Page 33 of Whispered Promises

“Come on. I’ll walk you back so you can sleep. It’s getting late.” I stand, offering her my hand.

She stares at it, then sighs. “Sorry, I’m not a good sleeper, so I end up being tired most of the time.”

Her small fingers slip into mine, and I tug her up, apparently with more force than needed as she sways into me. Her other hand lands on my chest, and the feel of her through my T-shirt has a warm vibration thrumming through me.

She’s addictive.

Her fingers clench slightly before she lets her hand drop, and she steps back, turning to face the others.

“Hope you don’t mind if I head home. Thank you so much for dinner, Bry. It was amazing; best pizza I’ve ever had.”

He jumps to his feet, beaming. “Glad you enjoyed it. Let me grab you some leftovers to take back. We still have some of the veggie ones, and Max won’t touch those, so they're all yours.” He laughs, heading into the kitchen.

“I heard that! I eat some veg, you know. I’d eat more if it tasted as good as pepperoni,” Max yells, sounding like a petulant brat. “When are you next coming over?” Max asks, springing up and crowding Rosy.

She worries her lip between those delicate teeth, then slowly says, “Umm…I’m not sure. I’ll let you know?”

Max lets out a huff, then gives her a hug that lingers…slightly too long.

Noah steps forward once Max releases her. “Is it okay for me to give you a hug too?”

Do they all need to touch her?

Looking sort of…bashful, she ducks her head and nods. With the way he’s standing next to me and bent slightly for her to reach, I can see her face as it tucks onto his shoulder, when his arms wrap around her.

She’s happy.

I want her to be happy, more than anything, but it feels like a lead weight hitting my gut to see her feel that with someone else. Both jealousy and happiness curdle together in my stomach. It’s uncomfortable as shit.

But I look down and her hand is still in mine. She’s not leaving me out. Even as she’s in his arms, she’s still including me. Frowning hard, I struggle to place the emotion. Is that what this is? Worry she won’t want me anymore if she likes them?

Rosy steps back, offering Noah a smile before she squeezes my hand and I tug us over to the kitchen before I can get lost in my head any longer. It’s probably bullshit, anyway.

“Here you go. Pizza to go.” Bry bows, holding the package out towards her.

She giggles. It’s more of a cackle, really. But she takes it from his outstretched hands.

“You're too kind.” She plays along with his game, doing a weird sort of squat.

A hyena laugh echoes behind me from Max, “What the fuck was that, cupcake? Either Bry’s cooking has gone straight through you, or you really are an old lady in disguise, and we need to get you a walking aid.”

“I was curtseying. You wouldn’t know what that is, but it’s called etiquette,” she jests, sticking her tongue out at him over her shoulder.

I swipe my palm across my face, trying to hide my smirk, because I don’t think that was a curtsey, and I don’t have the balls to tell her.

I tug at her hand. “Come on. Need to get you to bed.”

Her attention snaps to me, and a furious heat rises high on her cheeks. I don’t hide my smirk that appears this time.

Is she imagining being in my bed? Or me in hers?

I’d love to have her spread out across my sheets, naked body bare for me, our scents mingling and saturating everything.

Noah clears his throat behind us, and I’m pulled from the dirty, perfect picture in my mind. Glancing up, I see Bry smiling as he looks between us, a brow raised.

My eyes roll, and I don’t bother to say anything. Shouldering my way past, I guide Rosy out and down the hallway to her front door.

FIFTEEN