“What about you, Ash, man; you think Mya’s wife material?”
My throat went dry, my fingers tightening around the bottleneck.
“Yo, Cap,” Grady shouted across the bar, saving me from Jason’s question. “You feel like getting your ass kicked at pool?”
“Like that’ll ever happen.” Jase stood up, arrogance pouring from him. “Rack ‘em up, Grady, and prepare to eat shit.” He sauntered off leaving me with Cameron.
Eyes narrowed right on me, he said, “I’m here.”
“I know.” I lifted my face to his.
“Whenever you’re ready.”
I nodded, feeling the teeth of the truth nipping at my heels.
Time was running out.
But I still wasn’t ready.
“Do you think this is a good idea?” Cam whispered as we trudged around the Giles’ back yard, wading through the bushes lining their house. “Couldn’t we just have knocked?”
“It’s been too long since we pranked Hailee,” Jase slurred. “She needs a little reminder who’s the better sibling.”
“Step-sibling,” I corrected.
“Step, smep. She needs bringing down a peg or two since she got with Chase.”
“I’m standing right here,” Cam protested.
“Yeah, yeah, man. You owe me too. My step-sister. Really, man, you had to go there?”
“How many drinks did you have tonight?” I asked him.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re drunk, and when Felicity sees what you’ve done to her mom’s plants, she’s going to have your balls.”
“Just because Hailee has your balls in her purse, doesn’t mean the rest of us let our women run the show.”
Cam dropped into one of the garden chairs. “I’m just going to sit here and watch you show your woman who’s boss.”
“I’m with him,” I slowly backed up, leaving Jase to try to scale the wall by himself.
“Bunch of pussies,” he murmured, trying to get a foothold in the wooden lattice. “We’ve got to take back our balls, I’m telling you. These girls think they can just swoop in and turn our lives upside down and have us running around after them, I’m a Raider for fuck’s sake. And Raiders never…” he trailed off when he noticed us glaring at him. “What?”
I nudged my head over his shoulder to where the girls were standing looking less than amused.
“Jason Gary Ford, what the hell do you think you’re doing in my mom’s hydrangeas?”
“Babe, I can explain…” Jase dragged a hand through his hair, inching closer to them. “We thought it would be funny.”
“He,” Cam coughed, “he thought it would be funny.”
“Traitorous motherfucker.”
“Please tell me you weren’t going to try to scale the wall?” Flick broke rank and stepped up to him, pressing her hands to his chest forcefully.
Jase shot her a lazy smile. “I wanted to see you.”
“You could have called or knocked. God, you stink. Just how much did you let him drink?” Her eyes went to me.
“Don’t look at me. I’m not his keeper.”
“Or me,” Cam added. “Blame Grady.”
“Grady? Grady who isn’t here right now trampling through my mom’s plants and trying to climb the lattice.”
“Don’t be pissed, babe.” Jason hooked his arm around Felicity’s waist, dragging her closer. “I missed you.” He buried his face into her neck and she shrieked.
“Get off me, you’re drunk.”
“Maybe you should just invite us in?” I suggested, “before he really makes a scene.”
Mya shook her head at me, the faintest of smiles tugging at her lips. Without a word, I rose from the chair and did my best to walk in a straight line to her. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she said, her smile growing. “Just how drunk are you?”
“Not as drunk as him.” I thumbed to where Jason was slowly breaking Flick’s resolve, the two of them kiss-fighting. “But a little more drunk than Cam.”
“Sounds about right,” Hailee said as she brushed past me to go get her guy.
“Miss me?”
“Miss you?” Mya chuckled, smoothing her hands over my shoulders. “It’s only been a few hours since I last saw you.”
“Admit it, you missed me.”
“Ash…” She lowered her eyes, touching her head to mine.
“It’s okay, Mya,” Jase called over. “We’re all slaves to love here.”
“Oh God, stop,” Flick smothered a laugh. “You’re here now. I guess you might as well come inside.”
“Shall we?” I said to Mya. She took one of my hands and turned to go back inside. But I paused, letting my eyes sweep down her body. “Nice pajamas.”
“Behave,” she scolded. “Or I’ll call you a cab.”
Jase snickered but my girl shot him a hard look. “You too, Ford. It might be your girlfriend’s house, but you interrupted girls night and I’m not afraid to send you packing.”
“Warning received, loud and clear.”
“You really showed her, Jase,” I teased.
“Fuck off,” he mouthed as we all headed inside. It was late and both me and Cam had tried to talk Jason out of coming here to sabotage the girls’ night. But I wasn’t about to let him go off alone. Besides, the chance to spend more time with Mya was just too good to refuse.
The girls ushered us into the living room, practically shoving us onto the couch. “Now,” Felicity started, “What to do with the three of you.”
“You can do whatever you’d like, babe,” Jason smirked, letting his hand run down to his crotch.
“Dude, we’re right here,” I reminded him.
“Maybe you should fuck off then.”
“What about a game of truth or dare?” Hailee suggested. “Jason goes first since he’s the mastermind behind all of this.”
“Truth or dare is for pussies,” he grunted, his hungry eyes fixed on Flick like a predator stalking its prey.
“We’ll make it worth your while.” Mya stepped between Hailee and Felicity, throwing her arm around their shoulders. I sat up a little straighter, frowning.
“Oh yeah, Hernandez,” Jason said. “And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”
“I dare you to kiss Asher—”
“What the fuck?” We both shrieked. “No way!”
“Kiss Asher,” my girl stood her ground, “and I’ll kiss Felicity.”
Holy shit.
My jaw almost hit the floor as Flick nodded. “Ooh, good one. What do you think?”
“Babe, I’m not some pre-pubescent guy who gets off watching two girls…” His words trailed off as Felicity dragged a finger down Mya’s neck, toying with the neckline of her pajama tank.
“You were saying?” She had Jase’s full attention now. He narrowed his eyes, nostrils flared.
“For real, you want to do this?” His hard gaze found me around Cameron. “You want to see me kiss Asher?”