Page 51 of Renegade Rift
I may have left all the past what ifs at Tyler’s grave, but it’s the what ifs of the future that keep me up at night. Not that I’m about to tell my teammates any of this. I’ll look like the asshole lusting after my stepbrother’s widow. I may not have any love lost for the guy, but there is still a code.
Right?
Espinoza nudges my shoulder and smirks. “Then you won’t mind giving me her number.”
“And why the hell would I do that?” My jaw ticks, knowing damn well he’s setting me up—testing my reaction.
“So I can ask her to dinner. It would stand to reason she likes baseball players. And I seem to remember her having an incredible set of?—”
“If you finish that sentence, it won’t matter how many balls you stick under your tongue because you won’t be able to see Bishop’s glove behind the plate.”
And still I walked right into it.
Espinoza arches a brow, digging in. “He seems a bit testy don’t you think, Smitty.”
“I’ve only seen one other person as protective as he is.”
Their gazes slide to where Bishop and Willow have just come through security.
Fuck.
“Juliet and I are just friends.” I reiterate, hating the way the words taste. “But she’s off limits to you assholes. She’s just getting her life together. The last thing she needs is any of us fucking that up for her.”
“And how do you know we’d fuck it up?”
It’s Smitty who asks, but I pin them both with a glare. “Because I’ve seen how you treat the women you take home. When you can wake up next to someone and not sneak out before the sun is up, then maybe I’d consider you good enough for Juliet.”
Smitty shrugs nonchalantly. “It helps to have goals.”
There’s no trace of humor on my face. “Leave. Her. Alone.”
Espinoza turns to the cashier who no doubt has been listening to our conversation, unimpressed. “What’s that one called?”
She looks over her shoulder at the crystal he’s pointing at. “Carnelian.”
“And what’s it for?”
The woman rolls her eyes, clearly done with our bullshit, and picks up the tag. “It says courage.”
Might as well say Juliet.
My teammate thrusts his card out without even thinking twice. “I’ll take it.”
It’s my turn to shake my head.
Espinoza picks up my hand and forces the orange rock between my fingers. “There you go, Penguino. You didn’t let my tradition die, I can’t let yours either.”
“But I found her. I don’t need them anymore.” That was always the plan. “And I’m not a penguin.”
“You may not waddle or eat fish, but you collect rocks for a woman. That makes you our penguin.” He pats the outside of my hand. “May one day she accept your gift.”
“She’s practically my sister-in-law,” I say, slipping the crystal in my pocket. “How many times do I have to tell you? It’s not like that.”
He winks. “Until you stop believing it.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
JULIET: That was painful. You guys make it to the airport?
