Page 24 of Claim Me

Indigo stares at me in the way he does when people get on his bad side. I nearly back off. Then, I remember how I’m not dealing with a stranger. This is Indigo. I know him. He pulls this staringintimidation tactic with lots of people. It never worked on me before. Why should I get rattled now?

“When you stare like that, I think you want to kiss me,” I lie just to mess with him. “Is that what’s happening here?”

Indigo blinks rapidly, probably thrown off since normally people get scared of his staring ploy. When he frowns at me, I smile warmly.

Poking at him with an ornery zeal Caveman and Dot would appreciate, I tease, “Youdowant to kiss me, don’t you?”

“Always.”

His unflinching tone makes my heart race. “You can kiss me right now if you want.”

“No.”

“Are you not minty fresh?”

“I didn’t know you were coming. I need time to prepare.”

“Did you prepare that morning at the clubhouse?”

“Yes, for several hours.”

“Oh, well, that explains why the kiss was so good.”

Indigo narrows his gaze and mutters, “You’re talking to me like a kid again.”

“I’m actually not. I talk to everyone this way, ya burnt tater tot.”

Walking past him toward the kids, I give Tangina a head rub and enjoy more pig facts from Jacinda and Hector.

“Pigs don’t sweat,” Jacinda says and looks at Natasha who likely told her that information. “They roll in the mud to not be hot.”

Hector bounces next to his sister, waiting for his chance to speak. “Pig mama sings to the babies. My mommy sings to me.”

I smile at the blond cuties and catch Natasha tearing up. The last five years have been a roller coaster for my friend. She’s only now finding her footing again.

I want everything for my friends. That includes Indigo, who watches me with a relaxed gaze.I think he prefers me at a distance.

Maybe that’s why he doesn’t want a goodbye kiss after the kids get restless and Natasha suggests we head out.

Rather than smooch Indigo, I shake his hand and tell him to pick me up at my house. I’ll message him with the time for the movie.

Indigo doesn’t say anything. He watches me like I’m leaving forever. I don’t know what his expression means. I feel like I shouldsay the perfect thing to fix his current drama, but I’m worried he’ll take wrong anything I say or do.

Caveman walks over to stand next to Indigo as I shuffle toward the line of SUVs. I’m conflicted by what happened today. I expected Indigo to show more reaction to the baby news. I figured he might stake his claim on me or announce he loves me. Instead, he kept his distance.

I gently tug my best friends away from their men. “Tack and Bear can ride with the kids. I need alone time with my gal pals.”

Bear shakes his head. “If Indigo will be judged harshly, we ought to be there to defend him.”

“I was actually planning to talk shit about the two of you.”

“Sure,” Tack replies. “But seriously, you need to give Indigo some slack. He doesn’t do well under pressure.”

“I saw him stand with you and Hunter in the middle of a shootout. He was as cool as a cucumber.”

“He didn’t need to be sensitive then. You’re asking him to fess up to feelings he’s kept hidden for a long time,” Bear says and pokes his index finger at me. “Don’t judge him.”

“I’mnotthe bad guy here.”

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