I should change my clothes. Instead, I walk into the living room where they’re all sprawled out on the sectional in front of a coffee table full of drinks. I grab a bottle of beer and twist my hand into the sharp edges of the metal cap until it nearly cuts my skin.
“You’re all fucking dead to me,” I say before taking a long swig.
“I didn’t do shit,” Gage defends with a chuckle. His feet are crossed and propped up on the coffee table, and his hands are folded behind his head as he leans back on the couch.
Blythe pops the bottle of champagne, sending the cork flying toward the ceiling. “Me neither. Oh, we need one more glass.”
“I’ll get it!” Savannah singsongs on her way to the kitchen. It only takes a second for Warren to stand and walk toward me.
“Trying to bag Mesa,” he whispers, “is not your brightest idea.”
“Since when are you such a cockblocker? I don’t need a cosigner to hook up with one of your girl’s buddies.”
He covers his eyes with a hand and sighs. She’s hot. I flirted. What’s the big deal?
“If you hit it and quit it with her, I’m guessing it wouldn’t end well. It’s whatever, I guess. But Savvy would be stuck in the middle.”
He has a point. I sniff and take another drink. My odds weren’t looking too good with Mesa anyway.
“I’ll consider tabling the idea,” I say. “Not like she’ll give me the time of day after the stunt you just pulled.”
“Really?”
“No,” I say with a smile.
That earns me a punch to the shoulder, and I start to wonder if we’re still grown-ass men or teenagers again.
“Have to agree with Warren on this one,” Gage says. “Casting for season three ofThe Real Housewives of the Bunkhouseis closed until further notice.”
Warren snaps his fingers and plops back into his seat on the couch. “Exactly.”
My face twists as I turn to Gage. “The fuck is that supposed to mean? And how the hell would you know aboutThe Real Housewives?”
“What? Blythe likes it,” he says with a shrug. “I watch it with her. Sue me.”
“And that, my friend, is the most pathetic, pussy-whipped thing that has ever come out of your mouth.”
At that moment, Mesa reappears. Fuck, she’s pretty. I want to shout a slew of curse words into the nearest pillow every time she smiles sweetly with her lips closed like she is right now. It turns her face into a heart shape.
Savannah intercepts her as she passes the kitchen. They share a warm hug, and instead of continuing to stare at Mesa, I shift my focus to Savannah. She’s like a sister to me, so I’d feel like a world-class asshole for chasing Mesa off when she’s so clearly happy to have her friend here.
Like it or not, I had zero intention of trying for anything more than a hookup with her. I’m not even sure I’m capable of anything more, even if Iwantedto go there.
Mesa might be more of a relationship person. Or maybe she’s just not that into me.
Either way, her reasoning for turning me down doesn’t really matter. My ego is a little bruised, but hot girls aren’t difficult to find. One week, tops, and I’ll have someone else lined up.
“Yeah,” I mumble to Warren with a shrug as the girls walk our way. “You’re right. I’ll drop it.”
Warren purses his lips and nods.
Savannah sits across Warren’s lap after filling two glasses of champagne and handing one to Mesa. “Cheers to the bride and groom!”
We all lift our drinks except for Mesa. I try not to make it obvious that I’m eying her as she covertly glances down at her phone instead of raising her glass.
Coming to terms with not trying to hook up with her would be a lot easier if she remained still. I’m probably just hard-up and overdue, but each time she moves, I have to stop myself from running my tongue over my bottom lip.
“We’re not married yet,” Blythe laughs.
