Page 18 of The Illicit Play
“We’ll come too.” Nylah rises from her chair, pulling Carson up beside her. He wraps his arm around her waist, and I clamp my lips together.
Keep your mouth shut, Blake!
“I’ll clean up,” Satch offers.
“No way. You cooked dinner.” Wily frowns. “I’ll clean up.”
“I can do that.” I jump all over the task, needing the distraction, while Zoey starts to cry that Daddy won’t be reading her a story tonight.
Unca Wywee jumps in and saves the day, offering to read Zoey’s favorite book while I start gathering dishes off the table and heading for the kitchen.
Yes, cleaning up is just what I need.
Boring!
I know, but at least it’s not trouble.
Just be the good girl you’re supposed to be, dammit.
You can do this.
CHAPTER 6
GRADY
“Hi.” I breathe the word more than say it, my heart jackknifing at the sight of my ex.
She’s still so fucking beautiful it hurts.
“Grady.” She gives me an awkward smile, and it’s taking everything in me not to rest my hand on her hip the way I’ve done a thousand times before. “How are you?”
Her smile is tighter than usual. It’s her polite “I don’t really want to talk to you, but I shouldn’t be rude” smile, and it breaks my fucking heart all over again.
Why am I missing her when she doesn’t even want me around?
I take a small step back and nod. “Yeah, I’m…” I shrug, wondering how to play this. Do I go for fake happy, like she hasn’t affected me? Or do I let her know that this shit is real and I’m still an open wound, bleeding out right in front of her?
She swallows, twitching in her heels and dancing from toe to toe.
Fuck. I should really let her get on with her evening, but I can’t seem to stop staring at her, drinking her in.
Why does she have to be so beautiful?
It’s fucking unfair.
“Well, I…” She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s, um… it’s nice to see you again.”
I frown at her, hating how fake she’s being. I want to call her on her bullshit, but I don’t get the chance because Finn Macalister appears. Like an apparition from the deathly fucking hallows, the white boy is suddenly there, staring at me with his intense blue eyes. They’re gleaming as if there’s some hilarious joke I’m unaware of. Flicking his tongue over the piercing in his bottom lip, he smirks at me, and I want to punch him right in his straight little nose.
His pale fingers curve around Teah’s waist. He’s staking his claim loud and clear, and Teah, although she’s trying to hide it, loves every fucking second of his hands on her body.
Seriously?
What does she see in this guy? He’s everything I’m not.
That’s what she sees. That’s what she wants.
NOT you.
