Page 43 of Losing Ansley

"He's never actually touched me or tried anything with me. But he always asks me if I'll go out with everyone. Every time I say no, he seems to get increasingly infuriated." I burrow my face into Lincoln's chest, and he holds me tight.

"Leslie begged me to come tomorrow night. It's the last get-together, and she wants to go but feels uncomfortable around him, too, so I told her I'd go." He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight.

"Well, I'll be there and won't let you out of my sight. If the asshole tries one thing, I'll knock his ass out." I sigh at the protectiveness in his voice.

"I wish you could be here all the time," I state, and I feel him exhale, causing strands of my hair to move.

"Me too, sweetheart." He replies, and I feel the depth of emotion in those three words down to my core.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ANSLEY

THE NEXTday Lincoln and I have a lazy morning. We make breakfast together. I convince him to make chocolate chip pancakes that turn into regular pancakes because I eat all the chocolate chips. As I pop another chocolate chip into my mouth, he pinches my side and nuzzles my neck, causing me to squeal and squirm at the same time.

"What is it with you and chocolate chips?" He asks as he lays his chin on my shoulder. I share a chocolate chip with him, and he hums.

"See. They're good!" I exclaim, and he chuckles.

"But then you're missing out on all the chocolaty goodness in the pancakes." He says as he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me in tight. I flip the pancake and shrug.

"You just get to experience it beforehand." He shakes his head and watches as I pour some more pancake batter.

"Do you want me to make some eggs? We should probably have something else besides carbs." He tells me but not convincingly. I shake my head.

"It's Saturday. Let's splurge." He hums again as his lips come to my neck and begin to kiss the sensitive spot where my neck and shoulder meet. There's a knock at my door, and our heads pop up. Both of us are in pajamas, but this could still be awkward if it's Dylan. I turn to look at Lincoln, a question in my eyes.

He said he was okay with Dylan knowing that he even talked to Dylan about it, but I haven't said anything to Dylan yet, and he hasn't brought it up to me. Mainly because we've been so busy, and when we've hung out, we've both been, so bone tired we haven't felt like a meaningful conversation. Lincoln wraps his hands around my neck, gently pushing my hair behind my shoulders and kissing me.

"It's okay, sweetheart." He encourages me, and the anxiety I didn't realize was bubbling beneath the surface subsides. I walk to the door and glance out of the peephole making sure it is Dylan and open the door. His eyes travel over me; it looks like he just woke up.

"Hey, Ans. I wanted to come to see how you were doing. I haven't seen or talked to you all week." He hugs me and then pauses. "Is someone here?" He asks, and I take a step back, eyeing him warily.

"Yeah. Lincoln is here." I tell him, on guard to see what his reaction will be. He stands still, staring at me for several long seconds before relaxing and running his hands through his hair.

"Okay." He sighs. "This will be weird, but I'll get used to it. I promise. I'm so used to the two of you being down each other's throat." He tells me, and I roll my lips between my teeth at that comment.

"To be fair, I was down her throat," Lincoln says from behind me, and a bark of laughter leaves me as Dylan's face contorts into a look of disgust.

"Jesus, man! I said I was okay with it. I did not say I was okay with hearing the details." Dylan yells. He rubs the balls of his hands over his eyes. "I do not need that image in my brain." He paces back and forth in front of us, and I shake my head.

"I can't believe you said that," I whisper to Lincoln, and he shrugs.

"Anyway. How are you doing, Dylan? Want some chocolate chip pancakes without the chocolate chips?" I ask him. And he turns on his foot to stare at me.

"I'd rather have them with chocolate chips, but it seems like you ate them all." He accuses me, and my mouth pops open as we walk to my kitchen.

"How do you know it was me? Maybe it was Lincoln!" I exclaim. He and Lincoln exchange a look.

"Just like every other time?" Dylan asks, and I shake my head with a slight smile. We all grab some pancakes and sit down at my bar to eat.

"What are you two doing today?" Dylan questions, and it seems weird. It used to be him and Lincoln going and doing things. Lincoln glances over at me, and I shrug.

"Not much of anything. We're going to a work thing that Leslie begged me to attend tonight. Want to hang out until then?" I ask him, and he breaks into a grin, nodding. After we finish eating, Lincoln and I throw on some comfortable clothes.

It's October, but you never know what the weather will do in the south, so I pull on a long maxi dress and grab a cardigan just in case. Lincoln is wearing jeans and a black long sleeve henley shirt. He looks good enough to eat.

"I need you to stop looking at me like that," Lincoln growls, causing my eyes to pop up to his, and I see they have darkened with desire. I arch an eyebrow at him as I walk backward out of the bedroom.

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