Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
I frown, but quickly add a smile when he straightens. “Hey.” I look to Crew.
He knows I’m staring; he can see me from the corner of his eye, but he doesn’t glance my way. Julius walks in next, with Xavier on his tail.
They both come to me for a hug, snag chairs from the table beside us and wedge themselves in at the end.
“Parking here is a bitch. We’re all the way down by the coffee shop.”
“Yeah, I left mine in the two-hour slots by the candy shop.” Crew reclaims his water from Layla, his arm making its way around the back of my chair once more.
Willie’s eyes zone in immediately, and his grin is as wicked as they come as his gaze finds mine. He wiggles his brows, and I play along, wiggling mine right back.
His laughter follows, capturing the attention of the others, so I ditch my straw, quickly burying my smile in my glass.
“What’s so funny?” Crew scowls.
“Nothing, man. Dude back there dropped a plate of something. Poor fucker.” Willie licks his lips, winking at his wife as she knowingly shakes her head.
Crew cuts his head my way, but I just keep taking small sips.
“Heard I missed the fun at the slides yesterday.” Mischief blankets Julius’s features as his gaze roams over me. “Heard you had double braids. Woulda loved to see that, Davis the Virgin… or did Jess, the not female, help you out with—oh shit!” His chair topples over, sending him tumbling to the ground with a crash.
All eyes fly to our table and a waiter rushes over to see if he’s okay, but Julius jumps up with a grin.
“I’m good, all’s good over here. Nothing but a case of blue-ball denial. Please, go back to enjoying your meals.” He bows.
Of course he bows, then Julius quickly jolts toward Crew, knocking the bill of his backward hat and my hand darts out, catching it before it hits the floor.
“Fucker.” Julius laughs, taking his seat once more. “Your woman knows I was teasing, ain’t that right, gorgeous?”
“You’re too much for me, brother number three.”
His mouth drops open in mock hurt. “I’m reduced to bro three? I mean, I know Willie is first class, but X is before me?”
I laugh. “Hey, X is—” I squeal as my chair is yanked, the handle of mine now pressed completely against Crew’s.
His arm never leaves the back seat, but his fingers begin skating along the curve of my shoulder. His eyes hit mine, narrowing. “X is … what?”
“Um.” I can feel my blush rising and think of something different to say. “X … doesn’t flirt every five seconds.”
“In the spirit of being transparent”—X raises his hand—“I would if I weren’t worried about keeping my balls attached.”
“Shut up, asshole.” Willie gives his brother a little push. “You’re obsessed with Neo’s sister, and we all know it.”
“All of us but Neo,” Layla adds with a saucy smirk.
“No…” I look at him, smiling. “Really, you and Nova?”
Xavier frowns and jumps up. “I’m going to the bathroom.”
The table laughs at his expense, and a moment later, everyone grows quiet, silently skimming the menu, but while I do the same, I can’t tell you what’s on it. The quiet has allowed my mind to catch up, to process the situation.
If Crew were mad about my being with his friends yesterday, why would he invite them here today?
He wouldn’t, would he?
Crew turns to me then, and I meet his stare.
“Know what you want?” His tone is deep, raspy, and coated in something unfamiliar. Unease?
Crew uneasy? Impossible…
I nod, because I do, but what I want isn’t on the menu. He took it off himself, swapping for the role of chef in this scenario. Crew will create the menu, and I’ll be forced to choose between flank and skirt steak when what I want is the filet mignon.
When what I want is him.
Keen, dark eyes implore mine, and when I feel his palm span wide against my arm, mine bends upward. The moment my fingers brush his, his chest rises with a full breath, and he closes his hand over mine, linking ours together.
He gives a little squeeze and I shift, slowly easing his hat back onto his head. Backward, and pushed down a tad, just the way I like it.
He tips his head toward me, so I lean in, giving him my ear.
“I wanted to rip their arms off when they hugged you. Know why?”
I shake my head, peeking at Layla under my lashes when she shifts in her seat, but she’s looking at the water behind her.
“They touched you.”
That’s it. That’s all he says, and I have sooo many questions, but Crew pulls back. Not to look at me, to face his friends, none of whom are paying us any attention.
“We ready to order?” The waiter smiles.