Page 49 of Claiming Becca

Bailey sits next to Caroline, running her fingers through her hair. “No. This is the Caroline I remember from when I was younger.” Caroline’s eyes fill with tears again as she wraps her arms around Bailey and hugs her tight.

Lincoln sighs. “Do you have anything stronger than beer?” he asks Connor.

“Yep. This way.” Connor motions to him. Lincoln and Julian follow him. I smile, having so much fun. I don’t know what we will do about Donovan, but whatever we do, I know we’ll all handle it together. Liv steps up next to me and wraps her arms around mine.

“Thank you for keeping my secret,” she whispers.

I turn to her. “Of course. I um…” I trail off as she looks at me. “I told him when he was in a coma. After I told him I felt like such a jerk. I told him a dumb dad’s joke when he was in a coma, too, and he told it back to me. I was so nervous he would remember me telling him that, but obviously, he didn’t.”

She pats my arm. “It’s okay.”

I shake my head. “It’s not. Even if he was in a coma, I should have kept it to myself.”

She hugs me. “You two have a special bond. It’s understandable wanting to tell him something like that.”

I inhale deeply. “Thank you for not being pissed at me. I think you are one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met. I’m so sorry Donovan is your stepfather.”

She lets out a puff of air. “Yeah. Me too, honestly.” She glances around the room before her eyes land on me again. “You really should consider going into interior design. This place is beautiful. So different from the last time we were all here.”

I usually shy away from compliments, but I embrace it this time. “I still have a ways to go, but I did have a lot of fun doing the living room.”

Before I finish my thought, Connor wraps his arm around me from behind, pulling me back into his chest. “Yeah, she did.”

My face begins to burn, and I smack his arms. “Connor!” I cry out. He chuckles and kisses me on the neck. Then he slaps me on the ass.

“Go make yourself a plate.” He pushes me toward the kitchen, so I grab Liv’s hand and pull her with me.

“Did he mean what I think he meant?” I cover my face with my hands.

“Yes,” I finally admit. “We had so much paint in many weird places after that.”

Ansley stops by us with a grin on her face. “Seems like you two are just as kinky as the rest of us.” I look around the room. Everyone has an amused smile on their face except Bass and Julian.

“I don’t need that image seared in my brain. You’re like my sister,” Bass says.

“Same,” Julian agrees. “He’s my brother. I don’t need to know about his shenanigans.”

Bailey smirks and wraps her arm around Julian’s waist. “Unlike us and our shenanigans, right?”

“Bailey,” he warns. She leans forward, putting her hand next to her mouth.

“Under his desk while his colleagues were there,” she whispers loudly.

My eyes fly to Julian in shock. “No!” I gasp. “The guy who doesn’t like hugs. Really?” Julian pulls Bailey into his arms. He glares at her, but has a smirk on his lips.

His eyes find mine. “I can guarantee you hugs were not happening when she was under my desk,” he murmurs. My mouth falls open.

Connor walks over and wraps his arm around my waist. “Kinky,” he says.

“Why didn’t you ever climb under my desk?” Lincoln asks Ansley. I glance around the room, a little shocked at the turn this conversation is taking.

“I did you on your desk, on your office chair, and against the wall in your office,” Ansley states, tapping her fingers as she says each one.

Bass runs his hands through his hair. “So, what are we all sharing our sexual escapades now?” he asks.

“We messed around in the locker room shower at his gym,” Caroline calls out. My eyes swerve to her and then back to Bass.

“Caroline!” Bass calls out. She winks at him as she adjusts her position again. He raises his hands in surrender. “We did.” He gives in. “While someone was taking a shower right next to us.”

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