Page 59 of Rise Above

“Davis would love it, and so would I.” I smiled at

her, a soft one that only she seemed to bring out.

Her grin lit up her entire face. “Then I’ll be there.”

She pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I’ll let you know when I’m home.”

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Zeke had a habit of walking into my home like he

owned it. I had no idea why I’d given him a key. His red hair flared against the green in my place. Zeke’s face was so pale, like he hadn’t been sleeping. His eyes connected with mine as he sank into my armchair, and a deep sigh left his mouth. Clearly, my friend was going through something. Before I could ask him what was wrong, my door was flung open to reveal a haggard Davis. He was usually very put together, so my mouth dropped open in shock.

Davis also released a deep sigh as he dropped onto

my couch. I was still coming off the high of being with Aife this morning. She had rattled my world a bit, and I’d only known her since August… which was two months. Two months and she had completely altered my world. My friends, though, seem frazzled.

“Y’all alright?” I asked and handed each of them a

beer.

Zeke grabbed his bottle and chugged half of it. “I

made out with Dre last night. We were drunk, but it was amazing. The things that woman can do with her tongue…” He let out a groan, clearly remembering pieces of last night. “Then she realized what we were doing, and she shoved me away. Told me it was a mistake.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “Fuck. She was good, though.”

I blinked, processing everything he just said to me.

“Dude.” I didn’t have any words right now. Zeke was a bit of a man whore and didn’t let women get to him. He was a fuck them and leave them type of guy. The fact he was caught up over a kiss truly meant something. “Do you like her?”

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“She’s loud and obnoxious and all in your face. But

at the same time, Dre is so totally and completely herself. I’ve met her twice, man. Why the fuck is she getting to me?”

“She’s wormed her way in.” Davis finally entered

the conversation. “When you’ve found the right woman, they can do that. Look at TJ with Aife. He’s fucking smitten.” There was a hint of bitterness in his tone that forced my brows to lower.

“Now, I wouldn’t say that.” I rubbed the back of my

neck. I didn’t really know how to explain that I was falling.

“Dude, we can all see it.” Davis fiddled with his

beer. “At least you two can talk to the woman you like. I fucking floundered alone with Nat. That woman flusters me.” My shoulders dropped as the attention turned to Davis.

Zeke snorted. “What happened, D? I thought things

were going fine between the two of you.”

“Yeah, then you and Dre wandered off, and I asked

her just the dumbest questions.” He sighed and looked at me. “Nat flusters me, and I just stuttered through our conversation. It was so awkward.”