AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He nods, rubbing his palm against his five-o’clock shadow. “Makes sense.”
We stand sort of awkwardly for a beat. “Well, I better get going. I don’t want to leave Amara on her own if she beats me there. I’m going to wait outside for my Uber.”
“Right, well… have a good night.”
“Thanks, you too. I’ll make sure I’m up with Theo in the morning. I know you have to head to training camp early.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you at the end of the day then.” His eyes continue to run over my body.
Maybe a night in would be better.
I nod and spin on my heel, hyperaware that my ass almost hangs out of my dress and my shoes are clicking on the floor at what feels like an obnoxiously loud level.
Once I’m outside the house, I let out a long stream of air. Putting aside my attraction for Brady is getting harder and harder, especially when he looks at me as if he wants to lick every inch of me.
An hour later, Shayna, Bryce, Amara, and I are sitting around a table, sipping drinks and getting to know one another better. We’ve already gone through the basics of what we each do for a living, where we live, and what our relationship statuses are, and we’re moving on to other topics.
“I texted Twyla to join us since she was supposed to arrive in town late last night,” Shayna says.
“Do you think she’ll show?” Bryce asks.
Shayna glances toward the door. “I don’t know. She said she would if she could, but her messages were a little shorter than usual.” She frowns.
Bryce rolls her eyes. “Guess it depends if Miles lets her off the leash. He does realize he’s only her brother?”
“Miles is…” Amara asks.
“Oh yeah—” Shayna starts, but Bryce interrupts.
“Her overbearing and overprotective brother,” Bryce says.
Shayna shakes her head. “He’s the safety for the Kingsmen and Lee’s best friend,” Shayna adds, giving Bryce a look that says she needs to give it a break with the Miles hate for a minute. “Twyla is his sister, and she comes for visits a lot. She’s engaged.”
“Got it,” Amara says with a nod and reaches for her wine.
“You seem concerned,” I say to Shayna.
She rocks her head back and forth. “She’s seemed… off or something lately. Not her usual happy self.”
I frown. Not because I know Twyla, but probably more because it reminds me of myself last year. I’m sure if she’s engaged, she’s happy, but for me, my relationship changed me. I never want to be that person again.
“Hopefully she’ll come join the fun.” Amara raises her glass and takes a generous sip. “How are things going at Brady’s?”
“Yes, do tell.” Bryce waggles her eyebrows.
I pick up my martini glass. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I feel like I sensed some sexual tension the other day at training camp when he walked up.” Bryce eyes me, waiting for my answer. It’s plain to see why she’s a good reporter. She’s direct and observant.
I sip my drink to buy myself some time as I glance at Shayna. Lee knows we slept together, and I have to assume her fiancé has told her, so I don’t know if Bryce is asking because she already knows something or if it really is a genuine question. I’m way too new to this group to know.
Shayna gives a subtle shake of her head, which I take means Bryce doesn’t know anything and it’s up to me whether I want to divulge that information. I might as well. Bryce is the only one at the table who doesn’t know. Since she’s a reporter, I’m a tad scared to say anything about Brady and me, but Shayna trusts her so I hope I can too.
“Truth is that I hooked up with Brady about six months before I got the job with him,” I explain to Bryce, telling her everything that happened—minus our kiss in the pantry the other day.
She twirls her wineglass by the stem. “Well damn. What are you gonna do about it?”
“What do you mean?” I pull the stick holding the olive from my drink.
