Page 67 of Brazen Deceits

Walker stretches. “I’ll take the pullout.”

“No—” both Clara and I say at the same time.

“I’ve got the pullout,” I finish my thought.

Clara rolls her eyes, pulling back the blankets while she lets her hair loose around her shoulders. “No one has the pullout. There’s plenty of room in this gigantic bed.”

Walker and I share a glance. He sighs, a question on his face. I nod, and he crawls to the side closest to the door. “Fine, princess. As long as you promise we’ll sleep. We still have a big day tomorrow. Or I guess, today?”

I inch to the other side of the bed, Clara’s eyes bright as I slide under the blanket next to her. Part of me wants to cuddle in, to pretend this is a normal thing for me, while the rest of me is so scared that I’m going to touch her wrong, be too needy or too aloof.

Oh my God, I feel like I’m Jade talking about her latest crush, but honestly, Jade has a hell of a lot more experience with guys than I do with girls. Which is perfectly pathetic.

Clara rests her head on my chest, and I freeze, one hand on my belly, the other rubbing my thigh. Walker pops up on his elbow, catching my eye over her head, and the laughter in his gaze telling me exactly how freaked out I must look right now.

Luckily, he keeps his mouth shut, curling up behind Clara, his arm tight around her waist.

They both pass out almost instantly, Clara’s body warm and heavy against my own. I’m afraid to take a deep breath, to wake her, so freaking tense where she is slack in sleep.

The sun cuts through the curtain, casting pale gold rays across the bed. Clara shifts off my chest, burrowing againstmy shoulder, her hair tumbling down over her face. I roll onto my side, my fingers careful as I tuck her curls back over her shoulder, her eyes shaded from the light by my body. A little hum eases out of her lips before she drags the pillow down under her head, and I almost stop breathing.

How did I end up here? With her?

How did I get so lucky?

One of her hands stretches toward me and I lace my fingers with hers, holding it over my heart.

I press a kiss to her forehead, amazed that I even can. If nothing else, I know after tonight she wants me, too. Just like she wants Jansen and Walker.

I heard her and Jansen that night a few weeks ago, the night Walker turned into the worst version of himself. I stood outside her door, wanting to walk away, but frozen by their groans. Locked in place, I imagined what it would be like to step into the room, to watch what I could only hear.

And now, I’m here, in the same bed as her and Walker, her breath tickling my skin.

Walker tugs her a little closer against his chest, and I realize I should find this weird, the three of us tangled together.

But I’ve only ever really belonged with these guys. I love my family, but I’ve never fit, and I never will. Here? This is my real family. With Clara in the mix, it feels complete, like I found the secret bonus level that makes the game legendary.

She’s the fulcrum.

And I’m starting to think she’s my personal nexus, my home base, the point around which I’m going to circumnavigate, my singular guiding star.

I run the back of my knuckles down her cheek, not wanting to wake her, but needing to touch her, to force myself to believe this is real.

Resting my hand on the back of hers, both heavy on my chest, I close my eyes, dreading my dreams. This moment is more than the best thing my imagination could cook up. I don’t want it to end. Ever.

Chapter 30

Clara

“Last one, right?” I ask as we snag our tickets for the newest museum. According to the tickets, we’re at the Museum of Contemporary Art—Chicago, shortened to MCA. Now I just have to hope this is a short stop as well.

Walker and I are back to playing artist and muse, while RJ is our shadow, our scout, always in the corner of my eye, but never approaching.

“Of course, princess,” Walker says, dipping in for a soft, lingering kiss.

Whatever ease we found last night on the dance floor, today, it’s gone. This is pure acting on his part, no spark leaving his lips as he kisses me.

His phone has been buzzing all day, presumably with birthday wishes. We went to a fancy breakfast place this morning, and they put candles on his West Coast hash, but not one smile has reached his eyes since he made his birthday wish.

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