Page 22 of Home Game

“What’s up, Sugar?”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Did he call everyone sweet names like that, or was he just trying to mess with me? And did he always look this cute?

No. Don’t hold back. Don’t get distracted.

I stood up straight as I spoke. “You’re too good to show up to your own celebration at Jade Brewery but you’re having a loud party next to my house?”

“Not too good for it,” Storm said nonchalantly. “Actually, the Fixer Brothers guys should be here within the next hour. Invited them all to the afterparty here.”

I shifted on my feet. “So why didn’t you come tonight?”

“You missed me?” he asked with a gleam in his eye, acting all teasing and sweet again.

Something white-hot flashed through my chest. “You didn’t even bother showing up.”

“I’ve told you before, Emmett, you know nothing about me,” he said. “Stop assuming the worst.”

“So what was it, then?”

“I was about to leave for the brewery. Mom was here, and I was going to bring her along, because she loves a good party as much as I do. But one of the wood planks on this ancient patio gave out, and Mom twisted an ankle that was already bad to begin with. She wasn’t up for going out, so I asked the Fixer Brothers if they could just meet me here, instead.”

I clenched my jaw, trying to hide the small guilt pooling in my chest.

He only hadn’t shown up because he was taking care of his mom. Jax had told me that the guys were going to an afterparty somewhere, I just hadn’t known it would be here.

“Sorry,” I said quickly. I owed him that, at least, as hard as it was to say.

“All good, Fancy Pants,” he said, still calm and collected. His eyes skated over me, like he was sizing me up or deciding something about me.

He looked too good in a simple white T-shirt. I liked custom suits and tailored slacks, but with a body like Storm’s, thin, soft cotton hugged his torso and let him shine.

He always looked good, to be honest.

I bit my lip and forced myself to stop staring for a moment. I could still stand my ground, even if I’d been wrong about why he was missing tonight.

“I know you leaked your photos on purpose,” I told him.

“Is that right?” he said, cocking his head to one side.

I’d expected more of a reaction than that. How did Storm stay calm in any sort of pressure?

“Because you don’t know how to keep anything private,” I said.

He shrugged. “Wouldn’t be that private to me, anyway. I’m proud of my cock.”

I went molten hot inside. He did have good reason to be confident about his body. I’d only glanced at the photos, but the image of them had been burned into my mind. Storm wouldn’t be shy, regardless of whether he leaked the photos himself or not.

There was something infectious about his pride. He was so completelyhimself,at all times. Genuine, even when it pissed me off.

“So you’d just show it to anyone?” I asked, trying to push the memory of his images from my mind.

His eyes weren’t just stormy now—they were like lightning.

“My cock? Sure. I’d show anyone who wanted to see it,” he said, meeting my challenge like it meant absolutely nothing to him.

“You’d just pull it out, right now, for me to see, if I asked. I doubt that, Storm.”

He cocked his head to one side. “Sounds like you might want to see it?” he said coyly. “See itagain, I mean, because you clearly saw it online earlier.”

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