Page 29 of Claiming Becca

Bailey arches an eyebrow at me. “Make him jealous,” she tells me. My heart drops to my stomach. What if he doesn’t care? “He’s going to care,” she says, reading my mind.

“How do you know?” I ask her.

She thrums her fingers on the counter. “Has he dated anyone since you two have met?” she asks. I think back and realize he has never brought anyone around me except one woman who works with him occasionally.

“No, well, I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it. He’s never brought anyone around me, but I’m also not always with him. Aside from his real estate agent and our friend group. I assumed he was always so busy with his construction and real estate businesses that he didn’t have time.”

She smirks at me. “See? You’re the only consistent woman in his life.”

I swallow down the hope that builds in my chest. I want that to be true. I want to be the only woman in his life. Well, aside from our friend group. Bailey grabs my hand again, getting my attention.

“Make him jealous,” she says again. I nod once and pull my phone out to open the dating app. Here goes nothing.

I have the house decorated. There are penises and boobs everywhere. Connor is hanging the boob piñata outside while I put the penis straws in everyone’s cup. I can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions. We haven’t told anyone. Well, I did tell Bailey because it’s Bailey. There’s a knock on the door, and I glance at Connor. We grin at each other.

“Here we go,” I tell him. He rubs his hands together. I open the door, and Bailey stands there with a massive smile in a penis costume. I burst out laughing. I wore this to her classroom because Julian was being a dick and then let her borrow it. Now, here she is, returning the favor for a different reason.

Wrapping my arms around her, I hug her hard. “I love you.” She returns my hug. I glance behind her but don’t see Julian. “Where’s Julian?” I ask.

“He’s hiding in the car. He refused to walk up here with me in this costume.” She laughs. Turning around and looking at his BMW, she waves at him. He gets out of the car and scowls at her, but there’s a slight tip to his mouth.

“Connor!” I call out. His footsteps draw close, stopping beside me. Turning toward him, he has the biggest smile and erupts in laughter.

“This is the best thing ever! You’re like our mascot,” Connor tells Bailey. He walks forward and envelops her in a hug. She returns it. He pulls away, glancing between her and Julian.

“He hated it, didn’t he?” he whispers. She nods with a huge smirk on her face. “You are perfect,” Connor says.

Julian steps up beside Bailey, and he eyes us all. “You put her up to this, didn’t you?”

Connor raises his hands in surrender. “I had nothing to do with this.”

I shake my head as well. “I had no idea she would do this, but it’s perfect.”

Julian’s eyes narrow. “Why? Why is it perfect?” he asks. A bark of laughter leaves me.

I look at Bailey. “You didn’t tell him?” She pulls her lips between her teeth, trying to hide her smile, and shakes her head.

Connor claps a hand on Julian’s shoulder. “Come on, brother.” He leads Julian into the living room. I share a look with Bailey, both of us trying to hold back our laughter.

Julian takes in the decorations, his eyes bulging more. “What the hell?” Connor, Bailey, and I burst into laughter.

Connor gains his composure before we do. “Welcome to our BDSM cookout.”

Julian turns to Connor slowly, disbelief on his face. “You didn’t.”

Connor walks over to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “We did. Becca did the majority of it. It’s perfect, isn’t it?” I can’t help myself; I lean into him.

Julian looks like he can’t think of the right words to say. “I wouldn’t say perfect, no,” Julian finally replies.

Bailey walks over to him and wraps her arms around his waist. Even though she looks ridiculous in the penis costume, he still wraps his arms around her, pulling her close.

“It is perfect,” she tells him. He chuckles and shakes his head.

He leans down, giving her a chaste kiss. “If you say so.”

Connor walks by them and slaps Julian on the shoulder again. “You just kissed a dick.” Julian stands up straight, narrowing his eyes at Connor.

“Come help me grill,” Connor demands, as Bailey and I laugh. Julian mumbles something under his breath, but follows Connor outside.

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