Page 31 of Crave Me

“Happy birthday, Kins. Can’t believe you’re already twenty-three.”

“Thanks, big brother.”

“Ladies, good to see you. Enjoying your holiday break?”

Harlow looks at me with a devious smirk and unashamedly eye fucks the shit out of me. She’s a pretty girl, way too young for me and not my type, but man if she isn’t making her interest obvious. A strong hand pats my shoulder blade in greeting, and I turn to face Wes. He’s an Aspen Ridge resident and one hell of a private investigator.

“Hey, man, how’s everything?”

I watch him move directly behind Lily and wrap his arms firmly around her tiny waist, hauling her back flush against him. She looks up at him and smiles brightly.

“Things are finally right in the world. You?”

Shocked as shit, I have to pick up my chin from the floor. Lily is twenty-one. Wes has to be pushing forty here soon, even if he looks like a solid thirty. That’s one hell of an age gap, and I’m pretty sure Lily was dating his son over the summer.

“Happy for you two. When did this happen?”

“Around Halloween. Just kinda hunted her down and made her mine.”

“Well, good for you guys. It’s good to see you all. Kins, I’m gonna go find our brothers. Behave.”

“That is not what tonight is for! Tonight is for getting hammered and living it up! So be gone! Let me live for a change!” Kinsey singsongs.

Finding my brothers standing in the back with Reid, Ivy, Hannah, and Blaire, I join the group to find them in a heated discussion about tattoos. Reid, who’s covered from his neckdown to his toes, and a highly successful tattoo artist, is speaking in support of them while Carter is speaking against them. Which is not surprising.

“Do you tattoo your friends?” Blaire asks after the conversation settles down. I look at her and cock my head. Like fucking hell is Reid going to touch her body to put a tattoo on it.

“Yeah, from time to time. I did Dallas’ half-sleeve. It was a good time. I don’t mind tattooing friends, just as long as they’re sure about what they want so they don’t come at me pissed later.”

“How’d you decide on the trees on your arm, Dal?” Ivy asks.

“Aspen Ridge. It’s my peace. Wanted it with me no matter where I went.”

I meet Blaire’s eyes and she seems a bit taken aback by my answer. Like it surprised her. I’m not always a dickhead, princess. I give her a wink and she rolls her eyes before walking away from the group. The conversation is good, my brothers and I give each other shit, and Sawyer hangs all over Ivy.

My eyes linger around the room, not believing the turnout to celebrate my sister, when they settle on Blaire talking to some dink at the bar. Jealousy courses through me as I watch him order her a drink.

“Dude. Are you even listening? Who the hell are you looking at, dickhead?” Liam asks, pulling me away from watching Blaire get hit on.

“Looking for a hookup. What’s it to you?”

“Looks like you’re trying to shoot daggers from your eyes like Superman. Those weren’t hookup eyes, those were I’m-gonna-fuck-you-up eyes.”

“Shut the hell up. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Why don’t you worry about yourself, lint licker?”

Liam smacks me in the chest before walking away, and I focus my attention back on Blaire. She smiles brightly before walking away and heading toward the bathrooms. My feet are on autopilot before I realize that I’m following her. I pull the door open right as it closes behind her and quickly check the stalls to make sure we’re alone.

She spins on me, her attitude on full display, head cocked to the side and arms waving around as she raises her voice.

“What is with you and women’s restrooms? Could you not follow me in here, just once? Get out!”

“Shut up, Blaire, don’t pretend you don’t like it.”

Her face flames and she nervously pushes her wild, wavy hair behind her ear.

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