Sean glances to me, “Oh, did you want a turn?”
I’m not talking about pool as I smirk, “That’d be nice.”
“Tough.” He aims again, and in four more shots clears the table, leaving only my five stripes and the eight ball. I exchange a glance with Denita, see her laughing eyes watching me. She shakes her head that I am toast. And sure enough, he calls it, “Eight ball, side pocket,” pointing with his stick.
He walks right in front of me and I move to get out of his way, but not too far. I’m behind him now, watching his precision as his muscular body bends forward. Biting my lip I try not to check out his ass, the confident stance of his legs, but it’s impossible not to sneak a lingering peek.
Denita and I lock eyes. She raises her eyebrow. I give her a mischievous smile. As the eight ball disappears, she clears her throat, “Lookin’ good, Sean.”
He straightens up. “Thanks. I used to have a lot of free time. Spent too much of it in bars.”
Scythe strolls in with four glasses, salt, lime, and a bottle of Herradura añejo tequila. An appreciative glance scans the table. “Hell yeah! This is gonna be fun!”
As she accepts the glass from her husband Denita flicks an amused look to me. For a heartbeat I think she’s going to rat me out for the fun of it and tell Sean I was admiring more than just his form, but she lets me off the hook to ask him instead, “Ready to have your ass handed to you on a platter?”
He grins, “Can’t wait,” then glances to me. “You on my team?”
Scythe hands us glasses while I make a face at Sean, “I missed the only shot I took!”
“Yeah, but you did that to throw me off.”
“Oh yeah? What makes you think that?”
“I watched you play with your dad a few nights ago. And with Atlas last week. It’s your thing, get their ego up and then pummel it into the ground. I just didn’t give you that chance.”
Scythe pours tequila for everyone, chuckling in his deep throaty way, “The kid has got your number!”
I mutter, “I wish he’d lose it.”
Sean gives me a wink that makes me bite back a smile as we each lick the back of our hands, shake salt onto them, passing the shaker for the next person to use before we grab lime wedges.
Denita raises her glass. “To family seeing things that you don’t want them to see.” Her gaze lands on me. The guys assume she means Sean learning my bait and switch strategy.
They smile knowingly, even though they’re wrong.
So I add, “To family keeping their mouths shut.”
And we all clink glasses to completely different things.
CHAPTER 22
C ELIA
A ll the Ciphers are out front to greet Sofia Sol and Luke as they ride up the driveway, returning home. I’m standing on the porch between Atlas and Sean, a few days after the confession-about-my-stupid-feelings incident. And I mutter to Atlas, “Be strong.”
He nods as Sage takes off running and flings herself at her very missed brother, arms wrapped around his ribcage as they walk up. Meg hugs him next, all smiles to have her son back. And after her, everyone takes their turn reuniting with both Sofia Sol and Luke, turning from one to the other with huge hugs and loud voices.
God, it’s so great to have them back home.
To see how in love Sofia is with him, is crazy. She’s glowing, all smiles, stealing glances at him which he returns. And he’s got this strong confidence that he grew into since I saw him last. She must bring that out in him.
Every other man she’s ever been with, she’s spit out, picking her teeth with a bored look as she shouted, Next! But Luke somehow got her to turn the coin over from friends…to forever.
The house is up in arms with excitement as their gift is given to them, and lots of jokes and ribbings are passed around. At dinner that night, it’s Atlas and Luke I’m worried about, try as I might not to be. The brothers haven’t spoken yet. Everyone knows it. Jett and the Badger are back to normal, but the Martinez brothers are far from it.
I just want Luke to forgive Atlas so our crew can go back to the way we were.
Sean touches my arm as he passes me to put his empty plate in the dishwasher. His look says he knows how worried I am. It’s a little show of friendship, and I give him a smile for it.
All of a sudden Atlas creates a hiccup in the many conversations, asking over the sound of them and the TV, “Can I talk to you, Luke?”
The answer comes through gritted teeth, “Sure,” as he exchanges a charged look with Sofia. They both stand and she picks up his plate to carry to the sink. Before he disappears outside his admiring gaze follows her, no longer hiding how he feels about my best friend.
Sage is sitting next to me on the couch, and I glance over as she pinches my arm, “They’re so cute.”
“Aren’t you wondering what’s going on out there?”
“Luke’s going to kick Atlas’s ass, that’s what.” She gives this smirk like she wants that to happen.
Well I don’t.
Even if I believe Atlas shouldn’t have snitched I still want forgiveness to bring us all back together. Setting my plate on the coffee table I hurry outside, behaving as casually as I can while I squint into the darkness to see what they’re up to. “You guys want some pie?”
Atlas’s voice drifts on the wind. “We’re not gonna fight, Ceels.”
Tucking my fingers in my back pockets I lie, “Didn’t think you were. Just checking how many we need to cut.”
The screen door clatters and Sean walks up to my side. I glance to him, a silent thank you for
