Page 113 of Of Flesh & Bone

"He's a little possessive about that one, actually.We've only recently been allowed to touch her and we're his family."Cal reports to the tiny Viv.

Cotton finally joins the group.He looks surprised to see Eve with a drink in her hand."What are you drinking there Mason?"

She holds the drink out away from her body and examines it."The tears of my enemies...and whiskey...a lot of whiskey."

Cotton laughs and wraps her up in a hug, that she returns with equal affection.If it were anyone outside of this group and her roommates hugging her like that, I would be mechanically removing their limbs right now, but this is exactly what I want.At first, I thought I wanted Eve to myself.I didn't think I would share my life with her or share her with anyone else.The more I learn about her and the more I fall in love with her, the more I want every part of her to be tangled up in every part of me and my life.I want her to love and be loved by my people.

So far, so good.

CHAPTER 36

Adam

We continue drinkingand mingling.Whenever any of us needs a drink, we go back to Viv even though there are 11 other bartenders working at well-stocked bars setup around the room.She's become the group's unofficial drink peddler.Eve asks Ace a question, but it's too soft for me to hear, so I follow Ace's line of sight, and I see her.Nadia.She's glaring at something, and she looks pissed.I've seen that look before.I saw it when I told her that we wouldn't be seeing one another again.

In fairness to her, I knew she had gotten her hopes up when she had been my regular lay longer than anyone else had.It probably didn't help that the very next girl I showed any attention to after her was THE ONE.I was never unclear with her though.She made up a relationship in her head that had never existed.She had seemed sweet and supportive up until the day before I called things off with her.She'd blown my phone up all day, wanting to know where I was, and asking to make plans for this very banquet that I've now brought Eve to.Shit.

The more I reflect on that day, the more uneasy I start to feel.Nadia's glare leads me all the way to Eve.Fuck.Fuck.Fuck.Fuck.Eve has obviously noticed Nadia watching her because she and Ace are both looking back at her.

"Oh her?That's Karma.She's a bitch."Ace says to Eve in a no-nonsense tone.

Eve laughs and asks, "Is her name really Karma?"

"No.Her name is Nadia.She actually is a bitch though."

She's right.Nadia is a bitch, but how does Ace know?I never said anything to her about how Nadia acted when I asked her to stay away from me and I never told her about all the stuff I found out after the split.I don't even want to call it a split because we weren't in a relationship.We just stopped fucking.I found out later that Nadia had been telling people we were engaged.She had set her relationship statuses on her socials to engaged.I guess she felt safe doing that because she knew I didn't have any.Even after the split, she told people it was temporary and that I just wanted to focus on the season and pick back up with her after graduation.

If she plans to start shit with Eve, I'm going to lose whatever small bit of sanity I possess.I can't hit a girl, but Ace sure can, and she will without a second thought.Ace seems to be all sunshine and sweet tea, but she's got fast hands and a short fuse.She won't hesitate to defend Eve.As discreetly as possible, I nod to Ace, asking her to come stand by me."I need you to stay near Eve tonight.Nadia appears to have noticed her."

Ace looks back over to Nadia, who is still boring a hole through Eve.Thankfully, Eve isn't giving her the attention that she's craving, but I know she hasn't forgotten about her, and she will be hyper-aware of where Nadia is positioned the rest of the night.Eve's anxiety is focused around physical threats.She will have perceived Nadia as a threat at this point.

"I've warned her once.That's the only one she'll get, and she knows it.If she fucks with my little sister, I will fuck with her face like it's my own personal little Picasso."

I fucking love this girl.She is the best of everything.She's smart, funny, sweet, and braver than she probably should be especially considering the shit she's been through.I pull her into me and kiss her temple."My Ace in the hole."

She starts to walk back over to Eve when it occurs to me, and I grab her arm "Wait, why did you threaten Nadia?"

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