How the hell was I supposed to get her to believe me through text? None of my sentences felt strong enough to convey how much Renhadn’tbeen on my mind. Nothing written could convey an honest denial as well as my tone. But calling wasn’t an option. She’d probably put me on speaker for Rose to hear. They were probably cuddling on the couch or whatever a three-year, live-in couple did.
“Your sister’s about to be engaged to your ex?” David asked.
I waved him away, not wanting to field a question. “You’re done, David. Go away while I try to fix this.”
I texted,
Sorry, it was a joke. Someone I know wanted to prank me. I did not send that text.
Ren
You expect me to believe that?
Oh, fuck her. I groaned and shoved my phone face down on the table.
“Are you cool with it?” David asked.
“Am I cool with you leaving?” I rubbed my hand over my face. “More than cool. Enthused. Obsessed with the idea. Nothing would satisfy me more than you getting out of my face.”
“No, the engagement.”
I frowned. “I don’t care about any engagement. I care about the fact that the girl I date fortwomonths, maybe three max, thinks I’m still obsessed with her.”
I’d worked years to convince them both that I didn’t care about their whirlwind romance that happened on the one family vacation I couldn’t go on because I’d been heartbroken and battling the flu. The flu had been more painful than the heartbreak but my family couldn’t be convinced otherwise as they coddled me through the early days of Ren and Rose’s romance.
David blinked, quiet for a second before saying, “A simple yes would have sufficed.”
I’d challenge him to a goddamn fight so fast if I weren’t in a skirt, a few inches shorter than him, and no longer lifted weights regularly. I’d challenge him so hard that I’d make it an event, sell tickets, and order t-shirts. Every vs. Evans. It’d be the match of the century.
David reached toward me. He grabbed my phone before I knew what he was doing.
“Are you kidding me?” I tugged at his elbow when he turned his back to me.
“I got it. Trust me, I got it.”
“Nothing you say or do is going to help me at this point.” I kept grabbing for my phone. David held it just out of reach. I strained closer, my body pressed against his in a way that lit up a dormant part of my brain.
Our bodies fit well together.It was a thought that sent my skin ablaze because what did that mean? Yes, maybe my head could rest perfectly on his shoulder, and he’d be able to rest his chin easily on top of my head. But what did that matter when he also ruined my mood every other time we locked gazes?
“Yara,” David protested with a laugh when I flicked his neck to intimidate him. How dare he have fun while my stomach continued to do backflips. “Relax. You’re going to make me drop your phone.”
“You wouldn’t be close to dropping it, if you hadn’t picked it up.” I continued reaching.
In one swift, confident movement, David grabbed my wrists, locking me in his firm grip. To keep me more easily in place, he pinned our entwined hands at his waist. My breath got stuck in my chest. His gaze remained on my phone, utterly oblivious to my internal war of emotions and a burning desire between my legs as he typed with one hand.
“Oh…umm…” Nathaniel was back, eyes wide at the sight of David and me so close and entangled.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said.
“No worries, what’s going on?” David remained unfazed. He didn’t move an inch away from me or look up from my phone.
“I just needed to grab this.” Nathaniel offered us an apologetic smile and picked up a spray bottle of water before quickly departing.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said once Nathaniel was out of earshot.
“Ssh.” David’s deep tone stilled me. I swallowed and attempted to remind myself of my overwhelming hatred of him. Unfortunately, lies were hard to pull off when you were chest to chest with someone, which made it nearly impossible for you to breathe without wanting them to notice.
“I got this,” David promised again.
