Page 20 of These Reckless Hearts

“Tomorrow, I’m going to withdraw us from school,” Stone announces to no one in particular. “We’ll start back up again after this is over.”

It’s too badafter this is overis open-ended. I don’t think any of us know when that will be.

My family has been searching for the treasure for hundreds of years. My father believed we were close. Now with Stone’s technology and assistance, we have a real chance at finding it sooner rather than later. Sometimes, I pinch myself. I wouldn’t have kept searching if I didn’t actually think I could find it but planning on actually finding a Spanish cache of gold and jewels, sounds so...fiction. It’s something I would read in a book, and trust me, I would read the shit out of a book with a treasure hunt in it.

As long as the girl got to have several boyfriends. That sounds like a freaking masterpiece.

“It’s the best-case scenario.” Lucas draws over my thighs with his fingertips. “Also, Cole interrupted breakfast, so I’m hungry.”

“Speaking of...” I start, “you three are in trouble.”

There’s dead silence in the car before Lucas breaks it. “We were worried. You can’t be mad about that.”

“I get that part. What I don’t understand is the getting in his face, wondering if he wanted to fuck me part. If he did, that’s up to me. Just because I’m fucking the three of you doesn’t mean I’m going to drop shorts for anyone.”

Stone glances in the rearview mirror to meet my eyes. “I’m with Wyatt. I’m pleading jealousy.”

“Plead stupidity and sexism and I’ll be more apt to forgive you.”

Lucas grips my thigh. “I didn’t think you were going to jump into bed with him, but I was worried about his intentions. Coming to find you, helping us, telling you the truth. It seemed like there was something there.”

“I like him,” I tell them all, making sure to look at each one of them, including Wyatt who’s turned around in his seat to stare at me. “But like a friend. He’s helped us so much, and he doesn’t have to. You all need to learn how to get along with him.”

Wyatt’s face pinches, and I understand his apprehension. One of Cole’s guys actually hurt Wyatt—freaking stabbed him—and I don’t expect him to get over it so easily, but Cole explained that he was playing a part. He had to be the big, tough gang leader back then.

“Promise me that if you’re worried about something in our relationship it stays with us. I could’ve spoken to Cole about his intentions myself without you guys acting all macho to prove a point.”

“I’m not sure we scared him anyway so it is a moot point,” Wyatt throws out, completely disgusted by the fact that their little argument this morning had no impact on Cole whatsoever.

“I’m sorry,” Stone states, meeting my gaze in the mirror. “Really.”

I’m surprised he’s the first to say it. He must really be trying to butter me up after almost marrying Rissa.

“And I’m sorry for wanting you to put something else on. That was wrong. I was wrapped up in the moment, and you had this just-fucked face that—”

Wyatt groans. “I know what you mean. She gets this look and—”

I flick him on the shoulder.

He smiles back at me. “I’m sorry, too. But also, I’m not going to stop being me, and if I think a guy is looking at you like he wants to fuck you, I’m going to say something.”

“Me too,” Lucas admits. He gives me one of his lazy smiles. “I’m not going to be able to hold that part back, but I’m sorry you were upset about the way we handled it, and I’m even more sorry that we didn’t express our concerns to you ahead of time.”

I flex my fingers, trying to release the tension building up in them. “So, are we all on board with Team Cole then?”

“Please,” Stone scoffs. “I think Cole’s Team Wilder-Jacobs.”

Wyatt runs his fingers along the brim of his hat and scowls out the windshield. “I’m cool with it unless he brings his dangerous shit to us.”

“Yeah, what Wyatt said,” Lucas agrees. “We need him because the shit Lance is pulling is in his wheelhouse, but after all is said and done, we’re not going to play one big gang family with him. We’re staying out of that shit.”

“Well, of course,” I agree.

Lucas blinks over at me, his lips a thin line. He stares, watching my expression as if he’s expecting me to do something.

“Good, now that that’s over,” Wyatt says, “I’m looking forward to being punished for my transgression.”

Stone shakes his head. “Jesus….”

---