Page 84 of Game On
His eyes flicker with some untraceable emotion before he nods once, his gaze steady. “Got it. Casual and discreet,” he says. “I won’tcanoodleyou in front of other people. And the third thing?”
“Third …” I pause, gathering my thoughts. “Respect. I won’t tolerate being treated like some kind of disposable conquest. And vice versa. No third parties while we’re doing this.”
His jaw tightens. “Agreed. Besides, handlingyouis more than enough for me.”
A flush of warmth colors my cheeks, bringing with it a sense of satisfaction. “Good, I’m glad we’ve cleared that up,” I say, pushing myself off the counter and turning to leave the kitchen.
“Hey.” He gently reaches for me, pulling me back against him. “Before you leave, there’s something else I need to do.”
A shiver jolts down my spine as his fingers close around my wrist. He twirls me around and pulls me in for a soft kiss. It’s hard not to let it consume me. Warm lips, the slip of his tongue, the firmness of his grip on my waist. I practically melt into a puddle at his feet.
When he finally lets me go, he still has a thumb hooked into one of my belt loops. “Are you holding me hostage again?”
He grins. “Nah, just wondering what you’re doing for Thanksgiving?”
I tap the back of his hand, hoping to calm the butterflies. “Oh, um, nothing? I don’t celebrate, obviously. And Gabi’s left already, so I’ll just be at the apartment.”
“Alone?”
“Yes, alone,” I confirm. “It’s not exactly feasible to fly across the Atlantic for every minor American holiday.”
He’s quiet for a moment. And when he finally speaks, hisvoice contains a strange note of … excitement? “Then come home with me,” he says, before adding, “And Levi.”
I start at his words, turning to blink at him. “You want me to spend the holiday … with you?”
He rubs the back of his neck and gives me a half-shrug. “I mean … yeah. You shouldn’t be alone. Not while the rest of us are off with our families. Besides, my mom could do with a little more feminine energy. Three to two is a better ratio, don’t you think?”
“Three?”
“My little brother Carter will be there, too.”
A laugh bubbles up from my chest, escaping before I can stop it. “Oh, I see. So now I’m just leveling the playing field?”
“Something like that.” His smile softens, and he looks at me in a way that makes my heart stutter despite myself. “But really … I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you would enjoy it. My family’s a good time.”
An image of Hudson, surrounded by his mum and brother, flashes through my mind. I’m intrigued by the idea of a trip to Hudson’s home, of seeing this unfamiliar side of him. But meeting his family? It seems like more than just the casual thing we agreed upon moments ago.
Yet the thought of spending the long holiday alone in an empty apartment doesn’t exactly fill me with joy either. “An all-American Thanksgiving with the Fox family, huh? Seems like quite the cultural experience.”
He grins. “Exactly! Consider it more of an anthropological study if you’d like. Isn’t that why you’re here?”
“Sure,” I say, “I suppose I’ll do it for science.”
“Great. We’re leaving in an hour.”
“But I—”
“Don’t have anything packed.” He cuts me off with a knowing smile, lifting his hand as if he can stop my protest before it starts. “And you probably Ubered here, so, you know, I’ve got you covered.”
I frown. “You’re kidding, right? I’d be swimming in your clothes.”
He rolls his eyes, an exasperated sigh escaping him. “I’ll drive you back to yours then, you can grab what you need, and we’ll swing back to pick up Levi. Sourdough’s coming along for the ride, too.”
“How long are we on the road for?” I ask, bracing for the answer.
“Just over seven hours.”
I give him a deadpan look. “Seven hours? Please tell me you’re joking.”
