I clear my throat and take a step away from Trey. “Hey, guys.”
Chet and Carson are sitting in the Adirondack chairs, beers in hand, talking to Cody as he grills. They practically look like twins in their matching Wrangler jeans and brown DHR-branded pearl snap shirts. But Carson’s long, dirty blond hair stands out from Chet’s short-cut black hair. No one says a word.
What the fuck?Talk about awkward. It’s not like they can tell from watching us for fifteen seconds that we’re sleeping together. I’m just paranoid.
After that night in Arizona, the rest of the trip was a whirlwind of photoshoots, hiking, and sex.A lotof sex. Then we came home and it got worse—or maybe not worse. Can you call it worse if it’s the best sex you’ve ever had? I swear Trey knows where every single one of my buttons are and when to push them. I’m ripping the man’s clothes off every chance I get. But they don’t know that.
They can’t know that. Right?
The life-changing orgasms and the fact that we have somehow fallen into the bad habit of sleeping in the same bed every night does not help my teeny tiny crush I have on him. Trey is a cuddler; I am not. Yet every night I find myself falling asleep in his arms and sleeping better than I ever have.
“Hi.” Chet says it more like a question.
“Hey, kids. Anyone need a beer? We also now have hard cider in cans,” Cody offers before turning back to the grill. His salt and pepper hair stays mostly hidden under his straw cowboy hat.
“Rein is the official bartender at family dinner now. Cody taught her the difference between the cans, so please, be specific if you’d like a Coors, Michelob Ultra, or cider.” Kacey shrugs like this is completely normal behavior for a dog. Cody taught Reinto fetch beers out of the fridge last year, and it has since evolved into fetching all sorts of things, including but not limited to hoof picks, hand towels, and boots. One at a time, of course.
“Wow, she can read labels now?” I turn to Trey. “She’s officially smarter than you.”
“Ha. Very funny, but can she drive, too? I bet she’d be a better driver than you.”
“But did you die?”
“Honestly, I’m shocked you’re still alive. Driving or no,” Carson chimes in.
“Rude. Both of you. What’s for dinner?” I change the subject before Trey can tell the story of my impressive dune buggy adventures.
Cody gives us a run down on the menu, but I don’t get to hear him finish before Kacey grabs me by the elbow and pulls me inside the house. “We’ll check on the potatoes. Be right back!” The door slams shut behind us.
“Talk. Now,” she demands.
No fucking way.“I don’t kno—”
“Do not bother finishing that sentence. I am not an idiot. How long have you been sleeping together?”
I think my eyes just bugged out of my head. “How on earth do you know that? Do you read minds now?” I practically shout before remembering the guys are right outside. Knowing Trey, he’s straining to hear us. The freaking gossip.
“Yes, you got me. I’m a mind reader,” she drawls sarcastically. “Now spill it. Where and when? You can skip the ‘why,’ that part’s obvious.”
I narrow my eyes. “They burned women like you at the stake just a few hundred years ago.” She gives me a closed lip smile but doesn’t relent. “Okay, fine. Yes, we’re sleeping together, but it’s totally casual and over as soon as he leaves. No biggie.”
She scoffs. “No biggie?No biggie?” She throws her arms out, and honestly, I feel like she’s being a touch dramatic. “You two have been hot for each other for a year, and you’re creepily alike with your silent arguments and ability to turn any situation into chaos.”
“Hey. We are not chaos.”
She raises her brows.
“Okay, he’s chaos. But I’m fine.”
“Sure.Anyway, how long has this been going on?”
I pull out a barstool and plop down while she checks the potatoes in the oven. “Not long. It started in Arizona. But it’stemporary—we even made rules because we’re mature adults.”
She throws her head back laughing so loud I’m sure the guys can hear her. “Mature adults and whatever you two are cannot be the same thing. Let me guess: You wrote the rules on the fridge?”
My mouth falls open. “Witch!” I shout.
“Knox told me,” she rolls her eyes. “He took a picture of your Roommate Rules. So, now what? You have some kinky sex rules?”
