Page 141 of Butterfly Effect

“Oh, good. Now we won’t forget.” If sarcasm and schtick were a love language, we’ve got it down pat. “Also, how did you get Frosty into my car?”

“I’mverypersuasive.”

“Are you?”

“And charming, too.”

“Mmhmm, mmhmm. Who was it?”

“It was a joint effort between Aden in security and your PA. He’s a fan, and your PA is very helpful.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You been flirting with my PA?”

Wade scoffs and spreads a hand over his chest, aghast. I don’t fall for his theatrics.

“I wouldn’t dream of it!”

I hit the gas, speeding up to merge onto 417 West.

“Whoa, Nelly.” His hands brace, gripping the console and door handle. “I can’t watch this.” He leans forward to unzip his backpack and retrieves a fluffy pink sleep mask with two eyelashed curves and the words,shhh…I’m sleeping, printed in swirly script. He quietly slips it over his eyes, wiggling his hips and shoulders to get comfortable.

I mouth awow.

Wade snaps his fingers and points in my direction. “I saw that.”

“When you said passenger princess, you meant it.”

“You bet your sweet ass I did.” The power seat whirs as he reclines. “Wake me up in thirty, Freckles.”

“Sorry, do I look like your mother?”

“Not even a little bit,” he snipes back, unperturbed by my snark. “You can keep mouthing off, but in half an hour, both of us are gonna be in the backseat, and only one of us will have this over our eyes. I have no qualms about traumatizing Frosty with whatever happens back there.”

I seal my lips.

The four-and-a-half-hour trip takes six because…activities, and night falls by the time we reach the property in the middle of nowhere Ontario.

Radek’s family farmhouse is picturesque, like the Christmas scene printed in a Thomas Kinkade calendar for the month of December, snow-topped rolling hills, and glassy iced-over lakes reflecting moonlight while we follow the gravel driveway.

“Sorry we missed dinner.” Wade puffs out a breath and sways his head when Landon greets us in the foyer. “The holiday traffic was something else this year.”

“That’s okay. Glad you could make it, man.” Their hands clap together before they hug. “You two hungry?”

Wade doesn’t miss a beat and pats his belly. “I’m stuffed.”

My mind sweeps away to three hours ago when Wade sucked my clit so hard, I mashed Frosty’s face into the window and turned into a soprano.

Landon clears his throat, throwing a discerning glance between the two of us.

“I’m famished,” I say, straight-faced.

“I bet. Your boyfriend is an inconsiderate snack hog.” Radek shakes his head and pulls his mouth into a disappointed frown. “C’mon, I’ll show you to the guest house, then make you a plate. Babi made dessert to have while we open prezzies. Get me anything good, Boehner?”

“Yeah, a decent wrist shot. You’ve been flubbing those recently.”

They horse around on the brief walk, shoving each other until Landon curls an arm around Wade’s neck.

Why do they call men grown if it never happens?

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