Page 68 of Those Heartbreak Scars

Gray’s gaze narrows. “And that would be?”

“Come sit over here by my Lucky Charm.” Everett leans across me and pats the leather next to me. “She won’t mind.”

“Everett?” I don’t know what he’s thinking but this feels awkward. “What are you doing?”

He traces a finger along my jaw, his gaze fixed on my mouth. “Humor me?”

My stomach fluttering, I tug on the end of a loose tendril of hair. “Of course.”

“America?” Gray calls for my attention.

“You heard her.” Everett grips my jaw and forces eye contact when I try to turn my head. “She said it was okay.”

“It is.” I lick my lips.

Gray huffs as he stands and moves around the small table to my side. When he sits down his thigh presses against mine. “I don’t know what this has to do with the contract.”

“A lot.” Everett must be able to feel my pulse thrumming under his thumb. He brushes his lips over mine before he talks around me. “I know you two are good friends. Practically family. Have you ever thought about what it would be like to fuck her?”

Awareness jolts through me.

“This has nothing to do with the contract.” Gray starts to stand.

He has to know that Gray’s the guy. That’s what this is about. “Everett, please, let’s not do this. You’re the one I’m with. The one I want.”

“You didn’t answer the question, Grayson,” Everett’s tone is full of steel.

“She’s my ex’s best friend,” Gray says. “What do you think?”

“He doesn’t know.” I grab Everett’s forearms, my voice coming out wobbly and breathless.

“Yeah, he does,” Everett says. “I told him you had feelings for someone else. That I was scared I would lose you when you’re my lucky charm.”

“He told me.” Gray sounds weary.

Gray knew and he never said anything. He pretended like it was nothing. Because it is nothing to him. And that feels like a knife in the chest.

“Before I worked out he was the one you were talking about.” Everett chuckles mirthlessly. “I guess I should have seen it, though. It’s so obvious now.”

“You won’t lose me, Everett.” I shake my head.

“I really wanted to believe that you could see what I could see between us, Lucky Charm.”

“I do.” A tear leaks from the corner of my eye. “Everett, I’m with you.”

“Are you?” His gaze narrows even more. “Because from here it looks like you two are playing me to get me to sign this contract. You’re into him. And he’s into you.”

“Yeah, he’s so into me, he chose his job, Everett.” I turn pain filled eyes on Gray. “He chose you. And I chose you. I don’t want him. I want you.”

“Is that why you two have been sharing longing looks for weeks?”

Everett glances at Gray. “Every time I turn around, he’s trying to get close to you. And you can’t stay away from him either.”

I wet my lips, which does nothing for my parched mouth. “That’s not true. I’ve been telling him to leave.”

“She’s telling the truth. It’s best for all of us if she and I go our separate ways,” Gray says.

“I’m not blind. And one would have to be to not notice the heated arguments and the lingering touches. And the funny thing is when I think back to the first time you and I met, mate, they were happening then too. Something happened between the two of you that very first night. I know it did.”

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