Page 167 of Rebound
“A kiss, please.”
Huffing a laugh, I press my lips to hers in a soft kiss. “I love it when you say please,” I whisper in her ear.
Lavinia burrows deeper into the blankets as I stand to make hot chocolate. She giggles over something Jules says that’s too low for me to hear. The sound of her laughter warms me from the inside out, spreading through me like an iridescent glow.
I know that no matter what happens, there’s nothing I won’t do to keep Lavinia.
FIFTY
ROMAN
“What do you mean you told them about the HoBros?” Reese demands. “The first rule of HoBros is you don’t talk about the HoBros.”
I look up from the chicken I’m placing on the skillet and at Reese. He’s standing on the other side of the counter, his arms crossed. He’s wearing a shirt, but it’s mostly unbuttoned. His dark hair is ruffled, grey eyes narrowed on me as he tries not to pout.
“I thought the first rule of HoBros is that we can’t leave the group chat.”
“It’s an implied rule,” Reese states.
“In the future, can I get the rules beforehand so I don’t accidentally break one?” I lower the heat on the stove as the scent of chicken fills the kitchen.
Someone knocks and before I can reply, Reese shouts, “it’s open!” I guess he’s made himself at home. In my apartment. It’s strange to have him here, it’s even stranger to think I’m hosting a legit dinner party–not out of choice–and that the rest of the guys are on their way right now.
“What’s cooking?” Holden enters the kitchen, carrying a case of beer that he places on the counter.
“It’s for the cats,” Reese says.
Holden runs a hand through his brown hair, looking around the apartment. “There are cats?”
“Three of them, or so I’ve heard. I haven’t seen them.”
“That’s because they don’t like strangers,” I explain.
As soon as Reese entered the apartment, Salem, Sabrina, and Buffy skittered off to my bedroom where they’re supervising Lavinia getting ready for girls’ night. There’s a part of me that wants to talk her out of it and convince her to stay home. She’s just recovered from the flu and I’m not sure I can go through that panic again.
“He told Jules and Lavinia about the HoBros,” Reese complains.
Holden is still looking around my apartment. “Pretty sure Lavinia already knows about the group chat from Drew and Kai, and you after you had two drinks at the Christmas party last year.”
Reese’s cheeks color and I turn away to hide my smirk. I turn the chicken over to cook the other side. Grabbing the beer case off the counter, I start stacking the drinks in the fridge when there’s another knock on the door.
I’m wiping the counter where Holden placed the beer case when Elena enters the apartment. She’s in a short black dress and knee-high boots, her dark hair pulled into a high ponytail. The long sleeves hide the tattoos on her arm, but there’s a peek of her thigh tattoo visible. No one who looks at her will ever believe she used to be a professional ballerina.
“So, this is your apartment,” she says, glancing around. “It suits you.”
It’s bare. There’s nothing personal; all the furnishings were selected by the interior designer. Everything valuable I own is in boxes in the guest room. No place has ever felt like home, andI’ve never searched for one either. I can never let go of the feeling that I don’t belong.
The only times in my life I’ve felt like I’m exactly where I need to be and I belong is when I’m with Lavinia.
“Who are they?” Elena asks, nodding towards Reese and Holden.
“My teammates, Reese and Holden. Guys, this is Elena.”
Reese all but pushes Holden out of the way to get to Elena. “I’m Reese Miller, left winger for the Titans. They can’t survive without me.”
Elena looks at his proffered hand like he’s offering her a smelly gym sock. “No, thanks.”
She steps around him and away to the counter. Reese lowers his hand, looking at Holden in question, who’s grinning like an idiot.
