Page 11 of Beneath the Scars
Ryan stands to hug her before inviting them to sit at our table. “Do you want to join us?”
Addie raises her eyebrows at the asshole.
“Up to you, cupcake.”
My hands clench into fists. What kind of dumbass nickname is cupcake?
“Yeah, we’ll join you. Zane, this is Ryan, my brother, and this is our best friend, Michael. Guys, this is Zane. He’s a good friend from Raleigh. I’m showing him around town before he has to leave tonight.”
“Nice to meet you,” Ryan says.
I just nod, then relax into the booth when Addie sits down next to me, leaving Douche Face to sit next to her brother.
“It’s nice to meet some of Addie’s friends and family. I’ve heard a ton about you guys,” Zane says after he’s seated.
“All good things, I hope.” Ryan chuckles.
“There are only good things to say about you, Ry,” Addie says, her tone full of love.
Ryan asks what they’ve been up to today, and Addie lists off all the best tourist sights—our downtown shops, the park, and the lake.
“What’d you think, Zane?” Ryan asks.
“I loved it. I finally understand why Addie wanted to move back.”
Ryan and Zane get off onto the topic of the lake, but I tune them out to focus my attentionon Addie.
Testing the waters, I press my thigh into her knee. Static arcs across my skin, making me feel like a live wire. I’m pushing my luck. I never touch people this much, but seeing Adalaide with this pompous asshole is making me reckless.
I lift my arm and wrap it around the back of the booth, my hand tucked behind Addie’s head. From there, my fingers burrow into her hair to trace the skin along the back of her neck. I revel in the shiver that takes over her body.
She looks at me, eyes blazing with heat, followed quickly by a glare. I smirk back at her.
No. Addie isn’t a submissive, but I can’t say that I wouldn’t enjoy a little bit of her fight.
I lean over to whisper in her ear. “Did you let that fucker touch you?”
Addie gasps. She tries to get a handle on her emotions, clenching her teeth to hold her feelings in check. “I’m not answering that question.”
“Why?”
“You don’t get to dictate my life and then ghost me for the next two weeks.”
I’d like to argue with her, but she’s right. “Hmm. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“What does that mean?”
I just smirk at her.
It’s officially time to make Adalaide mine.
Chapter 6
Addie
My body is rioting.
I’m not sure I’ve ever been this physically close to Michael. Add in the fact that he hasn’t stopped running his finger down the back of my neck, and I’m officially on edge.
