Page 77 of Knotted Laces

That has Chrissy smiling, and it widens as Rome sits behind her and hugs her close.

“Definitely strong-headed like his mom,” she agrees, grinning up at Rome and pressing a kiss to his jaw.

“I can’t wait to see what she’s like,” he murmurs.

“Shehuh?” Chrissy asks and I have the feeling this is a conversation they’ve had many times already. “How do you knowhe’snot a boy?”

“I know, kitten.” He leans in and kisses the top of her head. Then he glances up at me, his expression shrewd and filled with curiosity.

I brace, knowing this moment has been coming from the moment I walked in with Athena.

“What’s up with you two?”

I shoot him a glare.

Jesus, not even going to softball that question?

“Sex cave,” he mouths.

Ugh. Well, I guess compared tothatline of questioning, I should be happy he went the route of playing dumb.

“This is Ats,” I say quietly.

“Yeah, I know,” he says, drawing Chrissy closer. “We met. We talked?—”

“Ats as inAthena.”

He stills and I know he gets how big this is.

That’s what getting drunk and staying up way too fucking late in a hotel bar will do.

Deepest darkest secrets blurted out with every additional shot.

Most of them, anyway.

“Thisis Athena?”

“Ats,” she corrects carefully. “You haven’t earned the right to call me by my full name.” Her lips quirk. “Plus, I don’t relish being confused for your pooch.”

Also named Athena—a rescue corgi whose litter was named after Roman and Greek gods and goddesses.

Rome recovers quickly, his eyes dancing at her barb. “Noted…Ats. So, you’re the childhood friend?”

“Less childhood and more family,” she says bluntly. “I’ve known Cam for a decade.”

Worry in his eyes. “And is that how long you’ve been in love with his brother?”

“Rome,” I snap. “What the fuck?”

Chrissy swats him across the chest at the same time, sending the kittens scattering. “Seriously?”

“It’s not any of your business,” Athena says quietly. “But I’ve never been in love with Cam’s brother. He’s my best friend and that’s all he’s ever been, all he will ever be.”

But Rome doesn’t let up. “Because he’s with someone else?”

“Dude.” I lift the kitten in my lap and set it to the side, ready to drag Rome’s ass out of here so I can introduce him to my right fist properly…and in private.

“No,” she snaps. “Because Lex and I have been friends forever and never been more.” Bald words. “And…”

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