Page 133 of Drop Three

“I get that. So then, why you?”

“I guess I don’t want to be the reason he has to excuse himself for not drinking. There’s too much pressure to drink to have fun nowadays, and it’s fucked up if you ask me. So, tonight, I’m cruising sober and praying my terrible dancing skills can handle it.”

Kodi replies, “That’s really cool of you, Navs.”

I smile. It’s not something I’m gonna go around announcing. I only told Kodi because she came up and offered me a drink.

“Yeah, well, he’d do it for me,” I tell her honestly.

Because he would.

He would also murder me if he knew I wasn’t drinking to be respectful of him, so I’ll keep it to myself.

“He hasn’t taken his eyes off you all night, you know.”

I giggle louder. “I know. I can feel it.” I don’t need to look his way to know his eyes are on me. It’s an invisible pull we have to each other.

“You really love him, don’t you?” Kodi asks.

Do IloveBodhi? I think I have for a very long time; I’ve just been too scared to admit it. Too scared to be hurt so deeply again by him.

Although, lately, things have been different.

“I always have,” I admit to her. “I think he’s my person.”

I know Kodi, my best friend, doesn’t take offense to that because she has the same thing with my brother.

“I can see that, babe. Talk to Callaway. I have a feeling he’ll surprise you,” Kodi tells me.

“Talk to Callaway about what?” The man himself appears out of nowhere, and the warmth of a touch I recognize far too well settles at my waist again.

“What’d we miss?” Bodhi’s masculine voice in my ear sends vibrations to my core. My body doesn’t care that my brother is a foot away.

Bodhi is being bold tonight.

The heat radiating off Bodhi’s tall frame brings me comfort and security, but also makes me feral for him to have his way with me.

I want him to drag me around like his little puppet—a puppet he fucks and cherishes.

It’s as if my mind can’t decide if I hate him or love him.

“Not much. I told Navy to go ask you when we get to eat. I wonder if they’ll have desserts?” Kodi murmurs.

“Who are you married to, woman? You know I’ve got you,” Cal tells her.

Kodi smiles innocently and leans into Cal as he wraps her in his arms.

I want what my brother and Kodi have.

I want a man unashamed to hold me like I’m everything to him—like it hurts to be away from me.

Like Bodhi is holding me now—except the real thing, not a fake date.

“You two almost look like the real thing. He looks like he can’t keep his hands to himself. Nice work, B,” Cal says.

Point taken.

I give him a timid smile while Bodhi ignores him, looking strangely serious.

---