AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just in the kitchen. They’re grabbing a beer.” My stomach flips knowing Jack is here.
“I should head home,” I say, standing up. “Thanks for a great night, Sav. You too, Quinn.”
“Why don’t you stay for another drink now that the guys are here?” Savannah says, raising her eyebrows.
Before I can answer, Brody and Jack walk in. Jack’s laughing at something Brody’s said, and God, he looks hot. The sleeves of his white shirt have been rolled up, showing off his forearms, and it looks as though he’s been running his hand through his hair all night. There’s dark stubble on his perfect jaw, and my cheeks flush with heat as I remember how it feels to have it brush against my thigh when his mouth is between my legs.
Shaking away my inappropriate thoughts, I drag my eyes off him before he catches me staring. “I really should go. I’ve got an early start tomorrow. Are we still going to look at that horse in Llano?” Savannah was looking at a filly for Hope and had asked me to go with her to check the horse over.
“Not until the afternoon, and I can get Colt or Taylor to see to the horses in the morning. Stay, please.” My eyes flick to Jack, who’s staring at me. He smiles when my gaze meets his and my heart stutters in my chest.
“Okay,” I whisper, my eyes never leaving his. I’m in way over my head with Jack, but I just can’t stay away. At least I know I’ll have Sav, Quinn, and Lib here to pick up the pieces of my shattered heart when he leaves. He’s here now, though, and as much as I argue with myself, I just want to be with him.
Jack
“Ican’t get a hold of Lib. I’m going to head home,” Mason says, concern lacing his voice. “I’m sure she’s just asleep, but I need to check she’s okay.”
“I’m ready to call it a night,” Brody says. “What about you two?” he asks, looking between me and Josh.
“Sure. I’m ready to head home to my girls,” Josh says, drinking down what’s left of his Bud.
“I’m good to go too,” I tell him, wanting to know myself Lib is okay. I’m secretly hoping if we leave early, I’ll get to see Aria again. They’d all wanted to know what was happening with us after seeing me kiss her goodbye on the porch steps. I told them what Aria wanted, that we’re fucking and nothing more. It’s so much more than that though, and I know she can’t deny it forever.
As the cab pulls away from the ranch house, we all head with Mason to their cottage. I can see the relief on his face when he finds Libby fast asleep on the couch. I slap him on the shoulder and drop a kiss on Libby’s head before watching him scoop her up and carry her to bed. Watching them together makes me want Aria in my arms.
“Do you think Aria will still be at yours?” I ask Josh as we head toward his place.
He nods. “Yep. Savannah was making Sex on the Beach cocktails when I left. I’m expecting them to be very drunk.”
“Is she really just your fuck buddy?” Brody asks from the side of me. “Because, believe me, I’ve been there. You think it’s good at the time, but it’s really not.”
I sigh. “It’s already so much more for me, but she says that’s all she wants.” I drag my hand through my hair. “I can’t blame her. I’m not staying. We can’t have any sort of future.”
“What’s keeping you in the UK?” Brody asks, and my head flies around to look at him. He shrugs. “I know for a fact it isn’t Jacob’s mom.”
“Dude!” Josh hisses from the other side of me. “Just like your sister. No fucking filter.”
I laugh. “It’s fine, Josh. He’s right. It isn’t Zara, she couldn’t give a fuck about either of us.” A wave of sadness crashes over me when I voice that aloud. I know it’s true, and I don’t care that she doesn’t give a fuck about me. Any feelings I had for her are long gone, but Jacob, how can she not love him? I still can’t understand it. I don’t think I ever will.
“How can I take him away from my parents? They already miss Libby so much. I don’t think I could do that to them.”
“I think they’d want you to be happy,” Brody says.
“Maybe, but at what expense?” Neither Brody nor Josh answer as we reach the house, seemingly neither knowing what to say.
“I need a beer,” I say, breaking the unease hanging in the air.
“Help yourself, I’m going to say hi to Sav,” Josh says, waving his hand in the direction of the kitchen.
“God, he’s still as pussy whipped as he ever was!” Brody exclaims, opening the fridge and grabbing out three bottles of beer. He hands me one and I open it, taking a pull. Heading out of the kitchen, I follow Brody to the sitting room.
“Seems all three of you are,” I say on a chuckle as we walk into the sitting room.
“I really should go. I’ve got an early start tomorrow. Are we still going to look at that horse in Llano?” Aria says as we walk in. My heart drops as I hear her saying she’s leaving.
“Not until the afternoon, and I can get Colt or Taylor to see to the horses in the morning. Stay, please,” Savannah says, and I look across to Aria. She turns her head, and I smile as her eyes fix on mine.
“Okay,” she whispers. Crossing the room, I slide my arm around her waist and pull her against me.
