Thad drags his thumb over his chin as his dark eyes flick between Maverick and me. “Yeah, sure.” He sees the bullshit, but he’s not the type to call it out until he gets ready. Usually, after he’s done some snooping and digging of his own. Fortunately, there’s nothing to dig. “We’re going out,” he tells us, changing the subject.
“Fuck no,” Maverick spits, his mouth curling with disgust.
I chuckle at his reaction while shaking my head at Thad because I agree. “I’m not crashing girls’ night with you. Why do you even go?”
Girls’ night was once a month when Casey and her friends went out. For years, if I was in town, I’d pop up where they were because my brother asked me to keep an eye on Casey while he was off doing God knows what, waiting for her to get a little older. I did it for him, but I did it for her too, because Casey was so withdrawn, I worried about her. But since Graham came back and staked his claim months ago, I avoid girls’ night. It’s nothing more than a headache.
Thad rolls his eyes. “First, because Lily is my best friend,” he says, holding up a finger as he mentions Liam’s fiancée and Casey’s best friend. “Two, because I keep hoping Casey will bring that hot dancer friend of hers around again.”
Maverick’s head tilts to the side as his mouth puckers. “She was fucking hot.”
My jaw locks, knowing with every fiber of my being that they’re talking about Poppy because in the years she’s been dancing, Casey hasn’t had any otherdancerfriends. I’m annoyed as fuck they met her first, and my neck tenses that they called her hot. I mean, of course, they did. They’d have to be blind not to notice, but fuck.
I miss her. The morning after my last fight—after I woke from the fucking nightmare with her as a witness—I had to fly to Miami for a week. And in all my stupidity, I spent that week without calling or texting her. I thought it would cure this need, but it only made it worse.
Both of them toss me curious looks, no doubt noticing the way my jaw ticks, so I force myself to relax. “When the hell did you start crashing girls’ night with dipshit?” I ask Maverick with a smirk.
Maverick snorts while Thad glares. “I don’t crash. I’m invited. Also, I might be a lot of things, but a dipshit is not one of them.”
“Fine,” I concede. “Asshole.”
“Better.” His head jerks with approval. The man is a piece of work. I’ve known him only a little longer than Maverick. He’s entitled, arrogant, and a manwhore to the nth degree. But he’s also reliable, trustworthy, and loyal as hell.
“I crashed one girls’ night and swore never again. They are too much work.” He points at Thad. “He failed to inform me that he goes to babysit.”
I laugh, grabbing my bag hanging over the chair. “You should’ve called me. I could’ve told you exactly why we crash girls’ night.”
“But that friend of herswashot. Wonder if that red hair is natural?”
Dammit, Maverick.
The tension threatens to make a fierce reappearance. I do a mental count to ten. Then twenty. By one hundred, I’m still pissed.
But they’re wrong. She’s not hot. She’s absolutely stunning. Those full, pretty lips, high cheekbones, and those dimples…
But the urge to plant my fist in the wall—or better, their faces—is strong.
“Of course it was. And damn if she didn’t have a sassy mouth. I’m curious how Casey keeps surrounding herself with thesemouthy women when she’s anything but.”
I’ve also wondered about that. Often.
I wrap my fingers around the doorknob and walk out of the room with Thad calling after me. I don’t stop until we’re at the elevator. “You’re coming with us.”
“Am I now? What makes you think I don’t have plans?” I had plans for tonight the moment I opened my eyes. It’s more than need. It’s desperation.
We step into the elevator and hold the door for Maverick, who’s slowly making his way toward us, his eyes darting nervously. “She isn’t here,” I call out, so he’ll move his ass.
Relief lights in his wary eyes, and he picks up the pace. He’s always dodging Callie, Maddox’s sister, part of the PR team. There are explicit instructions that she and Maverick are never to work together. No clue why. I don’t think anything is going on there. Honestly, I’m almost positive the guy is celibate. I never see him with women, and I get the impression he doesn’t trust them. I can relate. Except for the celibate part.
“To answer your question,” Thad says once Mav is in the elevator. “I’m sure you have plans. My plans are better.” I snort because I know they’re not. “Don’t argue with me. You can go to your vampire lair and brood another night.”
“I don’t fucking brood.”
“Whatever. Tonight, you’re with us.”
“Who said I was going with you?” Maverick asks as the doors slide shut, but he knows just like I do. Arguing with Thad is pointless.
But it does give me an idea. “Fine. I’ll go as long as I can pick the place.” I don’t actually want them around Poppy, but it makes it look less suspicious since I never show up at The 7th Circle unless it’s to fight.
