Page 44 of The Devil We Know

Darius snorts beside me as he retorts, “Regardless of if you are or are not, it’s not like she’s going to get pregnant canoodling with Antoinette.”

Antoinette and Carolina both nod in agreement, and I groan, realizing that nothing I say will stop these assholes once they get started.

I’m torn between shutting down their nonsense and teaching them a lesson.

I glance over at Dare, who’s eyeing me quizzically. I roll my eyes and say, “Don’t fucking tempt me, man.”

He laughs as he says affably, “Temptation is the spice of life. I thought you knew that.”

I shake my head, unsure of the best way to proceed, given I’m well aware of how Carolina and Antoinette get when they get together and have an idea in their heads.

I look over at the two women, still standing exceedingly close together, giggling naughtily. I finally look back at Darius and say, “Well, if there was ever gonna be a time, I suppose it would be when you look like a complete fucking stranger.”

He barks out a laugh that draws the attention of both women, and Antoinette asks suspiciously, “What’s so funny over there?”

Darius shrugs and answers easily, “Oh, nothing. Just a conversation amongst strangers.”

Antoinette’s lips twist, and she squints but says nothing. Carolina crosses her arms over her chest and says, “I get the feeling the boys are up to something.”

Antoinette nods. “Quite obviously.”

It’s my turn to smirk at them as I retort, “Maybe we are. And what are you going to do about it?”

I know these words are a mistake as soon as they’re out of my mouth, but it’s too fucking late for regret. They look at each other, and I grimace, and Dare laughs, elbowing me again as he whispers, “Way to go, buddy.”

The two women step closer together, and they’re about an inch and a few seconds away from fully embracing when I panic. We really don’t have time for this shit right now.

Out of time and out of options, I say loudly, “You two want to see something?”

Startled, the two women step away from each other and turn to look at me questioningly, and for a moment, I freeze, fully unsure of where the fuck I thought I was going with this. And then I do the only thing that I can think of.

I close the distance between Darius and me, my hands reaching, grabbing him on both sides of his head. I yank him closer to me, and all he can do is give a small grunt before I press my lips against his forcefully.

He freezes, momentarily stunned, and I grip his head harder, my eyes meeting his questioning ones intently. I give him a little shake, hoping he’ll get the point to go along with it.

There’s never been any hidden agenda between the two of us throughout our friendship. It’s not like we have any unrequited sexual feelings toward each other, but we’ve known each other long enough and been in enough questionable situations to know when you just kind of roll with it. And so, after a brief hesitation, that’s what he does.

Darius shifts closer, his entire demeanor changing as one of his hands moves to the back of my head, and he steps into me fully. Our eyes are still locked, and I see the humor glimmering in his, even as their typical golden hue is now more of a green to try to blend in with the Irish crowd.

We both do our part to play our roles convincingly, our lifelong friendship and complete dedication to our partners fueling the show.

Antoinette whisper-shouts behind me, “It’s happening. Carolina, it’s happening.”

I recognize the whimper being hers, and then she replies, “I know. And it’s so weird because it doesn’t look like them. Should we like it or not? I’m so confused.”

Antoinette cries, “I know. I don’t know what to think.”

Darius and I continue our show for a few moments more before pulling back at the same time. He grins at me, and I laugh because he looks so different that itisalmost like kissing a stranger.

It’s not like Dare’s the first man I’ve kissed before, and though I can honestly say I’m not typically sexually attracted to men, I’m not opposed to some canoodling for the enjoyment of others. I’m well aware he feels the same way, especially with the concessions he’s made throughout his relationship with Antoinette to accommodate her flair for the wild.

I turn around and face Carolina and Antoinette, and they’re grinning stupidly, occasionally giggling. I give them a stern look and then say, “That will have to tide you over for now.”

They both nod, continuing to giggle, and I turn my attention back to Darius, who’s now leaning back against the table as if nothing happened.

He sighs and then says, “I guess we better get back to business.”

I nod and ask, “Do you think that took care of their curiosity?”

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