Page 116 of Burn It Down

“Stupidly I thought he wouldn’t disown me like he did Tim. It isn’t like I turned my back on his entire plan for my future, just the one part of it that should have belonged to me from the start anyway.”

I try to console him as best I can while we finish up in the shower and I’m glad we’re going to Phoenix’s tonight. Maybe getting drunk with the guys is exactly what he needs.

Although, we almost get derailed as we dress because the fucker puts on a lightweight sweater that hugs his fucking pecs and shoulders like a second skin. It doesn’t get any easier when I’m lusting after his ass in the dark, stonewashed denim jeans, but before I can unclothe him a second time, there’s a knock on my door.

“Yeah?” I call immediately, not wanting anyone else to point out what may or may not be happening behind this door again.

“Do you guys wanna catch a movie?” Cassie calls through the door.

“Oh, shit, sorry, Cass. We’re going to Jake’s friend, Phoenix’s, house.”

“Oh,” her voice falls on the other side of the door and I wince. Ever since Jake came in to my life, I haven’t made as much time for Cassie.No fucking wonder she wants to move to Miami.

I’m about to promise her whatever she wants for tomorrow night when Jake pipes up and calls through the door while I slip into pants of my own.

“Cassie, do you play poker?”

“Ilovepoker!” Cassie squeals in delight.

“You’re welcome to come with us.”

I love that Jake wants to include my sister, but all I can think about are Phoenix’s words from the boat.I bet you’d make a hot girl.

I do, Phoenix. And you’d better not fucking touch her.

Chapter 31

Jake

After Dylan made his sister change her top —twice —we pile into his Challenger and head for Phoenix’s. He lives on the outskirts of town on a small farm. Not many people know it, but Phoenix used to be a professional bull rider. He entered the circuit at eighteen and was forced to leave at twenty-two after one too many kicks to the face. The last one left him with three fractured vertebra, a broken eye socket, and a jaw that had to be wired shut for six weeks.

Thankfully, he used that huge brain of his to realize careers in the PBR are short and he’d need something to fall back on eventually anyway, so he went to college part-time while he competed on the circuit. When he got out, he transitioned to being a full-time student to finish his degree, but sitting at a desk really didn’t satisfy the need for adrenaline in him so he started as a volunteer firefighter. He finished his degree in chemical engineering at the age of twenty-four, combined his degree with a need he saw in the field, patented it, became rich as fuck, bought a farm, went to work full-time for the fire department, and here we are.

We pull onto the gravel road that will take us to his house and Cassie says, “I didn’t even know places like this existed so close to us.”

“This place is his pride and joy. You should see it during the day.”

When we pull up to the house, much like the outing at Noah Kinkaid’s, we’re the last ones here.

My friends are obnoxious — at least Hudson and Phoenix are — so I should have expected what comes next.

Phoenix rips the cherry-stained, wooden front door open and holds his arms wide, grinning from ear to ear, causing me to groan and grip Dylan’s hand tighter.

“Jesus Christ. Just get it out. I know you’ve got to be dying inside.” I roll my eyes.

In his bestGodfatheraccent, he says, “How could you keep this from me?”

“That’s not even a line from the movie, you idiot.” I want to be annoyed, but I can’t help but laugh.

It only takes Phoenix another half-second to realize we’ve brought female company and he’s moving on from the excitement of my homosexuality.

He races down the steps of his wraparound front porch and dramatically walks right through Dylan and I, forcing us to let go of each other’s hands as he grabs Cassie’s hand, gets down on one knee and asks her to marry him before he even says hello or introduces himself.

She giggles. “Well, that’s anofrom me, but mostly because I’m a city girl and I’m moving soon, but I like your enthusiasm…and your face isn’t half bad.” She smiles and Dylan and I share a look at the fact that her hand is still resting in Phoenix’s.

“My face pales in comparison to the rest of my body,” Phoenix says cheekily. His gaze swings to Dylan. “I’m just saying, I was right, dude. You make a hot-as-fuck girl.”

“Watch it,” Dylan growls next to me and fuck do I love that sound.

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