A sigh escapes me. “Oh, Bob Grace. Couldn’t catch a hint with a baseball mitt.”
I start to write out a reply, thinkin’ of how I can let him down easy, but before my thumbs can even start movin’, the phone gets plucked from my grasp.
“Hey!”
Alder looks down at the phone with a frown over his gorgeous lavender face, a tic in his chiseled jaw.
“Bob fucking Grace, again?” Flint grumbles.
“Yep,” Alder replies. And much to my shock, Alder’s arm winds back, and then he chucks my phone clear across the driveway, where it lands with a wet plop in some kinda bog at the bottom of the slope.
I turn wide outraged eyes on him. “What the hell was that?”
Alder looks likehe’seven surprised he just did that. Flint snickers.
“Sorry. It just slipped,” Alder tells me.
I give him an incredulous look. “Youslipon a puddle, you do notsliptossin’ my phone clear across the yard!”
Alder straightens his shirt and settles me with a look. “Did youwantto talk to Bob Grace?”
“Well, no, but—”
“Did youwantto go out with him?” he challenges, and somethin’ flashes in his eyes that tells me he’s very invested in my answer.
I roll my eyes. “No, but—”
“Then forget about Bob Grace,” he interrupts. “We’ll buy you a new phone, and until then, you can use mine to call your parents and do whatever else you need to.”
“Except for textin’ Bob Grace,” I say dryly.
Alder’s lip twitches. “Yes, except for that.”
I should be livid, but I find myself wantin’ to share a smirk with him, because that was a hell of a jealousy reveal. I just can’t help but love it when a man feels possessive.
“I’m gonna hog your phone and scroll through Instagram for hours,” I threaten. “And I’m callin’ Mama and Daddy whenever I want.”
The grin he’s tryin’ to suppress breaks through, and damn if that smile doesn’t make me melt. “I think that’s fair.”
“And when you replace my phone, I want an upgrade.”
“She ain’t gonna go easy on ya,” Flint says cheerfully.
“I expect nothing less,” Alder replies.
“Good,” I say with a nod. “Now let’s go meet these Guardians.”
We walk across the driveway together, me feelin’ oddly cheerful for a girl whose phone just got ruined.
The three of us make our way up the steps to the front door of the estate, and then Alder raps his knuckles against the wood. I blow out a breath and try to mentally prepare myself as I smooth down my T-shirt.
“You nervous?” Flint asks.
“A little.”
He surprises me by leanin’ in and pressin’ a kiss against my hair. “Don’t be.”
I give a single nod, thankful that these two are by my side. I have no idea what to expect or if the Guardians we came to see are even here, but I’m glad Flint and Alder are with me every step of the way.
