Page 67 of Playing for Keeps (Checkmate 4)

We sit on the end of my bed with our hands cuffed between us, holding hands, twined fingers, and though Andi’s shake, it’s not from nerves or panic. It’s from laughter, because she doesn’t give a damn that people are in our home with intentions to humiliate us.

“Rook?”

“Bedroom.” I drop my head and sigh. “This is gonna suck.”

The door slams open like we’re in a slasher film – I can almost imagine the Jason mask, chainsaw, and blood splatters on a white shirt – until Benny leads the pack and steps in with feral rage simmering in his eyes. “What the fuck is going on in here? What did you do to her?”

“Benny! Don’t swear.” Lindsi slides in front of Oz and around Benny, and steps into the room with lips that form a straight line. I know she’s biting down her smile as her eyes scan my room. “Everybody okay in here?”

“Actually, we just need Oz, so if you and Benny could just–”

“I wanna see. Move outta the way. Benny, move. I wanna see!” Tink – five feet tall and married to one of the fighters from the Rollin gym – slams her fist into the teen’s kidney and forces him aside.

Stopping beside Lindsi, she plops her hands on her hips and smirks. “Well, well, well, don’t you two look lovely and cozy? I love a good kink story, and I’m dying to know why Oz called the house and told everyone to come over, so....” She waves a hand. “I have to pick my boys up soon, so spill.”

“Oz!” My body says jump up and rush forward until my fists meet his face. But my leg reminds me I can’t do shit. “I would appreciate it if you could all leave. This is my bedroom. My home. My privacy! Don’t make me call the chief.”

Tink rolls her eyes. “You think the chief scares me, little Rookie? I’ve been mouthing off to the cops since before you grew out of diapers.”

That’s not at all true, considering she’s only a few years older than me, but she doesn’t care about facts as she steps closer, leans into our space, and tries to figure out what we’re hiding. She doesn’t notice the cuffs because of the position of our hands. She stands on her toes and looks over my shoulder, pulls back and studies my legs.

Surprisingly, that doesn’t bother me as much as it would have even yesterday. Having Andi hold my hand changes things. Her acceptance helps me accept it. Her promises make me braver.

If she can be okay with it, and I can be okay with it, then I guess it doesn’t matter a damn what everyone else thinks.

“Seriously, though. I’ve gotta get my boys from the gym soon, so can we get to the fun parts? You know I hate missing out.”

“Hello?” Megan Montgomery’s voice echoes through my house just a second after the front door opens. Then a second set of boots follow her in. “Where is everyone? What’s so exciting?”

“Oz… I’m gonna kill you.”

“What?” He throws his hands up. Lindsi stands against his chest with her arms wrapped around his hips and her head bouncing as he laughs. “I was coming here, just as you asked. Lindsi wanted to come, because Andi is her cousin and she was concerned. Sasquatch was talking to Mac in the car, who was at the gym, so he told Tink. Marc called me because he wanted to talk furniture. I didn’t do this on purpose! I’m doing you a favor, Rook. Appreciate me!”

“He.” Tink coughs. “Called.”Cough. “Me.”Cough, cough. “Said to move fast and bring whoever else wanted to see.”

“Franks!”

“Oh, brownies!”

“No!” Andi shoots up off the bed and reveals the cuffs before she realizes her actions. Everyone in the room stares at my dangling hand, at the silver glint of the cuffs, and then at my face as I drop it into my hand.

“What the fuck?” Ben snaps. “What kinda kinky panky sex club bullshit is this?”

Meg’s smiling face pops up at the door, then she pushes through and stops at the front of the crowd with her baby in one arm, and a brownie – minus one bite – in the other. “What’s going on in here? We got here as fast as we could.”

Andi dives forward and snatches the brownie away. Crushing it in her hand, crumbs fall to the floor and leave me shaking my head. Andi’s eyes shoot around the room and skip over Oz as his brow lifts.

“Well… first, I’d like to make a non-official, off-the-record, no-police-involvement statement, and declare those brownies are not suitable for a breastfeeding mother.”

“You have pot brownies, Andi?” Then it hits him, and Oz’s eyes come to me. “You eating pot brownies, Rook? What the fuck is going on in your house? Mr. My-Body-Is-A-Temple; this is your second offense!”

“Both times were her fault!” I stand, much slower than Dee, and pull my crutches under my arms. Not only doesn’t anyone jump forward with the sympathy I hate and offer to help, but they watch me with wide eyes and a little excitement like I’m a brand-new guy. Andi watches me with a twinkle in her eyes, almost the same twinkle I see three seconds before we fuck. My ability to stand and not be a grumpy fuck about it turns her on.

Interesting…

“Both times were her fault, Oz;herpot supply,herbaking,herinitiative. I’m just the bystander always being roped into stupid shit.”

“This is your house, Rook. Your kitchen, your hand cuffed to hers. We don’t let all the idiots off when they’re breaking the law just because they said it was their buddy who started it. You helped stir the batter, didn’t you?”

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