“Drop. It,” Holmes says in a stern tone and then looks at me. “You can’t fucking tell Penny. I don’t want Blakely finding out. It’s nothing, okay?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep that one close to me. But seriously, you like her?”
He lifts from the chair. “This is exactly why I stick to my books.”
“Sit down,” Taters groans. “Stop being a diva and just talk to us about it.”
“I’m good.” He stuffs his hands in his pockets and maneuvers around the bonfire. “See you in the morning.”
Once he’s out of earshot, Taters leans forward. “Now that was some interesting shit. Halsey Holmes has a crush on an already-taken girl. I might just stay tuned in to see that unfold.”
I don’t think he’s the only one.
* * *
“You smell like campfire,”Penny mumbles as she curls into me the moment I slip into bed.
I spent the past five minutes tiptoeing around the bathroom, getting ready for bed, not wanting to wake Penny, but it seems like I woke her anyway.
“Want me to take a shower?”
She shakes her head against my bare chest. “No, I like it.” Her hand falls to my stomach as she presses a kiss to my pec. “Have fun with the guys?”
“Just talked.” I swallow down the knowledge about Blakely, even though it’s slowly eating away at me. Halsey likes Blakely. I couldn’t be more shocked. Not just because the guy hasn’t expressed interest in anything but hockey and books, but because Blakely would be the LAST girl I’d consider for him. She’s loud and opinionated and very outgoing where he is very quiet, doesn’t like to talk much, and would prefer to be a hermit for the rest of his life.
“What did you talk about?”
“Just stupid shit,” I answer. “Well, and you, of course.”
“I figured as much. You tell them we’re moving in together?”
“Yes, but they were confused and pointed out that we already lived together.”
“It’s different,” she mumbles.
I stroke her hair, letting the silky strands fall through my fingers. “That’s what I told them, but they were still confused. They were pissed I didn’t tell them about the sex of the baby.”
“I don’t want to say anything until Winnie and Pacey are okay.”
“I know, babe.” I kiss the top of her head. “Did you talk with Winnie tonight?”
“Yes.” She sits up on her elbow so she can look me in the eyes. And under the light of the moon, in this dark room, I can’t help being in awe at how goddamn beautiful she is. Not an ounce of makeup on her face because she doesn’t need it, and her hair falls over her cheek, like a picture frame, molding her into a work of art. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?” I ask.
“All dreamy-like.”
I smile. “Because you’re beautiful, and I was just thinking about how beautiful you are. And that’s not a line. It’s the truth.”
“You can’t say things like that,” she says, her hand sliding down my stomach.
“Why not?”
“Because it makes me want to do things to you, and I’m trying to tell you about Pacey and Winnie.”
Her hand reaches the waistband of my briefs, and instead of stopping her, I place my hands behind my head and say, “I won’t take it back because it’s real. True. The image of you, fresh from bed, looking gorgeous as hell, it’s ingrained, and I’m one fucking lucky guy to be privileged to sleep in the same bed as you.”
“Ugh, Eli,” she groans as she straddles my lap now. “You’re turning me on.”
