Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“What the hell, why you ganking my money?” Talon bitches like a baby.
“It’s only your money if you win,” Ford throws back.
“I’m about to crush, Major.”
Bullshit, I think, keeping a blank face.
“Consider it paying your debt since you cost me twenty bucks. You couldn’t at least wait until Ace moved out before going after his room? Selfish ass.”
“It’s not selfish. That room should have been mine all along. Ace cheated to win it.”
I can’t stop my lips from twitching at the memory. He’s right, Ace cheated like a motherfucker to win the suite. It wasn’t for the massive space—that didn’t matter to him. It was for the private entrance. He may have taken his sweet ass time going after her, but all his decisions centered on Harley.
The private entrance allowed her a level of comfort to come and go as she wanted.
When we left the Marines and joined the Metro Nashville Police Department, it was pure luck Ford’s parents had a place for us to move into immediately. I’d met the Whitmans through the years and knew they were successful real estate developers, but did not know the scale of neighborhoods they developed.
The spacious layout of the house allows privacy. There’s only one reason Ace’s suite would appeal to me. And I seem hell-bent on denying myself that reason. “I’m not interested in Ace’s room, either.”
“Why not? That shit is fucking awesome,” Talon counters.
“That’s the reason—all the fucking. Not sure I can look around and not think of what they have done in there.”
There’s a pitchy squeak right before Harley buries her face into Ace’s chest, her shoulders vibrating. He pulls her tight, his own grin wide.
I stare hard at my best friend. Six months ago, I could count the number of times I’d seen him smile a genuine smile. It was rare.
We went through a lot, and he was an intense motherfucker. Now he flashes that shit without regard. Especially when she’s like she is now.
In his arms, draped over him with no space between their bodies.
A dull ache pounds in my chest, thinking about the devastatingly gorgeous blonde who wedged her way into my heart.
“Jesus, M, did you have to ruin it for me?” Talon appears a little pale at my statement.
“Come on, you didn’t think of it? That fucking rug?”
Harley loses it, howling as she stutters, “Th-that’s n-noooot why we booo-”
She doesn’t finish the sentence because Ace side-eyes her and she goes back into a fit.
“Rug goes with them, walls washed, and the whole room disinfected,” Talon tries, although less enthusiastic.
“Still not interested.” I arrange my cards unnecessarily, trying to psyche him out.
He mutters under his breath, studying his hand.
Harley calms down, rearranging herself on Ace’s lap and watching the TV.
Curiosity gets the best of me, and even though I know the answer, I ask anyway. “Jay, how was yesterday?”
Her eyes fly to me, wide in surprise. “It went well.”
“Have fun?”
“Raven, Presley, Reese, Charlie, and all the other girls showed, and it was a big party.”
Since their engagement, they have swarmed Harley with parties to celebrate. Jewls’ request from the other day plagues my brain. I’ve cursed myself for days for not finding out more about what she had planned. Ace would have lost his mind if she’d succeeded, but that’s not the reason I denied her.
It was because the jealous asshole doesn’t want Jewls gaining any attention.
The hurt on her face fills my head.
Fuck, you’re a total dick.
Showing at her place the next morning, only to be met with radio silence and a nosy old lady, wasn’t exactly my best idea.
“Jewls doing okay after that situation on Thursday?” I try to sound basic, even conversational, but the heat from their stares burns into my skin.
“Um, yeah, she’s doing well,” Harley answers uncomfortably.
“Fuck.” Ace’s back goes ramrod straight, and he’s twisting, searching for something. “Where’s the controller?”
“Oh my God!” Harley jumps to her feet, arm extended to the television before joining in his search.
My head snaps to the screen. The hockey game is in a delay, and that stupid kiss cam pops on the screen. The next few seconds happen in slow motion as a preppy-looking man bends over to his date, cupping her chin and kissing her softly.
Ice runs through my veins and my vision goes red. Before I can stop myself, I’m on my feet, the cards scattered on the table as a growl rumbles up my throat.
The silky blonde hair, the surprise in her bright green eyes, the pouty lips that are covered by another man.
“What the motherfucking fuck is happening!?!”
Talon glances at me and falls back on the ground, roaring. Ford leans over, taking a peek at Talon’s cards, and casually announces, “Major whipped your ass with that hand.”
The card game is all but forgotten as the green beast of envy simmers low in my gut. “That fucker is assaulting her!”