Page 24 of Pull
My eyes turn to the man, widening as I hear Ben mutter, “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”
And I swallow hard. “Hi, Tate.”
Wow, what a buzzkill.
Nothing like running into your husband’s ex-fling at your first Pride celebration, huh?
What are the odds?
Sure, I know Tate lives in New Mexico, and this is the biggest parade for Pride in the state. But honestly, of all the bars…
The only other guy Ryan’s hooked up with, and here the fuck he is, smirking at me like he’s in on something I’m not. I fuckinghatethat look. Last time I saw it, I was punching it off his smug prick face.
We sort of buried the hatchet since then, but that doesn’t mean we’re anxious to hang out. At least, I’m not.
Ryan on the other hand, my sweet husband who doesn’t have a mean bone in his perfect body, isn’t having the same reaction as me. He’s wearing an easy smile as he gives Tate a hug which goes on for three excruciating seconds. I’m literally about to pull them apart.
“Good to see you,” Ryan murmurs, his cheeks a little flushed, likely from the strong as hell drinks we just killed, and the fact that we were clearly about to sneak off for dirty activities in the restroom.
“You too, Harper,” Tate says, eyes bouncing back and forth between us.
“It’s Harper-Lockwood now.” Ryan holds up his left hand to display the platinum band on his ring finger.
I love seeing it… It makes me want to kiss him everywhere so badly. And this douchebag is interrupting it.
“Right,” Tate hums. “How could I forget? So, here for your first Pride parade, hm?”
Ryan nods, still sucking on the penis straw of his drink I thought he’d left behind. Tate’s eyes go to Ryan’s mouth, and it takes every ounce of strength in my body not to pluck them out of his skull.
“Look, Tate, it’s been great catching up, but we were just leaving,” I tug Ryan by his belt loops again, and he sort of stumbles with me, like a puppy who’s got a nice buzz going.
“Oh yea, I’m sure you were leaving through the men’s room,” Tate chuckles sarcastically. “It’s Pride, Lockwood. No shame in getting some action in bathrooms. I mean, been there done that. Right, Ryan?”
Ryan’s face pales as his green eyes jump to mine, wide and unblinking. I’m sure he thinks I’m going to punch Tate in the face for that comment. And if it were a year ago, maybe I would have. Okay, Idefinitelywould have.
But now, this man is my husband. He’s wearing my ring on his finger, and my last name attached to his. There’s no need for any of this back and forth catty shit, and Tate’s just trying to get a rise out of me anyway.
Which reminds me…
“Actually, it’s Lockwood-Harpernow.” I pull the fakest grin I possess, showing off my second wedding band as I slink my left arm around my husband’s waist. “And now that I think about it, the bathroom’s probably sorta crowded. We could always go back to the suite, right babe?”
“I’ll go anywhere with you,” Ryan breathes out like he’s suddenly sleepy as he nestles up to me, leaning his weight on my side. “Damn, those drinks arereallystrong…”
I peer at him in between mirroring Tate’s smug smirk. “You’re not supposed to chug it in two seconds, kid.”
“So affectionate when he’s drunk,” Tate sneers.
“Yea well,” my jaw clenches in hopes I can control the rage bubbling inside me, “It’s a celebration. We haven’t gone out in a while, what with the baby.”
“Right, thebaby.” Tate’s grin grows a little less forced. “How is Ethan? And Jessica! Is she here?” He starts looking around.
“She’s at the hotel with Ethan,” I tell him, distracted by Ryan kissing my neck and trying to stuff his hand down my pants. “It’s hot as balls outside and he was getting kind of cranky—babe! Jesus.”
Ryan starts giggling like a drunk fool. And then I remember I was supposed to make sure he ate before drinking since he’s a damn lightweight. But apparently, he was too excited about the parade to be concerned with food.
“Well, again it was great catching up, Tate, but I have to get my husband something to eat before he passes out,” I tell Tate while trying to extract Ryan’s hand from inside my boxers.
“Hey, I’m actually going to a party right now at a friend’s house around the corner,” Tate says, pleasantly enough, though who would know. “There’ll be plenty of food if you guys want to join.”
