Page 8 of Caught Stealing

“I swear it,” I tell him, doing my best to counteract his nerves. “Even if it means you sneak out of the apartment later, and I pick you up off the street like a prostitute.”

He cracks a grin, easing some of the tension. “I’ve been called many things, but that’s never been one of them.”

“There’s a first time for everything.” My brow arches before I motion to him with my cup. “And, hey, they used to sell virgins into prostitution for some serious cash.”

Kason chokes out a laugh. “You saying you’re willing to pay?”

A smile curves my lips as I step closer to him and lean forward to whisper in his ear. “Guess you’ll have to wait and find out.”

My gaze collides with Phoenix’s over Kason’s shoulder before I have the chance to back away, noting the drop of his lips and lines etched into his forehead. The stiff, rigid way he’s standing, arms crossed and pissy.

The pure rage written in his body language is unmistakable.

And it only gets worse when my hand lands on Kason’s arm, my fingers skating up and down the length of it.

“Until then, you better go,” I tell Kason, stare still fixated on Phoenix. Once I pull back, I break eye contact in favor of looking at my teammate. “Your chastity belt is waiting.”

Another strangled laugh comes from Kason’s mouth, and he peers over at Phoenix…whose stare doesn’t leave me.

“You’re probably right. He looks ready to rip your throat out.”

“Just being a good little guard dog.”

Kason’s head shakes as he steps out of my reach and toward his gatekeeper, somehow finding amusement in this shit situation. “I’ll see you later.”

I fake yet another smile and nod. “Yeah, sure.”

And as quickly as I found him, he disappears into the crowd without another word.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m disappointed. Still, if he’d rather go back to his apartment with his pissy-as-fuck best friend, the more power to him. I’m more than happy to head toward the keg and attempt to salvage the rest of my night rather than dwell on Kason’s missed opportunity.

I’m in the middle of yet another heated Bronco versus Wrangler debate with Theo, my abysmal attempt to entertain myself after Kason left the party with Phoenix. Which clearly isn’t going well, seeing as I’m barely paying attention to Theo while we talk, opting to people-watch while I wait for Oakley to reappear.

“I think you just need to drive it,” Theo says, taking a swig from his solo cup.

I try picturing myself in his ostentatious mustard-yellow Bronco, rolling through town with the top off, and I just shake my head. “No way, man. If I’m driving the thing anywhere, it’s off the nearest fifty-foot cliff.”

All Theo does is laugh. “You say that now, but I promise you’ll convert once you do.”

I’m about to rebut yet again when I catch sight of Oakley making his way down the stairs.

Finally.

His cheeks are flushed, like he just ran a marathon or something, and he glances around the crowd like he’s in search of someone. It’s more flustered and disoriented than I’ve ever seen him. Then I realize thesomeonehe could be looking foris probably me, and it’s time to head out.

“We can continue this later,” I tell him, nodding toward Oakley.

“You do realizeIcould take you back to the house, and we could finish this now?” Theo shouts as I start to walk away, me waving him off as I go.

There’s no way he’s converting me anyway, no matter how hard he tries.

Oakley’s at the bottom of the stairs, still searching the crowd, when I reach him. Yet, he doesn’t see me until I lean in to shout over the music. “You good?”

Two brown eyes flash to my face, and he briefly nods.

Thank God.

“Then let’s get outta here.”

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