Page 37 of All Tied Down

She drops onto the couch next to me, curling her legs under her before tucking herself against my side. Colt chokes on the sip he’d just taken and Roan’s lips pull up on one side.

“I’m fine,” I tell her, resting my hand on her thigh as the light floral scent of whatever was in the bath wafts around us. “They’re trying to be helpful.”

“Hmm.” Her fingertips trace along the black ink running up my forearm. “I like your helping a lot better.”

This time Colt doesn’t hold back his amusement, barking out a laugh as Emerson lifts one shoulder and lets it drop.

“We’re too late.” Colt snorts as Roan sighs and shakes his head.

“This is why I don’t have friends,” Emerson mumbles, a smile ghosting over her lips.

“But we’re so fun,” Roan deadpans, and even though they drive me crazy, I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

And just because the universe seems to have a sense of humor, my phone vibrates with a text and I frown.

DARREN: Dude come out—this bar is sick—maybe we can even find you a girl to make you less fucking uptight

DARREN: Seriously dude, no one believes you bagged the bitch from Andrews international

DARREN: Be just like old times

How did I ever like this guy?

Also I’m shocked he’s sober enough to even spell Andrews International. Emerson snorts as she reads the message and snuggles in closer. “Let me know when I can deck him.”

“Darren?” Roan asks and I sigh, both of us leaning in so he can take my phone.

“He’s such an asshole,” Colt bites out. “You need to get rid of him.”

“I know.” My head falls against the back of the couch as I look up at the ceiling. “It’s complicated.”

“I’ll handle the complicated part,” Roan tells me. “You just say the word.”

“What do I say to him?” I ask and Roan shakes his head.

“To shit like this? Nothing.”

“He just wants what you have,” Emerson says, her fingertips brushing my hair off my forehead as I turn to look at her. “He’s trying to rile you up and it’s working. You’re upset and you’ll continue to be every time his name pops up.”

“He was with me at the beginning.”

“My cousin has been with me practically since birth,”—her voice is sad—“but the best thing for her was to leave Chicago and the business. It was hard, and admittedly, I’ve become a little less buttoned up.”

“Like when you married me,” I tease and she gives me a wolfish grin.

“Exactly like that.” Pausing, she adds, “But he’s escalating and you need to be careful.”

“We have security and Roan and⁠—”

“I mean with your heart, Garrett. You’re sweet under all that rock star grit.”

“And you’re not sweet?”

“I’m selective.” Her dark eyes are serious as they lock on mine, those chocolate pools sucking me in like they always do. “I’ve been burned too many times to crave long-term relationships. Most of the connections I make are surface level.”

It takes every ounce of self-control I possess to keep my expression neutral. Is that how she thinks of me? A surface-level connection?

Even worse is the fact I can feel Roan’s and Colt’s eyes on me, because this right here is what they were talking about.