Page 111 of I Blame the Rival

Oh.

My cheeks flame and I quickly look away from the men who clearly have no problem fucking on the regular. The familiar ache of despair rises up but I force it aside and follow Nico to the mahogany kitchen table.

To my surprise, Mo doesn’t take the seat at the head of the table. Pulling out a chair beside his boyfriend, he sits down next to Nico and steals a slice from the box.

I study him from across the table, watching the way his eyes roam over Nico’s face while his partner chats about his day.

Trip confessed to me once that she thought Mo should be on the cover of a GQ magazine and she’s not wrong. The expensive dress shirt molds to a muscular frame that’s impressive even for varsity standards while the masculine lines of his face accentuate the intelligence shining through pale blue eyes.

By all definitions, Maurice O’Brien is a very attractive man.

But I still wouldn’t pick him over Skylar.

“What would you like to do tonight, mi amor?” Nico captures my attention by throwing a piece of pepperoni across the table, “Tonight is all about you.”

Shaking off the restless thoughts, I glance around the luxury apartment. There’s an endless supply of entertainment at my disposal, but the idea that comes to mind doesn’t require anything fancy.

“Actually, I was thinking maybe we could play some cards.”

“Done.” Nico snaps his fingers, “I just bought a bag of skittles that can work as betting chips. Maurice, go grab the cards.”

Mo raises a brow, “I didn’t realize this was your apartment, Montez.”

“Babe, quit being cute. We got a card game to play.”

He rolls his eyes and gets up from the table. I quickly clear the plates and by the time Nico is finished sorting the skittles into varying money chips, the rules of the game have been explained and everyone is dealt a hand.

It soon becomes clear that Nico and I are seriously outmatched. The careful calculations Mo puts into every move has it so we’ve both run out of skittles by the fifth hand.

“That’s it. Two against one.” Nico sniffs, standing up to join me on the other side of the table, “Team Redemption versus The Skittle Stealer.”

I laugh, reaching over to refill our skittle pile, “I don’t think it’s going to help.”

Mo smirks, “This reminds me of a pool game we played. Remind me, Montez, what was the outcome again?”

Nico lets out a growl and deals out the cards. Our combined strategies don’t help in the slightest and pretty soon we’re back in the same losing position.

“You couldn’t let us win one round?” Nico groans, dropping his head onto the table, “All I wanted was a red skittle. Nothing more.”

“It’s not winning if the other person hands it to you.” Mo gives his partner a pointed look and Nico flips him the bird.

“It’s a good thing I’m sleeping in the guest bedroom with Lace tonight. Otherwise, your ass would be on the couch.”

“Again, I return to the question: whose apartment is this?”

The scowl that used to stain Mo’s handsome features is nowhere to be found when he shoots me a grin. I laugh, feeling the irreplaceable warmth that comes from being surrounded by loved ones.

“He’s got you there, Nico.”

“Babe, you can’t take his side. Maurice never lets me live it down.”

Mo smirks, pushing back his chair to stand up, “Enjoy the guest bedroom tonight. I’ll enjoy having a bed to myself for once.”

“Liar.”

Ignoring his partner, Mo turns to me with a smile, “Have a good night, Lacey. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Mo.”

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