Page 65 of Sinister Red

A small smile touches his lips. “And I will always be both slightly disappointed and proud of that.”

“What time is it?”

“Almost seven.”

My brows lift. “I got here at four.”

Sam just nods.

“Have you been awake this whole time?”

He shrugs. “I don’t sleep much anymore. Figured you didn’t either, and letting you catch a nap was a good excuse to watch a little more Shatner before Marbles got back.”

“Still can’t stand him, huh?” I giggle, then nearly die of embarrassment when I pull my eyes away from Sam’s to find a puddle of drool on his bare chest. “You could have woken me up to tell me I was spitting all over you.”

“It’s fine.” He laughs as I sit up some and start using my sleeve to dry him off. “Thought it was funny that you still drool in your sleep.”

I shoot him a playful scowl. “I don’t think it’s very funny.”

“You don’t have to in order for me to find the humor in it.”

The crooked smile he’s giving me, the warmth in his eyes, all of this is just so familiar and comforting, something I never thought I’d be on the receiving end of again. And searching Sam’s face now, taking in every emotion I can see in those beautiful hazel eyes, I feel this foreign and long dormant sense of hope flair in the pit of my stomach.

Hope that maybe after everything we’ve been through, all of the pain and heartache that followed the happiest year of my life, and talking through all of it, maybe we aren’t doomed to be mortal enemies. Hope that maybe we can get back some of what we had, if only to be friends again, because at one point Sam wasn’t just my soulmate and lover, he was my best friend too.

But before I can say anything that might express some of that, what sounds like a heard of elephants come stomping down the hall and the bedroom door is thrown open.

“You two better be indecent as fuck, cause I’ve got news!” Marbles barrels in with Harlow on his heels, Mortimer shooting past them to jump on the bed seconds before his idiotic parents do too. “Why aren’t you naked?”

He frowns as Sam shakes his head with a sigh. “What is it with you always wanting to walk in on people naked?”

“Seems like a good time.” Marbles shrugs as he sidles up next to Red.

“Don’t be an ass.” Harlow grins, then lays in my lap, and looks up at me before shoving her hand in my face. “We’re here to show them this, not watch them bang.”

“You got engaged?!” I squeal as I grab my best friend’s finger and check out the rock sitting on it. My eyes flick to hers then to Marbles. “Engaged for real?”

He nods and crosses his arms against his chest. “Sure did. My sweet little Harlot is mine forever now. Sealed it by fucking in the parking lot of the police station.”

“There’s a lot to unpack there.” I blink, then smile so big as I look down at Harlow. “You know I need details, right?”

“About the proposal or the fucking?”

I roll my eyes. “The proposal. I never need details about the fucking.”

“You’re no fun.” She grins and wiggles her fingers. “But we are getting married, bitch!”

My best friend and I squeal some more as I lean down and hug her, then lean over her face to hug Marbles.

“Hey!” Harlow laughs. “You’re smothering me with your tits!”

“I’m oddly turned on by that.” Herfiancélaughs as I let him go.

“You would be.” Sam chuckles. “But this is great, man. I’m happy for you.”

“Good thing too, cause you’re my best man, asshole. And since Sofie girl is the maid of honor, you two better have worked out your shit so my Harlot and I can be happy as fuck through this whole thing.”

I meet Red’s eyes as he turns to me, and with a gorgeous, though small, smile, he nods. “We’re good.”

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