Page 34 of Wicked Deceit
“Mom said you had made some interesting new friends, Squirt,” Bodhi says through a smirk, tossing his heavy arm over my shoulders. I grunt at the weight of his arm, trying to bat him away, but he just pulls me closer and inspects the boys with narrowed eyes. That’s the thing about my annoying brother, he’s always putting his arm around me and holding me close. Even though I freaking hate every second of it, he doesn’t care. Over the years, even though I fucking hate hugs and touch, I’ve gotten used to it from him.
“Friends, right,” Callie murmurs, staring at the boys with a knowing grin. “Nice to see you boys again.”
Bodhi cocks his head to the side and frowns. “Hold up, you’ve met her friends, and I haven’t?”
“I’m special,” Callie says, barking out a laugh. “You,” she says, pointing to Carter. “You must be Grumpy.”
Carter blanches, narrowing his eyes at Chase and Seger. “You introduced me as Grumpy? What the fuck?” He hisses between clenched teeth.
“I see it,” Callie says, nodding her head in satisfaction.
“It’s Carter,” he grumbles, nodding his head to my brother and sister in greeting.
Bodhi stands rigid at my side, tightening me into his body. His eyes roam over the boys, taking them in. One by one, he does his brotherly inspection with a stone face without giving me any clue as to what’s going through his brain. The last thing I need is for him to discover these are my boyfriends. And my boyfriends would be good to remember that, too. If my brother finds out right now, he might tear them apart and bury them in our backyard without leaving a trace.
“You’re a fucking legend here at East Point, man. I’m Seger, Kaycee’s bo—best friend,” Seger says, tripping over his words, but he recovers gracefully without my brother noticing. The only words my brother heard were,you’re a legend, and it went straight to his over-inflated head.
Seger holds out his hand with an infatuated grin, patiently waiting for my brother to return the favor. As soon as their hands clasp, I swear Seger falls more in love with my brother than he does with me. I can just see him proposing–he’d drop to his knees, proclaim his love, and swear to have Bodhi’s children. I side eye my boyfriend with a frown.
“I had some good times here at East Point,” Bodhi muses, staring off toward the direction of the football field with longing in his eyes. If there’s one way to distract my brother, it’s football.
“You’re playing for Milligan, right?” Chase asks, stepping up despite Ainsley’s protests. They need to head to the airport, so they don’t miss their flight. “I’m Chase, Kaycee’s other best friend.” Learning from Seger’s mistake, Chase doesn’t fumble over his words. No, he only emphasizes the word “other” before moving on—the grin taking over Chase’s face triples when Bodhi shakes his hand tight. Chase combusts with stars in his eyes, and I can mentally hear him saying he won't wash his hand for a week.
Is it wrong to want to stab my boyfriends over their weird obsession with my brother? No—okay—perfectly legal.
“Yeah, I’m in my last year,” Bodhi says wistfully. “Close to finishing.”
“Are you hopeful for the draft?” Seger asks, widening his eyes. “That’d be fucking epic, man. Getting into the draft and the NFL.”
“Oh, believe me. Bodhi, the Body Slammer, has a lot of prospects. You should see how he fills the stands with all his adoring fans. I think you boys would fit right in,” Callie says, looking over the campus with a wistful expression.
“Shit, yes!” Chase says with a whoop.
“That’d be so epic,” Seger says, looking at me. “Can we?” He practically begs, intertwining his fingers together in prayer.
“You guys should come,” Bodhi says with a smirk, watching Seger’s reaction. “We play the day after Thanksgiving. I’m only here to pick up Squirt and take her home. After eating on Thursday, I’m back to Milligan to prepare.”
“Shit, that’s unfair,” Chase whines, throwing his hands up. “The one Thanksgiving we’re out of state.”
“We have to go,” Ainsley says, tugging at his sleeve. “Like, now, if we want to make our flight. Grandma will flip her shit if we don’t get there,” she grumbles, pulling him back.
Instinctively, Chase takes a step forward but thinks better of it and shakes his head. By the desperate look in his eye, I see he wants to say goodbye again. But with my brother standing right in front of us, Chase has no chance but to pretend he is the best friend he claimed he was.
“Have a good trip,” I say, waving my free hand.
“Bye, Sunshine!” He shouts, climbing into his car. When he and Ainsley take off out of the parking lot, he gives me one last longing look and speeds off toward the main road, heading to the East Point Bluff Airport.
Bodhi’s jaw tightens as he watches the car disappear onto the highway, and then he narrows his eyes at me.
“I think that little shit likes you,” he says loud enough for the remaining boys to hear. They all stand at attention, looking between one another until Callie’s cackles echo through the lot.
“Something like that,” she wheezes, bending at the waist.
“The hell is so funny?” Bodhi asks, wrinkling his nose.
“Nothing,” I yelp, dislodging myself from his grip. “Let’s go home,” I grunt, pushing his massive body towards his car. “But give me a minute.”
“Aw, does my Squirt need to say goodbye to her besties?” Bodhi goads with a grin.
