Page 19 of Hard to Judge

I can tell something is up the moment Arlo’s arms come around me. He’s stilted and stuttering in a way I haven’t seen him. From the moment I met him, he was in command, even if he was distant and evasive.

When I find Hota in the car, I have a feeling I know why Arlo is acting weird.

It’s my fault. I made things weird the other night, implying that I’d like to fuck his friend and that I’d like him to as well.

Sure. It’s not far off the mark. It’s not off at all. But intent is everything.

The moment Hota removes me from his lap, I know it’s not just my jet-lagged brain malfunctioning.

The two friends, who’ve been through thick and thin together almost every step of the way, are acting like they hardly know each other. I started this. It’s up to me to fix it. Technically, they started this long ago. I’m the only one among us with the nerve and tits to do something about it.

I press my hip to Hota’s, my boobs together, and bat my lashes with a smirk. “You first.”

He finally releases his lower lip that’d been trapped between his fingers, then his teeth. His shoulders lower on a huff, and I know I’ve got him.

“Look outside.” Hota jerks his chin toward the windows lining the car. It’s hard to pull my gaze from his full mouth, but I do. “What do you see?”

I assess the gray evening and the missing sun, the threat of flurries, and the evidence that they’ve been spitting snow all day long. “New York in winter.”

“When you smile, the sun comes out. It’s almost impossible not to smile in the warmth of the sunshine.”

My mouth falls open. I forget about my boobs and my attempt at seduction. Just like that, I’m seduced by Hota’s words. A lump forms in my throat, and emotions sting my eyes.

“What will put a smile back on your face, Hailey?”

For you to fuck me and love me and let Arlo fuck you and love you too.

You know, just an easy favor.

I blink like mad, then face him with a stupidly big smile. “There’s something I want to do, but you both have to agree to it without coercion.” I point between him and Arlo.

Hota’s dark gaze flies to Arlo’s face and back to mine. “Do we get to know what this something is?”

“No.” I beam. “If you knew, neither of you would want to do it.”

His head swivels back and forth. He crosses his arms over his chest and leans back to get a better look at me. The finely knitted sweater pulls taut over his biceps and chest. My mouth waters.

I know he’s going to say no.

Why wouldn’t he? I would.

“Let me get this straight.” He pulls his thumb over the corner of his mouth. Beside me, Arlo adjusts in the seat. I’m about to pant from staring at his mouth for too long. “You want us toagree to something we’d say no to if we knew what it was, and you’re not going to give us a small hint?”

“Yes.” I mean to sound peppy and upbeat, but it comes out breathy.

“But this thing will make you smile.”

“Yes,” I squeal. Because as hot as it is to be sandwiched between these two men, what I have in mind will be even better…for now.

“That’s coercion at its finest,” Arlo chuckles.

“Sold.” Hota grins and lifts his eyes to Arlo. “You?”

“Yes, to all of it,” Arlo says.

Hota pulls in a heavy breath that makes me think those words mean more than they do at face value.

“I like the sound of that.” Before they can renege, I scurry to the partition and knock. The divider rolls down, and Leonard eyes me in the rearview.

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