“It’s okay,” he said. “Really.”
“It’s notokay. Sometimes our group is a little cliquey. We need to work on it.”
I loved all of my friends, but I knew Madi had mentioned it a couple times to June and Dallas as we all adjusted to the new group dynamics. When you were friends with people your entire life, sometimes it was easy to forget that not everyone knew everything.
“I mean it’s like one giant family,” he chuckled. “I get it. I envy it, honestly. That’s one reason why I used to fight Austin all the time.”
I nodded. I could understand that, especially since that must have been frustrating when they were kids.
“Consider yourself adopted,” I whispered.
“Yeah?” He gave me a cheeky smile. “You’ll keep me around, then?”
“Always.”
My thoughts were spinning too fast. It was too soon to sayI love you. I wanted to so badly, though. I felt it in my chest, this warmth blooming, consuming me like a ray of sunlight. I was still learning who he was, but I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it now.
“I’m falling for you,” he whispered.
Tears blurred my vision. “I’m falling for you too.”
“Thank god. I don’t think I’m cut out for unrequited love. I’ve been there, done that.”
I started laughing as he swooped in, backing me up slowly to the bed. My room was a mess, especially after all the rolling around we’d done.
“Nick,” I hissed. “We can’t go again. We just showered?”
“Why not?”
“Oh my—god!”
I squealed as he lifted me, putting me over his shoulder before throwing me into the center of the bed. I started laughing as he threw himself on top of me like a flying squirrel, pinning me down beneath him.
“You’re nuts,” I giggled.
“I am. About you.”
“Oh my god, and you’re cheesy, too.”
“Nuts and cheesy.” He shoved my T-shirt up.
“Nick. What about dessert?”
“You are dessert, baby. Spread those legs for me.”
Well, fuck. I’d thought we were done, but after hearing him say it likethat, I immediately kicked my panties off and spread my legs for him.
“Good girl.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Austin
I sat in my truck, staring at my mother’s front door.
It was a front door I’d walked through a million times in my life. The house we all grew up in, with all the memories of some of the best times.
And some of the worst.
