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She’s naturally pretty. But best of all, she has the biggest heart.
“I’m scared,” I sigh.
“Here’s what you need, Ten.” Kodi ponders for a minute, building up the anticipation. Shouts from the guys inside the house infiltrate my ears, but I stay tuned to Kodi, hoping she truly does have some helpful advice. “You need to get laid,” she deadpans.
Navy groans. “That’s your genius solution?”
Kodi rises, getting more intense and passionate as she speaks. “Just think about it. Tenley, how long has it been since you’ve been with a guy?” Her eyes shoot to mine, ready to tackle me to the ground if I don’t answer.
“As in dated or slept with?”
Kodi rolls her eyes, and Navy chuckles beside me. “How long has it been since a man has gone to pound town on your kitty?”
Navy snorts, tempting me to glance in her direction. I know I’ll find her doing something ridiculous.
“Jesus Christ, Kodi. I don’t know.” She’s certifiably insane. I love it.
Kodi waves her hands in the air, sloshing her wine around, but she doesn’t seem to care. “Well, we’ve established it wasn’t with Tyler. So, who came before him?”
I think for a moment. God, I don’t remember.
Has it really been that long? There were multiple guys last year I “hooked up” with, but they were less than memorable, and it was a one-and-done thing.
Never sex, though.
I’m sorry, I mean, never one that took my kitty topound town.
“At least a year,” I answer wearily. “I tried a few times but wasn’t feeling it in the end.”
When did I become so picky?
“Talk about some serious deprivation, my friend. Better get it out of your system now before diapers and breast milk become your future,” Navy teases me.
I flip her off before playfully saying, “I’m getting more particular the older I get. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Besides, you’re one to talk. You both have built-in lovers at your disposal 24/7.”
Kodi and Navy cast each other a small smile, likely imagining dirtier things than I could conjure with Callaway and Bodhi.
“And what lovers they are,” Navy swoons, shooting fucking stars flashing across her bright green eyes.
“What was that, baby? You know how much I love it when you praise me,” Bodhi’s deep voice bellows from behind us. It’s nice to see them finally be public with their feelings for each other. Bodhi screwed up in a big way last year, hurting Navy in what seemed to be the point of no return, but fought like hell to win her back. Now, they’re madly in love, and share a penthouse together downtown.
A full circle moment for our crew.
The sound of the double pane slider opening and hollers from the game make their way to the porch where we sit, but my body instantly freezes, knowing the man inside Kodi’s house who has yet to return.
I’m not sure how much Bodhi overheard, and I didn’t turn to check who followed him out here.
“Interesting conversation we have here, ladies.”
Shit. He’s back.
I remain eerily still, refusing to acknowledge him. As far as August Graves knows, he’s the bane of my existence. What he doesn’t need to know is just how much I actually appreciate his existence. I appreciate how he goes out of his way to acknowledge me more than anyone else at Makers. From day one, and he has yet to stop.
The far opposite of what I act out around him.
Why do I do this to myself?Because it’s better this way.I know I’ll fall for him if I let him get too close. I also might just lose myself, along with the plans I’ve mapped out for my life.
I wait for two feminine voices to follow and come up empty. It’s just him, and I know what’s coming.
