“Austin.” My voice is rough, low. I’m not sure he hears me until he responds.
“Colt, man. Was about to ask Em if she wants to dance.”
I narrow my gaze at him before flicking my gaze over my shoulder at her. “Em?”
“Mmm?” She tears her eyes away from Austin to smile at me. There’s something in their looks. A hidden meaning. It’s almost as if they’re communicating silently with each other, but that’s dumb. She only does that with me. I’m the only one who reads her face and thoughts like that.
I swallow the lump in my throat not liking the way her eyes focus on him. Dollar signs are flashing in my eyes. She will ruin this bet for me. Maybe I’m the one about to have a panic attack, not her.
“Do you want to dance?” I ask her.
She smiles and bites her lip, lowering her head in embarrassment. “I’d love to.” She steps out from behind me and stretches her hand forward to Austin’s waiting one.
“Great.” I grab her wrist and tug her around in front of me, giving Austin a shit-eating grin as I pull her away from him.
The message is clear. Back off.
But he has a message of his own. It’s in his eyes as he glares at me. The way his jaw tightens when my arm wraps around Em’s back, pulling her to my body.
Back off.
If I had any doubt before, I was positive now. Rome told Austin about the bet, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get in Em’s pants so I have to pay up.
Over my dead body.
I pull Emerson away, but not before she apologizes to Austin and tells him to call her.
Digging my fingers into her hips, I push her toward the center of the living room to dance.
I fucking hate dancing, but if it means getting her away from that prick, I’m all for it.
I pull her to me, one arm wrapping around her back, sliding up into the ends of her hair, I tug, arching her neck until she has no choice but to look at me. “What are you doing?”
“Dancing.” She grinds her hips into mine.
“Not with me. With him.” I lift my chin in the direction Austin is standing, watching us.
“We were talking. He’s sweet.”
“Sweet?” I scoff.
“Yes. He’s sweet.”
“Because he wants to get in here.” I flick the waistband of her jeans.
“Not everything is about sex, Colt.” She sways her hips, rubbing against me on purpose.
“Like you’d know.” I tilt her head to the side and whisper in her ear.
Austin is watching my every move, and I dare him with my eyes to step in and claim her or something, but he doesn’t.
“You’re right, I don’t but I’m willing to find out, and I bet Austin will happily teach me.”
I growl, digging my fingers into her hips. “Like fuck, he will.”
“At least he wants to kiss me,” she says.
“What?” My blood runs cold and images of me parting her thighs as I kiss her creamy skin flood my brain.
“Told me so himself. He can’t wait to take me on a date and kiss me.”
Clearing my throat, I smirk. “I wish him luck. Did you ask if he has insurance? Wouldn’t want to pay the medical bills for a broken nose.”
Em punches me in the chest. “Jerk.”
I chuckle and pull at my collar. Is it getting hot? “Do you want a drink? Want to go outside?” I ask. The room is stifling, and I need to get off the dance floor.
“No. But I’d like to go home.” She twirls out of my grip and bends down to pick up the ball I dropped earlier.
“Thank fuck for that. I’ve had all I can take of this party.” I slip my hand into Em’s and lead her toward the door. She throws a wave over her shoulder at Austin, and brings her free hand up to her ear, her thumb and pinky finger sticking out and the other fingers curled into her palm in the shape of a phone. She mimes ‘call me’ and Austin winks.
It’s official. I’m never winking at a chick again.
Only douchebags wink.
We drive home in silence.
“You really going to date Austin?” I ask Em once we get home.
She kicks off her shoes and shrugs. “I might. He’s nice. I like him.”
“You spoke to him for five minutes. You don’t know if he’s nice.” I pull my shirt over my head and throw it at her.
She tugs her top off and pulls mine on. It almost touches her knees, but she yanks on the ends and ensures it covers her legs as much as possible before she slides her jeans down and kicks them into the corner.
Nine years and she still sleeps in my shirts. Not my cleans. No. She’ll only sleep in the shirt I’ve been wearing that day.
Pulling back the covers on the bed, she slides underneath, and I take the four steps to the kitchen. I fill two glasses of water, knowing she’ll need one through the night, and place one on her nightstand, then move to my side of the bed and deposit my glass on my side table.
Climbing in beside her, I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her to me. Her back presses against my chest and she sighs, content.
She used to clutch herself to me and cry herself to sleep most nights when we lived next door to each other. She hasn’t cried in the longest time. She finally gave up on the dream of having parents who cared, who showed any affection. She’s happier now, but it doesn’t come without cost.
The trust for instance. The panic attacks.
Could be worse. She could become the girl that throws herself at men looking for a scrap of affection. I frown and tighten my hold on her. Is that what she’s doing with Austin? Looking for some affection? Affection I can’t give her.
“Don’t date Austin,” I whisper in her ear.
She takes a deep breath and sighs before rolling in my arms to face me.
“We’re hanging out. You don’t have to worry.” Her smile is reassuring as she cups my cheek. “I’m not risking two thousand dollars.”
Her words do little to placate me, but what more can I do? I want her to be happy. I want her to find someone she trusts enough she can let them love her. If anyone deserves love, it’s Em.
But Austin? Why him?
I press my lips to her forehead, and she lowers her head to rest on my chest.
“Colt?” she says after a few minutes.
I’m almost asleep. “Mmm.”
“Kiss me?”
It’s my turn to sigh. “No.”
10
Emerson
I’m woken by the apartment door opening and closing. Stretching my body, I groan and peel my eyes open, shielding them from the sun seeping in through the crack in the curtains.
The bitter smell of coffee fills my nostrils and I moan as Colt waves a steaming cup in front of my face.
I push myself up to a sitting position and accept the coffee. “How was your run?”
Colt shrugs. “Good. Fed some ducks. Played some laser tag. Oh, and I took an old lady out for coffee. She gave me her number.”
Anyone else would find the fact he seemed to do everything but run puzzling, but I’m used it. He runs every day, but he’s so easily distracted, it’s not unusual for him to come home with stories of all the different things he got up to. I’m surprised he’s stayed in school and kept his grades up, because he misses so many classes. But he’s one of those people who have a natural ability to succeed. He’s smart without trying.