Page 74 of The Hearts We Fumble
Zane: I’m gonna spank your ass for that one.
Wyatt: Is that supposed to deter me? If so, I think you failed. *laughing emoji*
Of course, she loves the thought of me suffering, sitting here turned on with her brother right across from me.
I can picture her smirk, the way she’d bite her lip, knowing exactly what she’s doing to me.
Even if I wanted to slip out and cool off, there’s no way in hell I could do it unnoticed. The second I moved, Colter or the guys would clock it. And there’s no way I’m about to explain why I suddenly have the urge to stand through the rest of dinner.
Zane: You might change your mind when I tie you to my bed, get you worked up, and force you to watch while I get myself off.
I flare my nostrils and flip my phone over, setting it face down on the table before anyone can catch a glimpse of who I’m texting. My fingers itch to pick it back up, to see what she’ll say next, but I force myself to focus on the conversation with the guys.
Our food arrives a few minutes later, the scent of hot wings filling the air, but before I can dig in, my phone vibrates against the table again.
Colter’s eyes flick to me, then to the device, his suspicion sharp. “Who’s got you smiling like an idiot?”
Hayes, sitting next to him, cuts me a look. If I had any doubts that he knew what was going on between Wyatt and me, his expression confirms it now.
“Don’t fuckin’ worry about it,” I mutter, reaching for a wing to make myself look unbothered.
Colter’s brows pull together, and I already know that wasn’t the right answer.
“What do you mean, ‘don’t worry about it’?” His voice is laced with irritation. “Since when do we keep shit from each other?”
A knot tightens in my stomach. I shrug, keeping my expression unreadable. “Relax. I’m just messing with you. You don’t know her. I haven’t introduced you yet. It’s nothing serious.”
The words taste like ash.
Hayes leans back against the booth, gripping the edge of the table. His jaw flexes, his gaze drilling into me like he wants to call me out right then and there. I shoot him a quick, subtle shake of my head.
He doesn’t say anything, but the message is clear—I just fucked up.
And he’s right.
I hate that I even said it, acting like what I have with Wyatt is nothing.When Colter finds out the truth, it won’t just be my relationship with her on the line. He’ll be pissed at me, too.
We haven’t discussed what we are or defined whatever this is. But I hope she knows it isn’t just a fling for me. It can’t be. She’s been my best friend for too long and losing her once already nearly broke me.
I can’t go through that again.
I need to figure out if this thing between us—the fire that’s been burning under the surface for years—is real or if it’s just a spark destined to burn out. Because if I risk everything, if I risk her,I need to be sure we won’t crash and burn.
I barely make it through the next few minutes, my appetite nonexistent, when my phone vibrates again.
I hesitate before flipping it over, waiting until Beckham turns his attention back to the game. Hayes and Colter are caught up in their conversation, so I angle the screen away and swipe the notification open.
Andfuck.My entire body locks up.
The picture fills my screen, and for a second, my brain short-circuits.
Wyatt stands in front of a mirror, her back to the camera, wearing nothing but a cropped shirt that’s pushed up just enough to barely cover her tits—her bare ass fully on display. But that’s not what does me in.
It’s the blue frosting smeared over her nipple.
My breathing turns shallow as I take in the details. The cupcake in her hand. The sultry arch of her back. The way I canfeelher teasing smirk through the screen.
My dick is instantly rock hard.
