“As much as it pains me to admit it, I’ll probably have to thank the asshole for the interruption.”
“Why’s that?” I tease.
“Because if he hadn’t…” He bends, his mouth at my ear. “I was seconds away from taking you right there.”
Ba-bum. Ba-bum.
Ba-bum. Ba-bum.
Breathe, Mels.
I blink, sucking in air like I’m drowning, stunned into silence.
Ba-bum. Ba-bum.
“I can’t wait until tomorrow night.” He pulls back to usher me to the door.
“Why?” I’m operating down a few brain cells.
“Because”—he drapes the jersey back over my shoulder—“I finally get to see what you look like wearing my name like you’re supposed to.”
Ba-bum. Ba-bum.
“Good night, baby.” He slaps my butt and leaves me standing next to the town car he arranged to take me home.
How do I process the last five minutes of my life?
Need a magic eight ball?
My subconscious has jokes, abandoning me when I need help figuring this mess out.
There is one thing that’s clear.
I never stood a chance against Jase Donnelly.
Chapter Twelve
From the Group Message Thread of The Coven
QUEEN OF SMUT: OMG!!! Let me tell you guys, our boy Jase has some good taste.
QUEEN OF SMUT: Well, I mean…I guess we already knew that from him dating Rock for a few years…but whoa baby.
ALPHABET SOUP: *GIF of Shirley Temple saying, “OMG thanks!”*
ALPHABET SOUP: But what did my bestie do to deserve the praise?
ALPHABET SOUP: You know what, hold on.
DAUNTLESS SUPERMAN: Oooo. Who knew dating a Covenette would get me invited into the CCs more than being related to two of you.
YOU KNOW YOU WANNA: Behave or we’ll kick your ass right back out, Vin.
DAUNTLESS SUPERMAN: Ruthless, Beck. 100% ruthless.
SANTA’S COOKIE SUPPLIER: Don’t worry, I’ll keep him in line.
THE OG PITA: You guys are kinky late at night.
ALPHABET SOUP: Gross, Beth *puking emoji* I don’t need to be hearing about that.
PROTEIN PRINCESS: *GIF of guy pointing up saying, “THIS.”*
MAKES BOYS CRY: Since when did we turn into such prudes?
ALPHABET SOUP: Don’t start, Skye, or we’ll start asking you about Tuck’s latest attempt at talking you back into bed.
MAKES BOYS CRY: *GIF of Lucille Ball sticking her tongue out*
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: Geez, can we EVER stay on topic? *squirrel emoji* *Dory fish emoji*
DAUNTLESS SUPERMAN: So why am I here?
SANTA’S COOKIE SUPPLIER: I think they want you to give up the details you know about Melody.
MAKES BOYS CRY: Wait? Melody? Wasn’t that the name of the girl who turned our boy down all those weeks ago?
PROTEIN PRINCESS: Wait…hold on…we’ll get back to that in a minute, but how come you know about this, Holly, and the rest of us don’t?
DAUNTLESS SUPERMAN: She sleeps with me. She gets ALL the INSIDE information *winky face emoji*
YOU KNOW YOU WANNA: Don’t be gross, Vin.
THE OG PITA: Dude, your sister might be preggers, but I doubt that would stop her from coming down the hall and kicking your ass.
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: Guys, Jake here…I know you love to jump from topic to topic, but can you please get on with it already? I would really like to take advantage of my wife, and your little Coven Conversation is getting in the way of that. So, CAN you talk about the chick who was at Jase’s apartment tonight before one of the twins wakes up and cockblocks me. Please and thank you.
DAUNTLESS SUPERMAN: I second this. I’m having a sudden craving for sweets.
ALPHABET SOUP: OMG! This is the LAST time I invite you into one of these. Also, side note, Jor, you might be down a twin after I get through with him for withholding information.
MAKES BOYS CRY: So Melody was at Jase’s tonight? Pretty girl, pink hair?
MAKES BOYS CRY: And…hold on…how do you three know about it?
QUEEN OF SMUT: I kind of accidentally crashed their date tonight.
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: And of course she video-chatted me right away.
THE OG PITA: Tell us everything.
Chapter Thirteen
During the season, my life is boring—at least as boring as the crazies in my life allow it to be.
Whether it’s a game day or not, each day has a routine to follow.
Silencing my alarm, I roll from my bed, running a hand over my rumpled hair, and bring an ear to each shoulder, cracking my neck and shaking off the cobwebs of sleep.
The happy haze I’ve been in since my date with Melody follows me through the morning portion of my routine.
When I round the corner into the kitchen to grab whatever pre-made meal Gemma left for breakfast, I’m surprised to find Maddey awake, typing away on her MacBook Pro.
“Hey, Madz.”
The coffee pot is half full, telling me she’s been up for a while.
“Hey, Trip,” she says around a yawn.
“Wasn’t sure if I’d see you before I left or not.”
Leaning against the counter across from her, I blow on my piping hot coffee and take a sip. Ah, that’s the stuff. Thank you, Lyle.
“It wasn’t the original plan, but after a highly entertaining Coven Conversation last night, I had a few characters who wouldn’t shut up until I wrote some of their words.”
I don’t even bat an eye at the mention of the voices in her head, but there is nothing scarier than the phrase Coven Conversation. After the events of last night, there is only one thing—or in this case, person—who could have been the topic of conversation: me.
“I take it you and my other half didn’t waste any time filling in the girls?”
She takes a sip of her own coffee before saying, “To be fair, I was the one to bring it up.”
“Shit.”
My mug hits the counter with a slam, and I wince at the loss of one of my favorites. Cracked porcelain is the least of my worries, though.
“Yup.” Maddey pops the P all too proudly. “Rocky isn’t all that happy with you for withholding vital information.”
I so didn’t need my suspicions confirmed.