Page 41 of Crave

“Cutting music will take a while. You’ll be back. Just be careful with Max.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Raw hunger cut through me. “Say it again. Later. Naked.”

She grinned and blew me a kiss. I laughed at her sass.

For the next hour, nothing mattered except me and Landon. Time stopped around us, and I fell into her as if she was the missing half of myself. I kissed her and held her hand. I stroked her back and feasted on the length of her bare legs. The waitress smiled at us after bringing another round of drinks and said we made a cute couple. I was embarrassed at how I loved hearing such a lame line. It wasn’t like me.

I was already changing and there was nothing I could do about it.

Finally, we paid the bill and began to move toward the club side. She’d grab a table, and I’d go outside to meet Noah and help set up. We’d come back around when everyone was there later on and tell them the news.

It was a good plan.

Until it wasn’t.

My arm was wrapped around Landon’s waist and as we moved, she tilted her head up, smiling at me like she was staring at the sun.

But it was just me. Just me she loved.

I murmured her name and kissed her. She parted her lips and clung to me. It literally hurt to break contact with her sweet body. I eased away and smiled back. For those few precious seconds, everything was perfect.

Until it wasn’t.

I heard a loud noise, like a scream of shock, but my brain didn’t process anything until I turned.

I blinked and stared ahead of me. Landon and I both froze.

Coop, Elle, Noah, and Daisy stood in front of us. Jaws dropped. Shocked faces stared back, glancing to me and Landon as if they’d walked into a sci-fi movie and was trying hard to focus on their new fucked up world. And then I saw Max.

He stood slightly behind, gaping at us from behind Coop. Ice washed over me as his furious gaze swiveled from Landon to me.

And then the shit hit the fan.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Landon

Listen to Burn the House Down

by AJR

It was as if the scene happened in slow motion. I was outside my body as I stared back at my friends, who gaped at the show Adam and I had just put on for them without our knowledge. Emotion smashed through me at the look in their eyes and matching expressions.

Shock.

Hurt.

Anger.

Betrayal.

I blinked, hoping I’d conjured up a nightmare, but it was real. Adam’s grip tightened around me, and I unconsciously leaned against him, needing his strength. The plan had backfired and now we couldn’t control the narrative.

Now, we were the ones who’d wrecked the trust and for the first time, I wondered if we’d ever be able to pick up the pieces.

The stunned silence suddenly gave way to a roar of voices as they all began shouting at once.

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