His head snapped back down. I felt the tension between us lighten a bit, letting my heart slow and my lungs take a breath.
“What would you do for a Thaddeus Westbrook original?” I saw my Thaddeus again in his smirk, and I nearly cried because I honestly loved him like family. “Sex?” His browraised a fraction.
The awkwardness melted away. My friend was back with a goofy suggestive wiggle of his brows. I didn’t waste a minute letting him know that I needed “us” back—the playful banter that defined ourfriendship.
Twisting my lips, like I was actually giving it consideration, I narrowed my eyes then shook my head. “Blowjob.”
“Hmm…” he scratched his chin. “Deep throat?”
“Lollipop.”
“Swallow?”
“Hand-job finish.”
“On your tits?”
“On Jerry Chu’s face… oh, wait… he’s not gay.”
His wide eyes danced with humor, and I bit back my smile, then we both erupted into laughter. And once again… all was right in the world.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
THE NAKED TRUTH
All wasnotright in the world again. Just before I was scheduled to leave for home, Penny messaged me that her dad died. Fate didn’t seem to work for everyone, because Rupert’s mother fell and broke her hip and he needed to be at the hospital while she had surgery since his dad wasn’t well enough to be there. Penny’s mother died several years earlier, and she had no siblings. Penny was a bad-ass, independent woman, and when a bad-ass, independent woman breaks down on the phone and begs her favorite neighbor to come to San Antonio, there was only one thing to do—go to San Antonio.
Lake:Change of plans. Penny’s dad died. Rupert can’t be with her so I’m changing my ticket and going to San Antonio.
Cage didn’t answer until I landed in San Antonio.
Cage:Give her my condolences. I miss you so damn much!
Lake:I will. Miss U 2! I have so much to tell you, but I don’t want to do it over the phone. How’s Shayna? Everson never answers my texts. How’s Trzy?
Cage:Judy left early after an incident, so Banks had to beg your nanny guy to come back to work before he was ready. So guess who’s staying with me until nanny guy is no longer contagious?
Lake:Football guy, please tell me you know that ‘nannyguy’ has a name and it’s Jamie.
Cage:I miss you.
My heart constricted. God… I missed him too.
Lake:Call me when you’re home and you’ve put the kids to bed.
Cage:Kids?
Lake:Trzy and Everson
Cage:How’s my baby? I need some good news.
My constricted heart ripped a little because all was not right in the world. I got my period that morning, but I sort of knew because I took a pregnancy test after the photoshoot and it came up negative. However, I thought it was probably too early to really detect it.
He needed good news. I had none to give.
Lake:I’m good. Don’t forget to love me.
Oh the growing lump in my throat—the only thing growing in my body. My phone rang. It was him. He knew. Of course he knew. He knew my words. He knew me.
