Page 65 of Bourbon and Lies

I turn us back to where we just came from, out of the darkness, and back to the crowd. We move toward the last rows of the picnic tables, where Hadley and Ace are elbow deep in some kind of staring contest. I lean into Laney. “Think you can talk Hadley into bringing you home? If you come with me right now, that’s all anyone is going to talk about this summer.”

Smiling, her eyes dart around the area. I’ll hand it to most of the busybodies in Fiasco, they’re not too obvious about watching or eavesdropping. It's the fact that not a single person is looking over here that has me certain they’re ready to start talking as soon as we leave. And while I couldn’t really give a shit, I don’t think Laney wants or needs that kind of attention. “Am I going home or coming?—?”

Too easy.I smirk at the question, not letting her finish. “You’re coming at least once on my tongue. And twice on my cock, if I’m lucky.”

She bites her lower lip to keep her smile from completely taking over her face.

I brush my hand over her hip and grip it once before I move a bit closer to Ace. “Hey, man, I gotta run before the fireworks start.”

His eyes dart up to mine. “Yeah, fine.”

The curt tone isn’t anything new for him, but he looks more pissed off than usual. Hadley smiles at me, finally taking her attention off my brother. “Laney, can we pretty, pretty please find some fried dough?”

I turn toward where I’ve parked, along the side of the Fiasco green, doing my best not to smile like an eager kid when I hear Laney ask for that ride.

Chapter 28

Laney

“You’re finally seeing it.”

I stuff a piece of sugary dough into my mouth. I have a feeling I know what she’s going to say. The way I melted into Grant on that dance floor did not go unnoticed. “Seeing what?”

She steers with her knee as she rips off another piece of dough. Chewing for a second, she lowers the music as we drive up the road to the distillery. “That man has been romancing you since you got here. Whatever it is he’s trying to get from you…” she pauses to give me a side-eye and grins, “it’s working.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

BEA

Checking in.

She’s like a big bucket of water. A reminder that I’m not here just starting fresh, but I’m hiding from another life. Attempting to start over with the worry that something or someone will catch up with me.

LANEY

Hi! All good here.

More than fucking good, Bea. Stop cock-blocking me.

I roll the window down for a little fresh air. I’m not going to overthink the fact that this is her second check-in this week. Instead, I move my fingers along the humid air rushing by, feeling the moisture collect on my fingertips. “What does that even mean—romancing?”

“He’s a Foxx, so it’s a toss-up whether his plan is to just fall into bed with you. Or to make you fall for him. Either way, it’s to get what he wants out of you.” She slows as we get closer to our houses. “Grant is the quiet one. Or at least, he has been. People forget, but I remember Grant before. And he’s persistent when he has his sights set on something.”

“And that something is me.”

She laughs. “But I think that dumb idiot lost sight of what his original plan was and went ahead and fell for you.”

I pull down the visor and wipe away the bit of black that’s smudged below my lash line, then snag the red lipstick from my pouch.

That’s what we’re doing, isn’t it? Falling.

I dab on a bit of the red to give my cheeks some color and smear the tiniest bit on my lower lip just to freshen up.

“You look great, by the way.”

The car stops, and I open the door. “This is Grant’s driveway.”

She gives me a smirk. “I’m saving you the steps.”

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