Page 68 of Drop Three

Thankfully, Navy doesn’t miss his comment, and satisfaction washes over me at her backhanding him across the head.

“In your dreams, asshole.”

“You’re only the star of them, Navy girl. Always have been.” King puckers his lips as Navy shoves him away playfully. “You better go bleach your brain and find another cleat chaser to tickle your fancy, Kingston,” she snaps back at him.

“But for real, Navy summoned us to do some dirty work with her, and we gladly obliged,” Gus says boastfully.

“I can see that. It looks great,” I say before meeting Navy’s eyes again. “Feels like a home.”

The smile she sends me lights up my insides with something similar to glee, and I can’t help but smile in return.

The sound of a phone ringing breaks our trance.

“Oh, that’s mine,” Navy announces as she exits the hot tub to collect her phone. As much as I want to, I won’t turn around to watch how the globes of her ass shake with every step she takes.

It’s criminal for her to look this good. Sexy as hell in the slinky silver bikini my cock would never let me forget.

“Must be Briggs,” Mack says loud enough for us to hear.

My head swings in his direction, trying not to give away my obvious panic.

“She seems excited, at least,” Gus admits with a chuckle.

What the hell am I missing?

Mack and Kingston share a nod as they watch Navy talk on the phone near the outdoor table.

I’m too curious at this point not to ask, but I need to play it cool.

“What’s Navy excited for?” I ask hesitantly, hoping it’s not what I think it is.

“Her date with Briggs tonight.” Gus shares the worst news of my life with me.

Fuck.My stomach sinks, and I feel my anxiety crumble beneath me.

She’s going on a date with Briggs.

My friend and former teammate.

That means she used the number I forbade her to keep and reached out to him.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I chose this. I have no right to be upset with her, but Navy has always felt like mine. The idea of her going out with another man makes me unable to breathe. I feel a gut-wrenching panic I know I’m not authorized to feel.

This is the final shred of hope between us, and her falling for a guy as decent as Briggs feels like severing the last string.

I don’t want another man touching her. I don’t want another man to know her favorite things or the different laughs she has for separate occasions.

The laugh she saves for me.

That could potentially be for him someday soon.

“You good, St. James?” King asks me, showing genuine concern.

“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” I choke out.

“No reason,” he answers back, trying to be subtle.

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