Page 19 of The Secret's Out

“Love you, sweetie. Take care and make sure you practise safe sex.”

Heck it to hell.

“Shut up, Nancy. Love you, too, baby girl, but do not listen to your mother. Sex leads to a huge amount of trouble. Look at me, I married mine.”

“Richard!” Mum snapped before the call disconnected.

Sighing, I slid the phone back to Caden. “That...was very awkward.”

“Remind me to leave the phone call just to you,” Caden said with a nod.

We all heard the front door come open. Eli was standing in seconds. His hand going to the back of his pants.

“Josie?”

I reached out to Eli, laying my hand on his arm. “It’s just Simone, my friend and housemate.”

Who was beautiful. Would the guys notice? Would they want...her?

She came striding into the kitchen and halted in the doorway. “Um...hi.”

A giggle escaped me to see the shock on her face. Her mouth actually dropped open. “Simmy, this is Caden and Eli,” I explained.

“Hey,” Caden said with a smile.

Eli sent her a chin lift before sitting back down.

“They’re your Caden and Eli...? Holy shit, woman. You’ve been holding out on me.”

A blush crept onto my cheeks and then deepened when Eli teased, “Your Eli and Caden, sweetheart?”

Simone scoffed. “Ah, yeah, she talks about you two all the time.”

Let me die right now.

I wanted to hide my face, but I didn’t and I was glad I didn’t because then I would have missed the look, a look I didn’t understand passed between Eli and Caden.

What did that mean?

“Now I know why you left uni early, Josie. Totally understandable to leave for your guys’ visit. You two staying long?” Simone asked as she sat at the only spare seat left at the table.

“Not sure yet, have to speak to Talon.” Caden smiled.

Simone paused to take notice of that smile, like many women would. “Josie’s brother-in-law, right?”

“Yep.”

“Cool. While you’re here, you guys going to deal with the jackarse?”

“Simone.” I glared.

“We’ve already dealt with one by the name of Scott, that him?” Eli asked after taking a sip of his coffee.

“That’s one, but not the major dickhead.”

“Simone,” I snapped.

“What?” She raised her hands in the air and then thumped them back on the table. “They need to know. It’s why they’re here, why I spoke with...” She sat back and slid down in her seat a little, whispering, “Shit.”

---