yesterday smudged under her eyes, beautiful.
“Okay,” she replies, smiling as I leave her and Lottie to no doubt discuss finding us in bed together. The thought makes me laugh to myself as I head to my car. And now, the preverbal cat’s out of the bag, I want to tell Henry and Ethan about us.
* * *
Not even the three text messages from Naomi and a missed call are going to dampen my mood. I refuse to let it.
I send her a quick message when I pull up outside the gym.
Me: You need help, Naomi, from professionals. If you want me to go with you, I will. You know that.
There’s not much else I can do to help her, and as much as I empathise with her, my cousins and friends have a point. She isn’t my responsibility. I can’t help someone if they’re not prepared to help themselves. I’m starting to realise that now more than ever.
I jog up the metal stairs, walk through the doors, and head straight to the counter. Leaning over, I grab Meg’s face and plant a chaste kiss on her lips. She slaps my shoulder as a hand hits the back of my head.
“Mine,” Henry grunts.
Laughing, I turn to him. “Yeah, yeah.” My feelings for Meg are that of a brother; we all know as much, but it’s so easy to poke the bear where Henry is concerned.
