Page 24 of Butterfly Effect

When I lower to join her, the soft seat cushion gives in and squishes our bodies together. Her warmth hits my bare skin. The thumping in my chest climbs to my ears.

Stop that, heart. It’s fake.

“Cut the shit, Wade.”

Leave it to Jaeg to ruin the moment.

“Thiscannotbe happening.” Indi bends and inches forward to Gabe as if approaching a skittish animal. “Gabe, sweetie? If you’re being held against your will, blink three times.”

Call me a caveman because a primal need to protect Gabe has my adrenaline rushing. I straighten and meet her at eye level. “Indi, I like you. But you have three seconds to back away from my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” Fletch asks.

Gabe shrugs and confirms with a silent nod.

The red-headed bastard throws up his arms. “You were literally flirting with that Kyra girl last night. And now Gabe Finch is your ‘girlfriend?’” Air quotes taunt me.

“Kyra, huh?” That wakes Gabe up. Her glare could shred flesh. “Who’s Kyra,sweetheart?”

I don’t miss the knife-like stab hidden under her sweet tone.

“Baby,” I say through my teeth, “we talked about this.” Now to face the accusers. “That wasbefore.”

“Before what?”

Fletch is a rascal.

“Before we talked about it.”

Indi’s confusion is blatant. “It?”

“You know, the undeniable attraction between us.” My arm tucks behind Gabe, squeezing us together by the shoulders. “We got tired of fighting it.”

Fletch scratches his head like a cartoon.

Indi re-crosses her arms, her mouth flattening, unimpressed with the explanation. “Oh, yeah? When diditall happen?”

“See, a few years ago, your husband blew the playoffs.”

Indi’s eyebrow rises in Landon’s direction.

“Hey,” he snaps. “Don’t bring me into?—”

“Anyway, we were drowning our sorrows at a club called Persepolis. I didn’t know who Gabe Finch was but thought she was hot as fuck. Landy told me she was engaged, so I kept my distance but couldn’t stay away. Remember when I said you were beautiful in front of everyone at your first press conference?” My head turns to Gabe.

She bats her eyelashes coyly, rage brimming in those pretty hazel tones. “I do.”

“You hated that!” Indi addresses her.

“You did?” I ask.

I hurt her?

“I had no idea.”

“Don’t worry,baby.” Her hand squeezes my thigh, too harsh for forgiveness. “It was kinda cute.”

“You said it was embarrassing and unprofessional! And that you loathed him.”

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