Page 4 of Elusive

“Oh, I know, I know, pick me.” JT chimes in animatedly. “Babe, did you miss her lil’ slip-up earlier? She almost said ‘Sutton.’”

“No.” Bellamy cuts him a tender glower, elbow-check included. “I caught it. I’m not deaf, babe. But I just thought maybe we’d let Presley mention it again, ifshewantedto.”

“Okay, catch me up. Why the hell are we coddling her?” He laughs. “Presley’s never held back punches for anyone, ever! She loves calling people out, the bigger the audience, the better. She grilled me, flipped me over, and charred the other fucking side to a crisp when I first started seeing you. Didn’t give me an inch of slack, or the benefit of the doubt. She’s damn lucky I’m not videoing this shit to play at the next family function.”

“Jefferson, I too have been on the receiving end of Presley’s candid ‘tough love,’ but that’s not how I operate, nor is it how you will operate while in my home.”

“Whcha,” my whipping noise is actually pretty damn good, motion even better, and the sneer I give my jackass cousin on-point. “She told you.”

“Says the girl currently suffering an identity crisis on my couch, while he sits next to the “whipping pussy” that he’ll be in bed with tonight.”

One would think Bellamy’s snippy comeback would piss me off — quite the contrary — she’s awesome, and an ideal addition to our family. JT’s got a valid point too. I did give him shit about Bellamy and his intentions in the beginning… and I’m not, nor am I going to become, a ‘can dish it out but can’t take it’ hypocrite.

“Damn, I love you.” JT pulls her closer and thanks her with a kiss for schooling me.

“Very nice,” I give her deserved praise and a nod. “You’re absolutely right. So is he. I did start to say Sutton.”

“I know,” Bellamy steals back her mouth and speaks kindly, reining in any pity. “Mind if I ask why? I assumed, probably bad of me to do, that you and Sutton were… uh…” her eyes flit around anxiously before finally returning to mine, “no longer a thing?”

“Why would you assume that?” I keep my tone even and my brows still, in hopes of luring her into spilling the intel.

“Another trap,” JT coughs his warning, keen to my plan, but she continues anyway.

“Well, it’s just, we’ve seen you, and we’ve seen him, several times over the last few months… but never together. Or even in the same place, at the same time. And… um… Sutton…”

“Baby,” JT stops her. “You’ve said enough.”

“Sutton what?” I seethe. “I’m your family, JT. Your loyalty isto me! Talk!”

“P,” he heaves my “name” as if a burden, shoving a hand through his hair. “I love you, and my loyalty’s always with you, but damn, leave the poor dude be. He’s my friend, and a really good guy. He finally accepted the, you know, the way you are, and moved on. Even settled down some, one chick, sort of… girlfriend… ish, you might say. So just, don’t start fucking with him again, okay?”

“I’m not fucking with him, geez! I went by to see him is all. I didn’t know he had a girlfriend, ish. Whateverthehellthatmeans. Now I do. Got a look at her, said I was sorry I didn’t call first, and left. That’s not fucking with him, that’s an innocent, awkward mishap, because I didn’t know.” I stand up, ready to bolt, but JT’s quicker, already blocking the front door.

“Spare bedroom or I’ll drive you home, your choice,” he growls in an octave that eliminates any room for argument…

So, I argue. “Only had two beers.”

“I can count.” He broadens his stance, and scowl.

“Fine,” I huff and turn to Bellamy. “I don’t want the hassle of getting back to my car tomorrow anyway. You mind if I crash here?”

“Not at all.” She smiles and jumps up. “I’ll go get the room ready for you.”

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