“Hey, beautiful.”
“Dance with me?” I ask, a little out of breath.
He doesn’t use words to answer, just grabs one of my hands in his. He extends my arms over my head, spinning me in a circle, then jumps around with all of us, singing the lyrics.
The feeling inside my chest threatens to explode, and everyone is going to see exactly how I feel about this man who is unabashedly dancing his heart out just to make me smile.
The song morphs into something slower and more sensual. His fingertips graze down the inside of my arms that are still extended over my head.
They continue their perusal, landing on my hips. His grip is gentle as he pulls me into him, so nearly every part of us is touching.
I rest my hands on his shoulders, sliding my fingers through his hair. I lose track of the song and the people moving around us. He and I are the only ones that exist in this moment.
Being this obvious with Wyatt is probably a horrible idea, but I’m sure everyone here tonight has already seen through the façade of our friendship, to some degree.
“Are you having a good birthday?” he asks against my ear.
“The best.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Kane
Coletaps his hand against the bar. “Need another one?” I ask, inclining my head to his empty beer bottle.
“Sure.”
I grab one from the cooler, popping the cap before sliding it into his open hand.
“Thanks,” he says, taking a swig. “Grab your guys.” He looks at the far end of the bar where Wyatt and Linc are.
We’ve been taking turns behind the bar so we can all spend time with Abby. We’re all back here right now, though.
I’ve crossed paths with Cole a few times because of the boys, and at Thanksgiving, so I know he’s a good guy. I also know he means a great deal to Abby, so whatever he has to say, we need to hear him out.
Wariness washes through me, but I do as he asks. Grabbing both of them by their shirts, I drag them back to where Cole is still leaning against the bar.
“The fuck?” Linc groans, batting my hand away. Wyatt just laughs like an idiot. They both seem to sense why I brought them here.
Their features grow more serious, seemingly in the same heartbeat. Maybe it’s another one of those weird twin things thatstill freak me out, even after being friends with them for damn near my entire life.
Cole takes another drink of his beer. “Don’t hurt her,” he says, looking at each of us. He doesn’t need to clarify who he’s talking about.
“We’re just friends,” Wyatt says. He’s trying to keep his face blank, but even I see the slight flinch he made at the last word.
Yeah,frienddoesn’t even begin to describe what Abby is to all of us.
Cole chuckles dryly, wrapping both his hands around the longneck.
“Yeah… I’m not an idiot.” His face softens. “I also know my best friend, and I’ve never seen her in—” He cuts himself off, not allowing the rest of the words past his lips.
Linc and I lock eyes. I’m pretty sure I know what Cole was about to say, but there’s no way. Right?Right?
“I’m the last person to judge any relationship and what it looks like from the outside. Just being friends might be the lie you’re all telling yourselves, but I don’t know how much any of you believe it,” Cole says.
I pull in a breath because he hit the bullseye, and it sets off an ache in my chest.
“Just don’t hurt her. Okay? She means too much to me to see her get her heart broken.” There’s a glossiness in his eyes that he blinks away. He clears his throat a few times. “I’ll kick each and every one of your asses if you do.”
