Nicholas asks, “Who’s Janet?”
“Another resident at the hospital. She’s got my balls in a sling. They love her over there and I want to stay in Atlanta when this is all over. It’s either me or her, so the rumor goes. I’m doing every trick in the playbook to get ahead of her. I’m telling you, the girl is raising the bar!” His eyes flicker to me. “Who’s this? I apologize for interrupting.”
Nicholas grins, “You fucker. You should know better. You don’t break up something like that.”
“Well, I’ve seen you kissing so many girls…” He sees the look on my face and immediately turns bright red. “Oh shit, I’m sorry. Wow, I’m a dick. I’m so sorry.”
Pretending not to care, I shrug, “It’s okay. I know his reputation. I didn’t mean to kiss him. It just happened.”
Nicholas and I exchange a look.
Caden’s eyes crinkle. “Thank God you’re cool, because that could have been disastrous. But hey, if you’re going to kiss a Cocker, be prepared for the tongues of past kisses to wag like fucking crazy.”
Nicholas punches him. “What is wrong with you?”
“Probably shouldn’t talk about tongues right now,” Caden laughs, grabbing his chest. “So, no Lexi?”
“Call Sam.”
“She won’t answer her phone!” To me, Caden explains, “My sisters guard each other better than the Secret Service covers the President.”
Since I’m included in the conversation I have to comment, “You don’t look much alike.”
They both drag amused fingers through their hair on a low chuckle, the family resemblance showing far more in mannerisms than facial features.
With easy-going charm Caden smiles, “The bloodline gets mixed up with our dads. Mine is a towhead, blonde as you can get. Both he and his identical twin.”
“But you don’t have blonde hair.”
“Yeah, I know. Samantha, she’s the only one who got the blonde hair in our family, it’s weird.”
Nicholas smirks, “You’re going to rattle it all off, aren’t you?”
“My mom is a redhead, and two of us got that. Not me. My little brother Hunter is a ginger, and then Lexi is bright red.”
“—Stop.”
“Max and I, we’re the oldest. Just eleven months apart. We got the brown hair passed down from our grandma, just like this guy right here.” He points to Nicholas who is rubbing his face. “But I got the square jaw of my dad. And Nicholas’s dad, Uncle Jeremy, he’s got a longer face, these high cheekbones, olive skin.”
Nicholas shouts, “For the love of God, shut it!”
Caden busts up. “I was wondering how long it would take for you to blow.”
“You’re as bad as my brothers.”
“Well, you used to be more fun.” He makes a dramatic face. “Come back to us!”
Nicholas cocks an eyebrow, “I grew up. You apparently didn’t.”
“I’ll be the doctor who makes your pain vanish with a smile.” He gives us a winning one and shakes my hand. “You’re a good sport. What was your name?”
“Madison.”
“I like it.” He winks then slaps Nicholas on the arm. “I’ll catch ya later. Going to see if I can find someone to kiss, too, before the night is up.”
“What about Lexi?”
“If she ain’t here then I don’t know where else to look. Already went by her apartment. Saw your sister and she had no clue. I thought about grilling the cats, but figured it was a lost cause. But you know what Nicholas?”
“What?”
“When I meet Brad, he’s gonna get this.” He holds up his fist. Waving over his broad shoulder, “Talk to you later, cuz. Bye Madison,” Caden is engulfed by the crowd.
We are alone again.
I bite my lip, eyes darting over to the gorgeous man who just made me cum.
Nicholas says, “Hey.”
A smile pulls my lip free. “Hi.”
CHAPTER 20
N ICHOLAS
I go in for another kiss but her hand bars my way. “Matthew is walking up.”
“You’re kidding. Fucking hell.” I give her an I’m-not-done-with-you look while confessing, “Thought I’d never see you again.”
She blinks as Matt calls out, “There you are! Hey, we’re gonna grab a bite somewhere we can actually hear ourselves talk.”
“You go on without me.”
Matthew cocks his head. “Really? We’ve been here every week, man. Aren’t you getting bored yet?”
“Go on without me, Matt.”
He gives us a wave and heads off. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I glance to Madison and find her wall has shot back up, and I have no idea why. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m so dumb,” she groans as she thrusts her cup at me. “Here, you can have this. Gin makes me do stupid things.”
She walks away.
Was it something Caden said?
Or Matthew?
I catch up and match her pace. “What happened?”
Maddie’s teeth are gritted, eyes steeled. “I’ve seen you hook up with girls at every party I’ve ever been to. The last one was in Billy’s bathroom, remember that? Or did that slip your memory?”
“No, it didn’t. But what has that got to do with anything?”
She shoots a look my way. “You don’t get it, Nicholas.”
“Explain it to me!”
Stopping, she lowers her voice. “You’ve been coming to these parties every week. Matthew just said that. I heard him. So of course I know what happens here for you. You always hook up at these. I’ve seen you disappear with more than one girl a night, many times! I’ve fantasized that girl was me, so yay, that was fun. Let’s leave it at that, okay?” She starts walking so fast her hair floats behind her.
She fantasized about me?
This is news.
“Madison, slow down.”
“I’m good. It was fun, really, just leave me alone, okay? I want to get back to my friend.”
Perplexed I slow down and weigh the options, as she scurries through countless people.
How do I address her valid concern and not be as vulnerable as it will make me sound.
I know I’ve got little time.
My reputation is notorious. How the fuck do I deny that and make her see that’s not what happened with her. It wasn’t
