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“I’m terrific,” he replies with a grin, and I smile softly at him.
Because, yeah, he totally is.
After revealing a little more of himself last night, I realized how truly amazing he is. To have gone through all of that and to still have the strength to move forward…I glance at Emery and just let my eyes linger. He’s wearing my compression shorts that I let him borrow and a white sleeveless shirt, and they so complement his trim body. He’s not quite as muscular as me; he’s more like a runner than a lifter, but I like it. I like that he’s hard and soft at the same time. And almost every inch of his exposed skin right now is covered in colorful tattoos. He looks like a walking art gallery. I could look at him forever.
He’s just so beautiful. Inside and out.
Class being dismissed shakes me from my trance and Magnus leans over to say, “Colin was totally checking him out, by the way. Did you notice?”
I glance up and see Colin at the front of class, rolling up his mat. Our eyes meet and he smiles kindly at me. That’s Colin. Always so fucking nice. But all I feel is irritation when he makes his way over to us, his gaze homing in on Emery who is still lying on the ground, those red lips wrapped around his lollipop. I don’t blame Colin, because Emery’s so fucking fascinating.
“Hey,” Colin says to me and then gestures toward Emery. “Is this a friend of yours?”
Emery peeks up at him and mutters. “Nope. Never. Stepbrothers. Not by choice.”
“Ah,” Colin replies with a small laugh and for the first time since meeting Colin, I have strong feelings about him. I would strongly like to punch him in his handsome face. I get why Sem was all up in arms when he thought Mag was into him. Like, how do you even compete with someone like him?
“Hi, August’s stepbrother. I’m Colin,” Colin says with a big smile and a wave, and Emery smiles up at him.
Both of them are so fucking charming. Together they’d be unstoppable.
“Hi there, Colin. I’m Emery. Ooh, I love your tattoos.” Emery rolls up into a seated position and grabs onto Colin’s arm, tugging him down next to him.
And fuck, if I’m not jealous. I don’t like the sight of his hands on anyone but me. But what really sucks, is I can’t do anything about it. I lost the right to feel this way when I chose to end things with him. I’m lucky I pried this day out of him.
Mag nudges me in the stomach and I turn to glance down at him. He waggles his eyebrows and I glower at him.
“Not a word,” I say and Mag smirks at me, pulling me a little farther away so we can talk in private.
He pokes me in the chest, and I swat at his hand.
“You’re jealous with a capital J.”
“No. I’m not. He can talk to other men,” I say and then glance over at Emery and Colin. Of course, Emery is laughing at something Colin is saying. And why wouldn’t he? Colin is funny.
My skin heats and I fold my arms across my chest.
Mag leans closer to me and says, “Colin is very attractive.”
Sem grumbles under his breath and moves to stand behind Magnus, placing a thick hand on his shoulder and squeezing lightly.
Mag rolls his eyes and looks up at Sem. “Sem, you know you’re the only one for me. Stop being so grumbly.”
Sem clenches his hand on Magnus’ shoulder again and then meets my gaze. “Don’t let that asshole take what’s yours.”
My cheeks heat. “Guys, he’s not….”
But then I glance over and see Emery with his phone out. Are they fucking exchanging numbers? My previous comment fades into the ether as I quickly stride over to where Colin and Emery are chatting––all casual, like his dick wasn’t in my mouth just yesterday. Like my come wasn’t spread across his face. Like he hadn’t crawled into my bed and wrapped himself around me all night.
“Oh hey,” Emery says, his eyes twinkling as he looks at me. “Look at this artist Colin uses. She’s amazing.”
I glance over and see a picture on Colin’s phone and manage a strained smile. Because it’s in this moment that I realize I don’t have much in common with Emery, but Colin does.
Maybe I should just let him go.
I can’t even bring myself to tell my mom about us.
And in reality, it’s not even that big of a deal. I don’t know if my mom would even care.
