Page 87 of Illicit

“I like the sight of you from behind, but not like this,” he says. “This is going to be the longest trip of my life.”

“You interrupted my crime podcast to tell me you like my ass?”

His answer is immediate. “I do love your ass. Especially in your new underwear.”

“And to think it was just last week that you were grumpy about my graduation panties.”

“I’ll buy you all the panties.”

I sigh and look out at nothing but highway, blue skies, and two days of travel ahead of us. “My podcast was getting to the good part, you know.”

“I figure we have two days on the road and two years to make up for. There’s a lot to talk about.”

I grab my lip balm as I talk. “You want to make up for two whole years? That’s a lot of talking.”

“It’ll keep you alert.”

I sigh. “Okay, should we start with the day after you broke my heart by pushing me away?”

“Hell, no.” I hear the frown in his tone. “I want to start with your quasi virginity.”

“Of course you do,” I mutter. “I have no desire to talk about that.”

“You can’t break something like that to me when you’re naked and not expect me to ask about it. I want to know who the asshole is who left you questioning your virginity.”

“My virginity is not in question, Roc. I’m not going to lie, I regret it. It was just…” I cringe thinking back on the horrible experience. “It was bad. We’d been seeing each other for a few months. I think he even knew how bad it was. It made everything awkward. Sex should make a good thing better, right?”

“It will with me,” he states.

“So confident,” I mutter. “But what about your rule? I may never know.”

“Oh, you’ll know. I just need to get you to commit first.”

“Rocco—”

“Which is something else we need to talk about,” he interrupts. “Are you moving to New York because I’m moving back to Miami?”

“Confident and presumptuous.”

“Tell me,” he demands. Rocco the talker strikes again.

I don’t say anything. This is the last thing I want to fess up to.

He keeps going. “Not that we were around at the same time since you made it your life’s mission to avoid me prior to last week, but do you remember when Brax and Landyn announced they were pregnant again?”

“How could I forget? The group chat was nonstop for two days. I finally had to put it on silent so I could get anything done.”

“Landyn called me right after that. She said it was my turn, that she and Brax wanted me to be the baby’s godfather.”

“That wasn’t a surprise. Everyone knew that was coming,” I say. “They’ve been saying it for years.”

“Saying and doing are two different things, Teag. This isn’t just about it being my turn. This is more. And it’s a big fucking deal.”

I shake my head like he’s sitting next to me having this conversation. “I know where you’re going with this, and you’re wrong.”

“It doesn’t matter if I’m right or wrong. The fact they chose me cements me in the family.”

“You were cemented into the family the day you saved Landyn. She’s said it. Brax confirmed it.”

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