Page 154 of Foreplay on Words

“I heard that, you douche canoe,” his sister laughed.

“Maybe you were supposed to.” I watched as Evan devolved back into a teenager, giving his sibling a hard time. Their back and forth was adorable.

“I like this girl.” Kristine smiled as she pointed her finger at Kelly.

“Of course you do,” Evan laughed.

“Excuse me?” Oh shit. Kristine was giving him the bitch face. “I’m just kidding. I think I’m gonna kidnap her and take her back home with us.”

“That’s not a bad idea. She could stay in my condo.” My mind started planning a visit with Kelly back in Boston. I wanted to get to know Evan’s family better.

“Yes!” Kristine agreed.

“Maybe we should sell the condo.” Evan shot me a wry smile as he reached behind me to pull me into him. I laid my head on his shoulder, and we watched Kelly and Kristine banter back and forth while Sam looked on with a smile.

“That bet still going?” Evan whispered into my hair.

“Why don’t we see how things play out.”

I could tell that Sam was enjoying watching Kristine bond with someone. Usually, she was a little more sarcastic and snarkier around new people. It seemed that she and Kelly were kindred spirits.

“Think we can sneak out the back?” Evan’s lips were tracing along the side of my neck, the exposed skin on my shoulders breaking out in goosebumps.

“Seriously? You can’t keep your hands off each other for three whole minutes,” Kristine accused, rolling her eyes at us.

“Just ignore her,” he whispered in my ear, placing a heated kiss behind the lobe.

“Who knew my brother had game?” Kelly laughed as she looked at him proudly.

“I sure as hell didn’t,” Kristine laughed.

“I’m over here taking notes,” Sam laughed as he mimed writing things down on his hand.

“Oh my God, Sam. No.” Kristine rolled her eyes as she bumped her hip into his.

He put his arm behind her back to steady them both, and I saw something spark in the look they gave each other. It was only a matter of time.

“Why don’t we ditch these losers and go get a drink? I know a great place down the street from here,” Kelly suggested as she waved her hand at Evan and me.

“That sounds amazing. I need a drink after the fuckery of the last twenty-four hours,” Kristine sighed loudly. “Speaking of––how’s your hand, Rocky?”

I looked down at my right hand and flexed it, feeling a tightness in my knuckles that was a remnant of last night. There was slight bruising along a few of my fingers, but it wasn’t really all that painful. It was worth it to knock that bitch down a peg.

“What did you do to your hand, Chase?” Kelly asked curiously as she glanced around at all of us.

“Knocked out some bitches,” Kristine laughed under her breath.

“I didn’t knock her out, but I might have punched someone…” I shrugged, blushing a little, “...in the face.”

“Damn, girl. Who pissed you off?” Kelly laughed.

I looked at Evan, and he nodded as I saw his jaw clench.

“Simone.”

“Simone who––oh! Are you kidding me? Where did you see that nasty piece of work?” Kelly asked as she narrowed her eyes at her brother. Obviously, she felt the same way as the rest of us about her brother’s ex.

Kristine and Sam started laughing off to the side.

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