“So you can fuck me?” I tease.
He doesn’t laugh. He sets a hand to the center of my chest, where I’m sure he can feel how rapidly my heart is beating. “I’m going to make it so good for you, North. So fucking good.”
My swallow gets stuck in my throat, and all I can do is nod. He kisses me for that too, then eases back.
Our hands find each other, and we both turn, only to freeze at the sight of a man standing in the opening of the wall. Every good feeling drains out of me as I meet Easton’s furious eyes.
“Well. If it isn’t my favorite pair of fucking liars.” His voice is shaking with barely restrained rage. “You both have a lot of explaining to do.”
TWENTY-TWO
LEO
It takesme a moment after the buzzing in my ears subsides to realize the feeling I have in my chest is anger. And shock, of course, from seeing Easton standing in the hole in my wall.
But I don’t know why he’s staring at us like we betrayed him. Unless…
“Are you in love with North?” I blurt without thinking.
Easton blinks like he’s been slapped, his gaze moving frantically from North to me, then back to North, who’s still holding my waist. He has a sudden coughing fit as Easton’s mouth opens and closes without making a sound.
“Oh god,” I gasp, “you are. You?—”
“No!” Easton roars, then takes a step back and shakes his head. His chest expands with a heavy breath. “No. I don’t like guys, Leo. You know this.”
“I thought I did,” I snap. “Now I’m not so sure.” I started to suspect after his weird thing with Rune, but if that’s a cover because he’s in love with North, well, things are about to get really fucking complicated.
Slapping a hand over his face, Easton drags it down, muffling his groan, and then he turns his glare on North. “I wantto know what the fuck you think you’re doing with my brother. He’s delicate! He’s not some plaything that?—”
“Whoa,” North starts, holding up his hands. “YouknowI’m not that kind of person.”
Easton’s eyes narrow. “I thought so, but now I’m not sure what kind of person you are.”
North looks like he’s going to be sick and my anger goes volatile. “Uh, excuse me.” My voice is strong and steady when I cut him off. It’s probably the anger. And the offense because I’m not fucking delicate. “I’m standing right here, and I’m not a goddamn child.”
Easton goes quiet as his eyes fix on me. “I didn’t say that.”
“No, but I know what you mean, and that’s so unfair.” And now I’m shaking. Great. That is not helping my cause. I clench my hand into a fist, hoping Easton can’t see it. “I’m allowed to fuck people, and I don’t have to check in with you about it.”
Easton’s cheeks go red. “My best friend though? You’re allowed to just fuck my best friend, and I don’t get a say?”
“Why would you have a say?” North demands.
“Because you’re—” He gestures at North. “And he’s—” His hands wave up and down my body.
I lift a brow. “What does that mean?”
“It means this is fucking bullshit! You two lied about hating each other so you could do whatever behind my back, and you sat there lying to my face, telling me you’d never date again! I was killing myself trying to make you feel like you were worthy of being loved, and you were probably laughing behind my back while I made a fool of myself!”
I bite back a laugh. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. And for the record, this”—I wave my hand between North and myself—“was never about you, you arrogant jackass.”
Easton stares, then takes a step back. “You know what? Fuck you both.” Before either of us can respond, he turns and stormsback out. A moment of silence later, I hear his truck door slam, and the tires squeal on the pavement as he pulls onto the street and drives away.
“Shit.” Panic hits me now. I feel it in my chest, trying to steal my breath. “Why am I not allowed to just be happy? Why is it that the moment I feel good, the universe kicks me in the ass?”
With a small sigh, North pulls me closer to him, and I go easily. My brother’s words hurt. I don’t really understand why he’s so mad about this. Does he really think I’m such a shitty choice that he can’t imagine North would choose me?
Or that I’m so pathetic I couldn’t find someone to love all on my own?
