“Phoenix, stop, please!”
Thankfully, he heard; his shoulders stiffened, and he turned to look at me with a grumpy face, something I was well used to. I held the straps of my backpack and quirked him a look. “Thank you.”
“What’s wrong?” he huffed as I willed my feet to walk and stand in front of him.
“First of all, please slow down,” I said, slightly out of breath. As his eyes locked onto mine, realization spread across his features.
“Oh. Sorry.” He placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “Do you want me to carry your shit?” Nix offered, his expression now bashful. I raised an eyebrow as he misunderstood my reason for calling a time-out.
“It’s not that. I just wanted to say that we don’t need to do this?” I explained, motioned to the beach behind him, where the victory party was in full flow.
Phoenix glanced over his shoulder and dropped his arm before turning away. He exhaled, his nostrils flaring as he stared out at the ocean in the distance. “What do you mean?” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans as I moved to stand beside him.
Nix was attempting to look relaxed, but I wasn’t so easily fooled; his entire body was rigid.
Combing a hand through my hair, I pointed out gently, “I mean, we don’t need to go to the party.” His lips twisted as I added. “We could call a cab and go straight home?”
Phoenix raised an eyebrow and side-eyed me. “You know Ma’s away tonight, right?”
I dropped a hand to my jeans, finding what I was looking for as I replied, “Yes, I know. I have my keys.”
His eyes narrowed as he turned to me with a knowing smile, “Ah, I see.”
My brow scrunched as I planted my hands on my hips. Nix took in the gesture, his eyes glittering with lustful intentions.
“No, not forthosereasons,” I informed him primly with an eye roll.
Phoenix’s lip was curled at one side, and he removed his hands from his jeans, transferring them to my waist. As he pulled me against him, I was forced to grab his forearms for balance.
Looking up at his handsome face, which was lit by the moonlight, I knew he wasn’t himself, even though he attempted to joke. “So, youdon’twant to get into my pants?”
“No.”
He lifted his chin. “That’s not what your little stunt tonight suggested.”
I groaned, save me from men, their penises, and poor timing. “I said no. At least, not right now. You need time to process what you found out tonight.”
“I can do that at the party.”
“I don’t think a party is the place to do that if I’m being honest.”
Nix gave me a thoughtful look as he tucked a chunk of hair behind my ear and then shrugged. “I just need to unwind, baby girl. Deal with that shit tomorrow. Plus, I promised the guys we’d meet them there, and I have some explaining to do after how shit I played.”
“So, you’re going to tell them Mayor Summer’s is your biological father tonight?” I was surprised he was so determined to let the cat out of the bag. He hadn’t even come to terms with it himself yet.
“Yeah. I promised Hudson I wouldn’t keep shit to myself in the future. Do you mind?” Part of medidmind as it felt like I wasn’t enough again. Just like that night we’d come back from his mother’s house, and Micah had shown up. I knew I would have to accept that he was close with his foster brothers and get over myself. They were the Sawyer boys, and no one would ever come between them.
Shaking my head, I lifted my arms and placed them loosely around his neck. “Of course I don’t mind. Whatever you need. I just don’t think you should get wasted. It will only make you feel worse.”
Phoenix leaned down and kissed my forehead. “I know, and I promise I won’t get trashed. Tonight's not about that. I have no intention of ruining what will be our first night together,” He ran his fingertips over my collarbone.
As his eyes darkened and the intensity of his gaze increased, he didn’t need to provide a footnote to his words. A burst of excitement and nervousnessfloodedmy insides as my cheeks heated.
“Unless you don’t want to?” he added, scanning my features.
Releasing a breath, I gave him an incredulous look. Men truly did think with their dicks, even during extraordinary circumstances.
It appeared his earlier plans for both of us were unchanged, even after the news he’d had to swallow that night.
