Page 73 of Snared

Bash rolled his eyes. “Glad to see you both survived the night together in the same condo. Wasn’t sure what we were going to find over here.”

I bit back a grin. We hadn’t only survived, we’d thrived. And I couldn’t wait to get these guys out of here so we could go right back to that.

“Oh, please. We’re two reasonable adults staying in a large condo. We’ll be fine,” she said.

She was fidgeting.

“Reasonable adults, who don’t like each other, don’t get married in Vegas,” Bash said.

“That was the tequila’s fault,” Charlie muttered.

“Fucking tequila,” Jax agreed, shaking his head.

She fixed her bun. “So, anyone hungry?”

“I am,” I said, my voice low.

Charlie’s eyes widened. She knew exactly what I was hungry for, and I could tell she wanted the same damn thing. Damn Jax, Tristan, and Bash for showing up when they did.

“What’s up with your voice, weirdo?” Jax said.

“Scratchy throat,” I rasped, playing it up a bit.

“Don’t get me sick. I have to sing tonight,” Jax said.

“I’m fine, drama queen,” I said.

“Well, if all’s good over here, let’s grab lunch. Dave’s?” Tristan asked.

Dave’s was a hole-in-the-wall place that the guys had gone to for years when they all lived out here. It’s not that no one there knew who they were, it was that the other customers had always given the band space. And most importantly, Dave’s had been Jamie’s favorite spot.

“Definitely. I’m dying for cheesesteak,” Bash said. “The car is still downstairs, so let’s move it.”

Making a quick excuse, I went back to my bedroom and changed into a pair of jeans. I’d only worn the sweatpants for Charlie. I knew exactly what people said about gray sweatpants and it’d obviously worked.

Grinning, I checked my hair one last time before I walked back into the living room.

“You sure it’s okay here?” I heard Tristan ask Charlie.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl, and while I might not like it, I can handle a few days here. It’s not like we’re hanging out or anything. We got back late last night and I crashed. Tonight, we have a show. The place is big enough,” Charlie said, her eyes meeting mine as she looked over Tristan’s shoulder.

“I’m not that bad,” I muttered. It grated that he’d asked her, but I got it. For all appearances, she wasn’t a big fan of mine. I was a constant annoyance to her, and that was on me. I’d thought if I brushed her off and avoided her, if I made her not like me, then I could ignore how much I wanted her.

The joke was on me. The animosity and constant tension between us had only made me want her more. Now that I’d had her, it should have abated, but I was thoroughly addicted to her, and I was afraid I’d never get enough.

And that made our future uncertain. That, I wasn’t a fan of.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” Dave said when we walked into his restaurant a while later. I’d called ahead, so he knew we were coming, but I let him tease the guys about how long it’d been since they’d shown up last. Dave let us in a side door to keep attention low, but I knew the guys wouldn’t be accosted by fans here. The clientele was mostly regulars, people who didn’t seem to get starstruck. If they did, they kept it to themselves.

“Wolfie had to move to New York because he’s whipped, and we all had to follow him. Not that I don’t love her. Cassie’s the best. Could’ve done way better than Wolfie, but she likes him for some reason. Then Tris fell in love with another New Yorker. Blame them for our absence.”

By the end of his speech, Jax had a professional-level fake pout and puppy-dog eyes. It really was a talent of his.

Dave laughed as he shook all of our hands. “As long as you visit. And congratulations, Josh and Charlie. Can’t believe Josh is settling down. Never saw that coming. And I’ve only met you a handful of times, Charlie, but Josh is one of the good ones, so I wish you all the happiness.”

“Um, thanks,” Charlie said, and I tightened my arm around her waist—all for show, of course.

This time, she didn’t even stiffen. The warmth in my chest should have been cause for panic, but all I could think about was how she pressed against me.

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