Page 141 of Composed
“Pretty sure you used to like me all up in your space, Rixie Moore.”
“That’s rather presumptuous of you, Rock Star.”
“If you say so.” Cole’s voice is low, barely more than a whisper as he drags his eyes over me.
My fucking fanny flutters. Shallow thing she is.
I slant my gaze and slam my notebook. “Are you here to finally do some work?”
“Afraid not.” He shakes his head, smirking. “I’m just here to inform you that your presence is requested at family dinner tonight.”
“Family dinner?”
“Uh-uh. Every week do a come dine with me style thing, don’t ask." He shrugs at my quizzing stare. “Theo came up with it years ago, and it stuck. I'm hosting tonight.”
I arch a brow. “Can you even cook?”
“Absolutely not. But I order a mean take-away.”
“Hmm, well that sounds positively lovely. But no can do.”
He tilts his head. “Why?”
Besides the fact I’m not in the family anymore?
“I’m driving home tonight.”
His lips turn down, eyes training past my shoulder when he strolls into the room.
“To pick up Riley,” I rush out, not liking the frown on his face. “She's been having car troubles so it's in the garage. Plus she doesn’t really like driving anyway. And I need to get some strings for my guitar, maybe some more clothes. Probably need to talk to Tal—”
He tugs a strand of my hair. “You just had to say Riley.”
Searing heat coasts my cheeks.
He lifts Axel's legs and slides onto the couch beneath them. “You want company on the drive?”
I shake my head. “You have your dinner thing.”
“They’ll live without me for one week.” He drapes his arm over the back, his fingers grazing my shoulder.
I shiver. “I can’t ask you to cancel your plans for me.”
“You’re not asking, I’m offering.” He squeezes my neck.
My instinct is to tell him no, to force him to remain with his people.
It’s the same conversation we had a hundred times over when we were together. The argument that played on a constant loop in the last year of our relationship.
I bite my tongue until I taste blood.
“And I’m not taking no for an answer.” He grins. “I missed you today, Rixie.”
My lips twitch. “It’s only been a few hours since you’ve seen me, dude.”
“Twelve and a half, but who’s counting.” He winks and I turn to fucking goo.
“Okay,” I say. “You can come with me, if you want.”
