Page 96 of Take What You Want

“You sound sure of that.”

“I am. And as you know, I’m never wrong,” she teases.

I chuckle and flick my eyes to hers. “And by the time it does, will I still have to pretend like I don’t want to pull you into my side? Like I don’t want to put my hands all over your body and show that you’re mine?”

Jane looks around nervously as she stutters for a response. “I’m not yours.”

I tsk. “I see we’re still in the denial stage.”

“No, we’re not.”

“Sure.”

She rolls her eyes and waves me off. “Step back before anyone notices.”

“What if I want them to notice?”

Alarm fills her face, and I concede, calming her down. “I’m joking.”

“Ha-ha,” she says sarcastically.

“But I’m really not.”

“Nikolai…”

I pop a chip in my mouth. “This isn’t the time for that conversation. But we’re going to have it.”

“Now who sounds awfully sure about something,” she muses.

I grin and grab my drink, rounding the counter to head outside by Walker and Hayden. Walker keeps him from burning the steaks and by the time the food is ready, we gather around the table outside by the pool to eat. The conversation is light-hearted with no more mentions of Reid. Everyone asks about my show, and I excitedly fill them in on it. Even though it was ashort set, it satisfied my thirst to be back at those festivals and also keeps me wanting more.

It’s a reminder of why I’ve been spending so many hours in the studio, and why I agreed to the stint with Kerra. It’s keeping the buzz alive.

After we clean up, Carter takes the girls inside to show them some of the magazines she’s shot recently and the guys and I settle on a few loungers tucked away under a pergola. The sun is beating down today and it’ll be a miracle if I avoid a sunburn today.

We pull the chairs into a tight circle so we can still talk. Hayden nervously twirls his beer bottle with one hand as Walker and I tell him about the song we wrote together. He only seems to be partially listening and finally Walker says, “Dude, what’s your deal?”

He licks his lips and then leans in. Walker and I do the same.

“I’m having a ring made,” Hayden says quietly, his eyes nervously darting toward the open patio doors where the girls are gathered in the kitchen. “It should be done in a few weeks.”

“No fucking way.” I smile, and Walker claps Hayden’s shoulder excitedly.

“Congratulations,” Walker says. “When did you get the ball rolling on it?”

Hayden rubs the back of his neck. “I’ve known this is it since last fall, but after the move and then the renovations, I wanted to wait until we were finally settled.”

“Do you think she has any idea?” I ask. I glance over at the women. Jane’s chest bounces around in her bikini top as she shakes a cocktail shaker and chats animatedly with Carter. Scar’s leaning against the counter looking less engaged in the conversation than usual. Even for her.

“I mean, we’ve talked about marriage and our future together,” he says. “And I asked her what she likes in a ringso I have somewhat of an idea, but we haven’t talked about a timeline or anything. I want to surprise her.”

“How are you gonna do it?” Walker pipes in.

Hayden shakes his head and sighs heavily. “I have no fucking clue.”

“Don’t overthink it,” I tell him, and he snorts.

“Of course that’s what you’d say.”

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