Page 38 of Resist Me

Lifting my gaze to Sen and Kai, I couldn’t bring myself to deny it. It wasn’t a priority, but nobody could look at those two and claim not to want something like that. Maybe I was a skeptic, but I didn’t think that sort of bond was common. Kai’s parents had it, so maybe it was genetic. If that was the case, I was screwed.

My parents weren’t together when my mom got pregnant. According to my dad, they had a great relationship- platonic, not romantic. They were best friends who slept together once in a while and they probably would have co-parented like pros. They never got the chance to find out since she died during an emergency c-section. And so, little West came into this world already spreading disappointment. Surprisingly, though, my dad had never thrown her death in my face, even when he was finding a million other things to yell at me for. I guess being minutes old gave me a pass.

Turning to Brooks, I flashed him a toothy grin. “Want me to love you like that?”

“No,” he snorted.

“If I was taking a guy’s dick, I’d shout it proudly from the rooftops.”

Sen dropped his face into his hands. Before I could make fun of him for his demureness, I realized that he was laughing.

“You’re so fucking dumb.”

“That’s rude.”

He lifted his head, still laughing. “I can’t stop imagining you scaling a building and shouting something like that.”

I took a bite from the celery stalk I’d stolen from Brooks’ tray. “Loud and proud, baby. There’s no other way to live.”

Brooks glared at the stolen piece of food. “You’d do that, then he’d leave you because you’re embarrassing.”

“That’s the thing about me, though. If they get that far, they already know who I am, so they should expect me to do some crazy shit. If they don’t, they’re just dumb.”

“Probably only in it for the pretty face,” Kai noted.

“Speaking of pretty,” Brooks sighed.

I followed his gaze and raised a brow. “You have a crush on Linc?”

“No, but he’s gorgeous.”

Taking another bite of celery, I watched Lincoln. He was leaning against a wall with his hands in the pockets of his black jeans. There were a few people around him that I didn’t recognize, but they seemed friendly. His white hoodie hugged his chest and the color contrasted his chocolate brown curls and tan skin. The black hoop on the side of his nose didn’t look out of place. I’d only seen a few guys with one and it worked for him.

Yeah, he was exceedingly attractive, but I already knew that. Anyone with eyes could see it. I thought he was more endearing when he was in his home looking a little nervous and uncertain. His face took on a softer quality, stripping him of expectation and labels. I felt like I’d seen a side to him he hadn’t intended to show me, one nobody else in this place had seen.

“He is hot,” Sen agreed.

Kai narrowed his eyes. “Really?”

“Don’t act like you don’t think so.”

“Yeah, okay. He did want to take me for a ride on his motorcycle.”

Sen’s mouth dropped open. “Did you guys…”

“No,” Kai laughed. “I thought about it, but think about what that would do to West.”

I scowled at the idea. “Good thing my hatred for him stopped you, otherwise you might not be here with Sen.”

Brooks grunted and leaned back in his chair. “Maybe I’ll jump ship and go for it.”

“What is this thing you have going on anyway?” Sen asked.

“My lips are sealed.”

“Why? It’s scandalous, isn’t it?”

It didn’t seem like Brooks was going to answer. I didn’t care that much. Besides, Lincoln was now looking in our direction. In my direction, actually. I was a fly caught in a web and my heart was beating like I was about to become a giant spider’s meal.

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