Noticing Billy on the way back, I moved out into the aisle before he could get there.
“We can make a beer run after we get the steaks.” He glanced over his shoulder. “And I’ll get patties and dogs for you losers.”
Kevin and he traded barbs as I followed them out. Emily wouldn’t make eye contact, so I left all my open questions for another time.
By the time we arrived at the house, August’s company was there. Three girls lounged on the sofa around the guys. Cooper and Finn weren’t anywhere in sight.
“It’s a party,” Billy announced, holding up a six pack of beer.
A girl Shepard called Lacey got up and sauntered over with the look of someone very familiar with Billy.
“Grill out back?” Billy asked, playing keep away with the beer from the short girl reaching her hand up for it.
August glared at me, and I glared right back. No way he thought he could have people over and I couldn’t. “I’ll get the grill started,” he said.
Everyone headed outside. I had the food and started hunting down pans to put the cooked food in. I also planned to season the meat so it wouldn’t be tasteless. When I turned around, I noticed Shepard. He’d hung back as everyone made for the back door.
“Finley.”
Those damn blue eyes of his pleaded with me. I would eventually forgive him for the pity kiss, but right now, it was too fresh.
“There’s nothing else to say.” I turned my back to search for spices.
“Is that why you didn’t return my text messages?”
My phone had buzzed nonstop, and I’d ignored it. When I faced him again for a second, he looked like he wanted to say something. What didn’t I know?
“So he’s who you want?” he asked.
What was that supposed to mean? It wasn’t like he offered himself. I wisely held that comment in. Maybe he thought he’d give me a peace offering by not interfering like he and August always did.
“My choice, right?” I said noncommittally.
Lacey came inside with grabby hands reaching out for him. “Come on, party’s outside.”
He allowed himself to be taken away while my nails bit into my palms. Come on, Finley. He’s not the last guy on earth. Then my mind started playing tricks on me. Had I given him a chance and listened, would he have told me he liked me? I quickly shook that notion off. Every girl I’d seen him be with was short and curvy. I was neither.
As I slit open the package of steaks with a butcher knife, I cut my finger.
“Damnit,” I muttered just before Billy came into view.
“Everything okay, beautiful?”
He moved into my personal space, took my hand, and pulled it toward his mouth.
I yanked my hand back. “No, that’s gross.”
His grin was too adorable; I smiled as his turned wicked.
“I wouldn’t mind swapping bodily fluids with you.”
His wink only solidified that he was trouble. His little comment suggested he wanted more than I was ready to give.
“I’m not hooking up with you,” I warned and dodged a grab he made for me.
There was no point in letting him believe otherwise.
“Maybe you’ll change your mind . . .”
“And maybe you’re wasting your time?”
He pointed at me. “God, I like you.”
His silly grin made me laugh. I couldn’t help it, and I needed someone to help me get over Shepard.
10
shepard
How had this happened? Billy was holding court in our backyard with his arm slung around Finley, and she looked fucking ecstatic. Even Finn smiled at whatever the guy was saying.
A hand waved in front of my face. I blinked and focused on August.
“What the hell, man? Lacey’s over there ripe for the picking.”
I cut a glance at the three girls giggling and pretending not to look our way.
“Not interested,” I said.
August’s neck got stiff at the same time his eyes bugged out.
“What’s not to be interested in? She’s hot . . . got tits out to here.” He held cupped hands several inches out from his chest. “And an ass . . . It’d be a damn shame not to have that.”
“Besides the fact that Billy tapped that—”
His face scrunched up. “How do you know?”
“Didn’t you see the looks they traded when he walked in? I’ll bet my life he’s hit it. And even if he hasn’t, she’s too clingy.”
I went on to explain how she always seemed to be around after that first kiss she snuck in, to following me earlier.
“Oh.”
“Exactly. I get a bad vibe from her.”
“That sucks for you,” he joked.
“And Emily’s here.”
That news ate away the grin he’d flashed me. “Yeah, so?”
He was trying to act indifferent, but I knew otherwise. My gaze traveled back to where Finley and Emily stood with the intruders. Regret like bile rose in my throat. All the things I should have said when I’d had the opportunity and didn’t. I should have told her I wanted her.
August’s focus had landed the same place mine had. “I can’t believe that guy.”
I wasn’t sure who he was talking about, Billy or the guy sticking like glue to Emily.
“Yeah, so what are we going to do about it?”
He slugged my arm. Since his punch had come from less than a foot away, I rubbed at the stinging pain. “You’re the one that warned me not to do anything if I wanted to stay on the team.”
“Yeah well . . .” Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the girls August had invited over heading our way. “I’m going to find Cooper.”
It was an excuse as good as any in that moment.
I disappeared into the house and realized too late that I was trailing after Finley and Billy. They stopped at the island, and her head fell back. Her hair ran like liquid gold down her back, and my eyes found the curve of her neck. What would it be like to kiss that spot? Would she be sensitive there?
“Shepard.”
My name out of Lacey’s mouth was like sandpaper in my ear.
Too bad, she’d caught
