Page 86 of Dead Girls Don’t Forget

“Of course we did.” A light smack to my arm. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Hi, kid,” Brian said. He pulled me into a one-armed hug and kissed the top of my head. Then he stepped back, eyes scanning the field before returning to me. “You looked good out there.”

“Felt good.”

“Mm. You being careful?”

“Always.”

His eyes held mine. “Don’t get sloppy.”

“I won’t.”

Janet clapped once. “There’s someone else who wanted to see you.”

“Who?”

She stepped aside, and my eyes widened before I could stop them.

Blake. He was two years older than me, six-two and lean but solidly built, with tattoos running up both forearms and disappearing beneath the sleeves of a black t-shirt. Worn jeans. The same scuffed boots I remembered. Wolf shifter. Definitely trouble.

We had never used labels. It was casual, easy, and required nothing from either of us.

I hadn’t seen him in months, hadn’t even talked to him since I moved.

He stepped forward, pulled me into a tight hug, and kissed my cheek. “Hey. I missed you.”

He inhaled against my hair, then froze. When he pulled back, something strained flickered across his face.

Before I could speak, Jackson materialized at my side. His arm slid around my hip, wide and proprietary, chest pressed warm against my shoulder blade. Blake’s eyes narrowed at the contact.

They squared off without moving.

I sighed internally. “Blake, this is Jackson. Jackson, Blake.”

“Always a pleasure to meet Harper’s friends,” Blake said, holding out his hand. “I’m Blake.”

“Jackson.”

Their handshake lasted three seconds too long. Knuckles whitened. Neither blinked. Neither spoke. They were clearly trying to crush each other’s hands.

Blake and I hadn’t slept together in months, even before I moved, and neither of us had been serious. The posturing made no sense.

I shifted in Jackson’s hold just enough to break their line of sight.

“Janet, Brian, this is Jackson.”

Janet watched the whole thing like she had bought front-row tickets. She fanned her face dramatically. “Is it getting hot in here?”

Jackson switched into charm mode instantly. He extended his free hand while still holding me with the other.

“Hello, ma’am. Nice to meet you. I’m Jackson. Harper’s boyfriend.”

Janet’s eyebrows rose. Then she smiled wide and shook his hand with both of hers.

“It is so lovely to meet you, Jackson.”

Brian shook his hand next.