Page 52 of Beautiful Mess

His lip twitches, and I have to concentrate onnotcracking a smile.

Cole chuckles, shifting to face his dad. “That’s never going to happen,” he drawls before looking back at me. “Grace has made being fashionably late a personality trait since middle school.”

Dick.

Looking from one Levine man to the other, I do my best to ignore the fact that they’ve both seen me naked, and that I’ve been up close and personal with both of their dicks.Nothing weird about that.“You didn’t mention Cole was coming when we made the plans,” I mutter, fixing Conway with a look that I hope says everything I can’t right now. Like, how Cole ruined an amazing and sexy plan I had.Also, so much for having that mature conversation.Hiking a thumb over my shoulder, I add, “I can come back later.”

Before I can get down the steps, Cole blurts out, “Nonsense. Dad and I just ordered some pizza. You should stay.” My heart pounds harder as I fight the urge to look back at Conway. “You’re already here, and once y’all are done with the planning or whatever, we can catch up.”

“Oh, uh…”Shit, shit, shit.“That’s alright.” Laughter bubbles past my lips thatdefinitelysounds awkward and forced. “I don’t want to interrupt any?—”

Cole takes a step toward me, places his hand on my back between my shoulders, cutting me off when he says, “You’re not interrupting. Come on.”

Conway heaves a sigh, jaw tight as his eyes find mine. “We ordered plenty of pizza, Grace.”

It’s my turn to clamp down on my molars. “Sure,” I grit out. “I guess I could stay for a bit.”

I follow Cole and Conway inside, fumbling to get my phone out of my purse. My fingers move quickly as I send a panicked message to my sisters and Charley.

Me: SOS! COLE IS HERE!

“Cole, why don’t you get Grace something to drink,” Conway tells his son as he closes the front door behind me. My stomach clenches.

“Sure.” Cole stops in the entryway to the kitchen, meeting my gaze. “What do you want? I think he’s got Coke, Sprite, beer, and water.”

“Water’s fine,” I hurry to say, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

As soon as Cole disappears into the kitchen, I smack Conway on the arm. “What the hell? You couldn’t have given me a little heads-up that your son is in town?”

“Well, it’s not like you told me you were coming over,” he deadpans, which does nothing but further irritate me.

“When did he get here?”

Conway shifts on his feet, suddenly looking visibly uncomfortable. “Sunday.”

My eyes widen as I whisper-yell, “What? And you didn’t think to tell me?”

“It’s been a busy couple of days,” he says with a shrug just as Cole calls out from the kitchen, “Dad, you want anything?”

Conway’s nostrils flare on a harsh exhale. “Water is fine.”

“It’s been abusy couple of days?”I parrot, gaze narrowing. “Conway, we have texted a handful of times since I left your friend’s house on Sunday.”

Our excuse of meeting to go over the next fundraiser wasn’t fully a lie. Wedoneed to get together and do that, but we just haven’t made any concrete plans yet.

The sound of Cole’s footsteps nearing closer reaches our ears, and Conway lowers his voice as he says, “Not now. I will explain later.”

“Here you go,” Cole says, handing me a cold water bottle. “Aren’t you hot? Why are you wearing that trench coat? It’s, like, at least seventy-five outside.”

Fuck my life.

“I can hang it up for you,” Conway offers, making my heart leap to my throat.

“No!” I blurt out, taking a step back. Clearing my throat, I force a laugh. “Sorry, I’ve just been, uh, chilly all day. I’ll keep it on. But thank you.”

In the living room, Cole and Conway each take one of the recliners while I sit down on the couch. Memories of sitting in front of this same couch after the concert not even a week ago jumps to the forefront of my mind. I cross my legs, trying to ease some of the ache settling between my thighs, while making sure to not reveal too much of my bare leg as I do. God, this couldn’t be any more of a disaster if I tried.

“So, how have you been?” Cole asks, clearly not sensing the tension in the room.

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