Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Ugh. Make yourself at home.”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
Cam scooted over for his brother to join him.
“Should we leave you guys alone? I’m sensing some unresolved sexual tension here,” Sawyer teased.
“You’re supposed to be the nice one of our friends,” I told him. Sawyer was sweet and owned a bookstore. He wasn’t supposed to bust my balls.
“Eh. He’s the one who decided we couldn’t have sex anymore. He has no one to blame except himself,” Rush replied, and now it wasn’t Cam I wanted to punch, but him…only I didn’t want to hit Rush either. His face was too pretty, and it would likely break my hand.
“Can we all stop talking about my sex life, please?” I asked.
“Who are you, and what did you do with Linc?” Cam joked.
He had a point. “You’re right. The things my ass can do…”
Everyone laughed except Rush, who rolled his eyes, and I didn’t even have to look at the jerk to know it. Still, I had to admit, it felt good to have him sit by me, to have him tease me. I missed this dynamic between us. I knew it was no one’s fault but my own that things had been strained since September. I didn’t want to think about why that was, but it just wasn’t like Rush not to be chill about everything. Nothing shook him up. He let life roll off his shoulders, never freaked out, never got too angry. He took life as it came to him. It was something I tried to do, something I did a whole lot better than I used to, but it just wasn’t the same as it was for Rush. He was so confident and easygoing, and none of it was an act.
The waiter came by to ask if Rush and Sawyer wanted anything. They both said no. Apparently, they’d been walking down Fever Street and saw us inside, so they decided to stop by. It was sort of weird, though…the two of them hanging out by themselves. Not that they never did. We were all friends, but I didn’t remember many times Rush and Sawyer just spent time together walking around town.
And…now I was being the creepy, jealous friend again.
“What are you guys up to?” I asked.
“Sawyer took me out to ice cream to celebrate my win last weekend. It’s the only treat I’m allowing myself right now. Gotta stay in shape.”
“Pfft. Like that’s a problem for you.”
Rush looked at me and quirked an eyebrow. “Well, look at that. You just admitted you think I’m hot.”
“No shit, Rush. Everyone thinks you’re hot.” Like that meant anything. I wasn’t blind.
“I don’t think he’s hot,” Cam said.
“Oh, fuck you.” Rush flipped him off.
“I mean, you’re okay, I guess,” Cam tossed back at him.
“Yeah, not really my type either,” Sawyer added. “I can appreciate your looks, but I wouldn’t say hot.”
“I’m feeling very attacked right now.” Rush crossed his arms and pretended to pout.
“You guys fucking suck. I know what you’re doing. You have eyes. You know Rush is hot. Hell, Sawyer probably had sex with him today, but you’re trying to rattle me. You don’t realize you’re dealing with a professional here. I won’t be rattled!” But I was a little rattled, damn it.
Sawyer groaned. “I didn’t have sex with Rush!”
“Can we stop talking about my brother having sex?” Cam asked.
“Cough, jealous, cough!” Rush added.
“I’m not jealous!” I turned to look at him. “And it doesn’t work if you say the word cough. You’re supposed to fake-cough.”
“The way you’re fake-not-jealous?” Rush asked, and they all laughed.
“I hate you all.” I fake-pouted, but then my phone rang. “Oh, it’s Beau. Someone who’s nice to me.”
“That’s because Beau’s perfect,” Rush said under his breath just as I answered the phone.
“Huh?” I said to Rush instead of hello to Beau.
“I didn’t say anything yet,” Beau replied.
“Not you. I’m talking to Rush.” What in the hell had that Beau’s perfect been about? “We’re with Cam and Sawyer,” I told him.
“I’ll call you back later,” Beau said.
“It’s fine. I can talk.” I turned away from the others as I listened to Beau.
“I was just calling to see what you’re up to, so it’s not important. We’ll catch up later. Tell everyone I said hi.” I did, and then we hung up.
Just then Cam began to stand, and Sawyer slid out of the seat beside him. “I’m gonna head out. I have to run over and look at some plumbing at Sawyer’s.”
“If you guys weren’t brothers, I’d have a joke for that.” I mean, it wasn’t like I could have stopped that joke from coming out. It was too good.
“Ew,” Sawyer said, and Rush chuckled.
We said our goodbyes. Dinner was on me, and Cam would get it next time.
When they were gone, Rush moved to the seat across from me and crossed his arms. “What’s your problem?”