Page 24 of Mocha Kisses

If she dares to try something with Luna, I’ll riot. I tell Nova every time that I’m going to riot but this time I actually will. It dawns on me that Yana has been trying to drum something up by sending those last few editors here. Max doesn’t do anything without running something by her so I have no doubt he’s complicit in this but how deep, I have no idea.

“Griffin? Where’d you go?”

“Just thinking.”

“About?”

“Everything? I don’t know. It’s a lot to wrap my brain around.”

She twists around just enough to press a kiss to my cheek before turning back to the phone. “I love the premise and with a little love… I think it’ll be a beautiful story of overcoming hardships and finding strength in a family that isn’t always blood.” Luna sighs as if she needed to hear those words for herself but that’s the jist ofRisky Tastein a nutshell.

A Military doctor, who’s had everything thrown at him in a short amount of time, finds strength, love, and comfort in his brother’s best friends. A little taboo, all of the healing, and a whole bunch of betrayal. And scenes that Nova has reenacted in the bedroom time and time again. I bite my bottom lip to cover my smile and tighten my arms around Luna to hide my reaction.

She doesn’t seem to notice, thank god. “Why writing?” Luna stops scrolling and twists around again, searching my face for answers. “I thought you’d be teaching or something at Red Brook or counseling? I’m not sure.”

“Thought you might pick up a book one day and recognize it. You were always reading something. Funny how you worked for the company and still didn’t find me.” It pains me a little that she was so close and yet still so far.

Luna lets out a deep breath, her body sagging against me. “I never got around to reading your books. All the office girlies were always salivating over them and in the meetings, there was just a lot of squealing. I had no idea it was you and since I was on the move most of the time, I barely had time to read my own projects.”

“That’s fair but I have you now.”

“For now.”

I hate that she keeps making that distinction, that she feels like she needs to. Untangling myself from her, I head for the kitchen, rummaging for anything that’s already prepared. Nova is usually home for lunch but I know he’s currently out, trying to give her space and also look into her predicament. Her bushy curls crowding her face aren’t able to hide her determined expression as she scrolls down, scrunches her nose, and then scowls at my work.

Seeing that she’s distracted, I call up Nova.

“Hey babe. You doing alright?” His voice is soft and I’m sure it’s because he doesn’t know how Luna will take it. Little does he know what Luna and I were into in college.

“Yeah. I wanted to know if you found anything.”

A deep chuckle filters through the earpiece as I move from one cupboard to the other. Crackers, chips, oreos…None of that.“Fin, you know good and well that’s not howanyof this works. I know you’re anxious but there’s no reason to be. We have two weeks and I intend to make good use of my contacts during that time. Rest assured that I’m working on it.”

I still, realizing what his cryptic words mean. Nova and Rome aren’t just my roommates. They aren’t just a lawyer and café owner. The tattoos for them mean something entirely different than they do for me. They hold stories of darkness and pain that I can’t even begin to imagine, emotions that came with a job I still don’t fully understand. I learned not to ask questions about their past seeing as how it brought up expressions I didn’t want to deal with.

Not to mention the physical scars they both carry beneath his tattoos.

“It isn’t legal, is it?”

“Does that bother you, Fin?”

“It should,” I start. “But where Luna is concerned, it doesn’t.” I’m being selfish, asking Nova to save someone that I love just as much as him, if not more, and yet Nova has told me I’m allowed to be.

“Then don’t worry about how I procure this information. Just know that for now, she’s safe.”

“Until they stumble into town. Which is when? A week? Tomorrow?” I ask, grumbling as I rip open the fridge door, still not finding anything I want to eat. Being hangry is a real problem. There’s also a goddess on the couch ripping my manuscript to shreds and it’s all giving me anxiety.

“Griffin, listen to me right now. Deep breaths. That woman needs all three of us. She doesn’t need to see you lose your head. I know how overwhelming this is for you but right now? She needs the man she fell in love with when she was 12. Also, there’s enchiladas leftover from a few days ago that you can warm up. I think she’ll enjoy that.”

“How did you-”

“Because I know you and love you. Take care of her. I have a few more calls to make and then I’ll be back later, alright?”

I don’t answer, wondering if he knows. “Why aren’t you asking me about this morning? After you left?”

“Because that’s between you and her. Until it isn’t.”

Nova hangs up, leaving me slightly confused. I’m not sure he meant to add the last part. Is he interested in Luna? Most men would be angry about that development but I love it. I’ve always loved sharing and watching Luna enjoying the same kinks that I have. Does she still enjoy that or have things changed? How would I even approach a conversation like that?

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