“I mean, I’ve never felt like this before. I feel like we could be something real, but what if I’m the one who doesn’t think we should get serious?” I took a big sip of my drink. “I was offered a job to be the Executive Director of a non-profit in Wilmington.”
“What?” Olivia hissed, leaning closer. “I didn’t even know you were considering moving!”
“I wasn’t,” I answered honestly. “But I can’t keep arguing with Dr. Dumbass. The offer was well below what I’m making, but I’d be closer to home and have complete control of a state-of-the-art shelter.”
“I thoughtthiswas your home,” Addison said, staring into her drink like it was a bottomless abyss.
“Addie, I don’t want her to move either, but we will always support each other,” Annaleigh said, reaching out to take my hand. “And if you’re considering this offer, you’re right not to get serious with Mark, but to play Devil’s Advocate, have you talked to Dr. Duvall?”
“Or rode that dick?” Addison added. “He shouldn’t be the reason you stay, but he could be a big green check in the plus column.”
Our table erupted in giggles, earning us looks from the rest of the place, mainly three burly men sitting at the bar.
“If I’ve learned anything about relationships,” Annaleigh said, reaching out to put her hand on mine, “It’s that you have to talk about stuff. Don’t make the wrong decision based on a lack of communication.”
“Anna’s right. Agree to have fun. Agree to be more. We’ll be here for whatever you decide. Just don’t make a snap judgment because things are tough today, and don’t leave out any of the dirty details,” Olivia said, lifting her glass to clink against ours.
I noticed she hadn’t touched her drink, even though I was taking the last sips of mine. I stole another glance at the guys before shrinking down low in my seat.
“I feel like a horny teenager. Like someone slipped chick Viagra or some sort of aphrodisiac in my morning coffee. And, oh my god, did I tell you his mother freaking trims bonsai plants and topiary bushes to look like dicks and butts?”
“That’s a woman after my own heart and a sign if I’ve ever seen one. What’s the chance his mother is as obsessed with plants as you are. Plus, the horny teenager thing. That’s what the good D’ will do to you. Make sure you take full advantage while y’all are under the same roof,” Annaleigh said, giving me a wink.
“And make sure to hydrate,” Olivia said.
“And stretch beforehand,” Addison said, leaning her chair back as the guys stood up with another round of drinks. “Mark looks like he has some bulk.” She stretched her arms wide, then wider, with a big grin on her face.
“Yeah, right…” I hissed, hunching down and leaning toward the middle of the table since the guys had just stood up. “Hey Mark, stand by with your dick out while I get a Gatorade and touch my toes. I don’t think so.”
“Someone say my name,” Mark asked, passing another round to Olivia and me before taking a swallow of beer. I cringed, thinking he heard me, but his smile said he didn’t, thank goodness.
“Thank you, we sure did,” Olivia said, pulling her drink closer without another word.
I noticed Edward covertly putting Olivia’s drinks in front of him and passing her a soda. She caught my eye and gave me a wink before leaning down to take a sip. Before I could give it a second thought, Mark sat down, spreading his legs wide, so one rested against mine.
“Good to know,” Mark said with a smile, resting one large palm on my thigh.
“Mmm, thanks, Broody,” Annaleigh said, taking a sip of her neat bourbon and leaning closer to Max.
“So, Mark,” Addison started. “Tell us about you so we can give you the third degree.”
“Not a problem. Addison, right? You drive the cherry red 2018 Ford Mustang GT Convertible, don’t you? How many parking tickets have you gotten in the past twelve months?”
“What?” Addison sputtered, setting her drink on the table with a clatter that made the liquid slosh over the sides. “That has nothing to do with anything.”
The color rose on her cheeks and down her chest, making her look like she had been out in the sun for hours and did a piss-poor job applying sunscreen. Mark squeezed my knee, and one corner of his mouth turned up a millimeter.
Oh my god, he was messing with her.
“I think it does, ma’am,” Mark said, removing his hand and putting both his elbows on the table to lean closer to Addison. His lips were set in a firm line, and he cracked each knuckle, looking intimidating as hell.
I glanced at Olivia and winked at her, and she did the same to Edward, who turned to Annaleigh. It was hard to keep a straight face seeing Addie so worked up. Everyone at the table was grinning except her and Mark. He had a stone-cold poker face, and her cheeks were turning as red as her hair.
“Don’t you ma’am me, Mister Man, sitting over there acting like it’s not an obvious violation of police power to check my driving record? Who do you think you are?”
Mark leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, then released one and set it back lightly on my thigh. “Just your average, humble cop that decided to turn the tables.”
He glanced at me, then gave my thigh another caress, tracing his fingers back and forth, moving them higher with each pass. His touch was feather-light, and instead of being ticklish, each movement sent a jolt of need straight to my core.
