Page 22 of Pucks and Likes

I grin. “You’re such a weirdo. And don’t worry about my sex life. Worry for your own. How long has it been?”

She scoffs. “Joke’s on you. I slept with one of the dogs’ dads the other day.”

I roll my eyes. “Clara Drew! Don’t mix business with pleasure!”

“As if you are one to talk,” she snarks, and she’s got me there.

“Slutbag.”

“Whore.” She beams. “But for real, bring him home. Scratch that itch.”

“No one but me is coming home tonight.” And that’s the damn truth.

As soon as I tell Alex about the baby, he’s gonna be so pissed, he won’t want anything to do with me.

She rolls her eyes as she comes around the island to hug me. I quickly give her my side, planting a smacking kiss on her cheek to distract her from the fact that I didn’t hug her full on. “Love you, sis.”

“Love you,” I say softly, my guilt riding me hard. I watch as she grabs her purse and walks out. Once she’s gone, I lean on the counter and look out around the room. I’ll need to tell her and my sisters by the end of the week since Austen will be heading out. Then there is Peepaw…

Fuck me. Maybe I should take this one person at a time.

Or I could do an Instagram post and hide?

Or even wait till the baby comes.

All good options, really…

When my phone sounds on the counter, I glance at it to see it’s Alex. I hate the small smile that pulls at my lips. I need to keep my wits around this man, but it’s hard when I know with every word he texts me, there is a wide smile behind them.

Alex: Last chance for me to pick you up.

Me: I can drive.

Alex: But wouldn’t it be better to ride with me? Because then you can ride me on the way home.

Me: You’ll have a hard time making that happen when, one, I’m not riding with you, and two, I have leggings on.

Alex: But see, all you have to do is agree to ride with me, and I’ll tear those leggings off in a heartbeat.

I squeeze my thighs together and close my eyes. How is this so easy? Falling right back into flirting relentlessly with him?

I press my lips together and write back.

Me: If you want that, why did you wait until you were back to say it?

Alex: Because I was in Nashville, and you would have ignored me. I know you, Elliot Bea McDavid. As much as you try to make it seem like I don’t, I do. And if I’m in your face, you can’t deny how badly you want me back.

He’s not wrong. It was easy to resist with space between us. Before I can type back, though, another text comes through.

Alex: But I’m back, and I need to make up for lost time.

Alejandro Cruz is a heathen.

A pain in my ass.

And damn if I’m not excited to spend time with him.

Even if it’ll be short-lived.

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