AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just swell. You?”
“Right as rain.” With a smile, I placed a hand on June’s elbow, steering her around Jimmy to introduce her to the others. “Everyone, this is June, Mic and Mo’s temporary nanny.” I pointed out who was who, surprised to see Santiago’s brother, Diego, in the mix. He’d been the drummer for Unrequited from the beginning, but quit the band to deal with his addiction issues. Maeve had taken his position, and though there were no hard feelings, the band had never looked back.
I hooked my arm through June’s. “This is Diego.” He stood, towering over us both. I’d let his immense height slip my mind since the last time I was in his presence. “Have you come by to check in on your old coworkers?” I raised an eyebrow and pursed my lips.
Laughing, he cupped the back of my head and bent to kiss my cheek. “Hello to you too, Yael. No need to worry, I’m not trying to worm my way back in. I’m just here to sit in for a song like I did last time.”
“I wasn’t worried.” I had beenslightlyworried. “This is June.” I shoved my new friend at him and started to make my escape to my man, but then I remembered I could hardly greet him the way I wanted in present company. So I stayed there, watching the extremely awkward, non-conversation happening between Diego and June.
She stuttered something softly.
He leaned in to hear her, which caused her to jump back.
He frowned. Her chin quivered.
Her cheeks ripened like tomatoes. Diego’s eyes rolled heavenward.
I hooked my arm with June’s again and gave Diego a dirty look. No one rolled their eyes at sweet June—not on my watch.
We squeezed on the couch with Santiago and Maeve, and I snuck another glance at Alex. His mouth still curved upward, and he looked at me like I was the first bud of spring.
I nodded sharply at him, though I was unable to completely squash the grin attempting to take root on my face. “Alex, are you making trouble?”
“Always, Cool Girl. How about you? Harassing everyone who crosses your path?” he fired back.
“What you call harassing, I call putting those in their place when they seem to be lost in my presence.” I tossed my waves behind my shoulders, my stomach clenching at the memory of Alex holding my shoulders to the mattress as he drove into me from behind. How had that just been this morning?
Maeve elbowed me, ripping my attention from Alex. “Are you ever going to tell me how the wedding went? I can’t believe I didn’t even get a single text,” she admonished.
“Sorry, girl. It went by so fast, I didn’t even think about it. But, as you can see, both Alex and I came back without any permanent wounds, so…”
Maeve scoffed. “I want the dirt onthe ex. Were there any sparks? Any hookin’ up for old time’s sake?”
The entire room had gone still, waiting for my answer. Even Alex shifted closer, and he knew damn well he’d been the only man I had touched.
“There’s no good dirt, honey. The ex and I had a good talk, then he tried to get me back to his room since his girlfriend hadn’t arrived yet. I said no, threw him a couple stink-eyes, and retired to my own room.” I dipped closer to her, lowering my voice even though I knew I’d be heard by all. “Ididdance to a Taylor Swift song with Alex during the reception, though.”
Maeve gasped, and even stoic Santiago made a low grunt of surprise. Diego plopped down in a chair looking stupefied. I shrugged and picked up a bag of chips from the table.
“You didn’t tell me that,” Maeve said to Alex. “I guess being Cupid Crips means nothing anymore.”
Alex pouted. “Cupid Crips for life, Mae-Mae. Don’t even try leaving our gang.” He wagged a finger at me. “I didn’t know if Yael would want her reputation soiled by making our dance public knowledge. She just took pity on a poor, lonely T-Swift fan, that’s all.”
“That’s all?” Santiago rumbled. “Did she stab you at any point during the dance?”
I slapped my hands on my thighs in mock indignation. “Stab someone once and suddenly that’s all a girl’s known for.”
Santiago chuckled, and June whispered, “You didn’t really, did you?”
“Only in my mind,” I whispered back.
Jimmy pulled up a chair across from me and straddled it backward. “I’m lonely too. Think I could get a dance?”
I ripped open my chips and stuffed a few in my mouth. As I chewed, I flicked my fingers at him. “That was a one-time thing. I’m not normally so altruistic.”
“How about a drink after we’re done tonight?” he countered.
I froze with a handful of chips on the way to my mouth. In my periphery, Alex shifted, his hands balling together between his knees. I hadn’t foreseen these circumstances, but I should have. God, I should have.
