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Since Bailey’s birthday last week, he’s made that very clear—in the hushed conversations in the middle of the night when we’re hidden away in his room, the small touches whenever I’m in his vicinity, and the stolen kisses when nobody is looking—and I don’t know how much longer I can fight to keep this between us.
The more time we spend alone together, the more I see what really exists between us. It’s not just heat and lust that will die out when we’ve had our fill. It’s comfort and warmth—the kind you only ever feel at home. And that’s nothing short of terrifying.
“Earth to Ry.”
I snap my gaze to Bailey, exhaling sharply. “Sorry, zoned out.”
“You’ve been doing a lot of that lately,” she says, her eyes searching mine. “Anything you want to talk about?” Her expression is open, but there’s something in her gaze, a knowing curiosity I don’t understand.
“Nah, I’m just tired. Didn’t sleep well last night.”
She hums, a soft smile on her face. “Well, let’s get these last few bits, and then we can head home and snuggle on the couch with Netflix until we have to go out later.”
“Bailey Brooks,” I tease, wagging my brows. “Are you asking me to Netflix and chill with you?”
She blows me a kiss and winks. “Only if I get to top.”
“Perfect. That means I get to lay there like a sack of spuds and still get off. Every girl’s dream.”
“I didn’t take you for a lazy shag, Ry.” Bailey laughs, and any lingering tension in my muscles expels as I sink into the cushion, sipping my hot chocolate.
“You’re a tit.”
“But I’m your tit, and you love me.”
“Facts.”
“Drink up, then, and we’ll get this shit done.”
The rest of the day flies by in a blur of shopping and movies, and before I know it, we’re packed around a large table in one of the local pubs, empty glasses and plates littering the oak.
Chase sits beside me, his hand curled around my thigh as his thumb glides under the hem of my dress, heat searing through me at the innocent touch.
The silver rings on his fingers glint under the dim light as I glance down, and I choke back a groan. There’s something so attractive about rings on a man’s fingers, especially paired with the veins that ripple beneath his muscles with each movement.
If it wasn’t for his family chattering happily around us, I’m pretty sure I’d have jumped his bones before the first course was delivered to our table.
“You alright over there?” I snap my head up, flushing at the smirk on Kai’s lips as I turn to him. “You’ve been looking at your lap awfully hard…”
Chase chuckles at my side, his fingers tightening around my skin, and a deep flush crawls over my cheeks. I try to knock him away, but he doesn’t falter, keeping his gaze forwards as his thumb travels the length of my thigh, searing heat following the touch.
“Oh, I, erm—”For fuck’s sake, Ry, think.“There’s a loose thread on my dress, and it’s annoying me.”Nailed it, Ry. A loose bloody thread? Likely story.
“Hmm.”
“What?” I snap, narrowing my eyes as Kai continues to hum under his breath.
“Nothing, RyRy,” he says, his tone sickly sweet. “Nothing at all.” I grab my glass of water and tip the contents down my throat, though it does little to douse the fire Chase stokes in my veins—how can it when his thumb continues to strum my skin? “Did you catch the end of today’s game?” Kai asks, turning to Martin, and I exhale slowly, grateful for the reprieve from his knowing gaze.
It’s not that I think heknowswhat’s happening between Chase and me, but as Chase’s oldest friend, there’s certainly the chance he’s catching on to something. Though I am starting to wonder if that would be such a bad thing.
As I glance around the table, taking in the laughter, chatter, and joy coming from Chase’s family—my family—I can’t help butwantto let them in on this. The fact is, for the last two years I’ve convinced myself I couldn’t—that they wouldn’t want me to—but after the last few weeks, I’m starting to see it’s just an excuse. A crutch.
I don’t think the Brooks would care.
So why, then, am I so afraid?
“Hey,” Chase whispers, tilting his head as I turn back to him. His eyes are warm as he searches my expression. There’s a soft smile on his face, one meant only for me, and I can’t stop my own lips from breaking into a grin as I look at him.
