Page 16 of Undeniably

Reed pauses his movie as we make our way in. “What’s going on?”

“Our boy’s in love. With a girl. A real girl.” Sage widens her eyes like she’s surprised.

“You’re such a dick. I’m not in love, but if I were, it would be with a girl.” I take a seat in the chair in the corner while the couple cuddles on the couch. For a moment, I wish I had what they have. Morgan’s face flashes in my mind, but I push it out.

“Keaton? In love? I’d love to see him fall. The bigger the ego, the harder they fall. Keaton’s got the biggest ego of all.” Reed gives me a smug smile.

“Hardy har har. You have your fun now. You’re just mad that you’re the boring old couple now.”

“I wouldn’t go that far yet. Victoria and Sterling seem to be trying to beat us in that department.”

It’s no secret that Victoria and Sterling have been messing around. I would even dare say they’ve been dating, not that either of them would admit it. Victoria’s one of my best friends, just like Sterling is. I’m worried she’s looking for something he isn’t willing to give.

“Who’s the chick though? For real?” Reed gives me his full attention.

“Her name’s Morgan. You should have seen the way he looked at her.” Sage sighs dreamily.

Reed tenses, his eyes meeting mine. “Morgan?”

I shrug. “Yeah. She’s back in town, I guess. She took Tinsley to dinner.”

He clenches his teeth.

“Chill, babe. She’ll be fine. She’s with Morgan, probably at Momma’s House having dinner. I bet they go to a movie or something afterward or maybe even come back here.”

“Morgan’s the girl who abandoned Keaton three years ago,” Reed grinds out without unclenching his teeth. He’s seething at this point.

“What? Morgan’s the girl who broke your heart?”

“What the fuck?” I say at the same time Reed turns to her and says, “That was a secret, babe.”

“Sorry.” She gives me a sheepish look. “Why did you let her take Tinsley out?”

I take a deep breath. “Tinsley wants to be friends with her. I can’t tell her who to be friends with. She was there when Morgan left. She felt the pain of her being gone. If she can forgive her and be friends with her, I won’t stop her.”

“You trusted this girl who ghosted you with her, though. Who's to say that they aren’t at some rager or getting drugged by some asshole high school kid?”

My eyes narrow as she brings up the unfriendly reminder of what happened to her last year. She was drugged by the old queen bee of the school who turns out is her niece along with some public-school loser. I will never forget the way I felt when I found out.

The rage threatens to boil up again, so I stand to leave.

“Morgan has a good head on her shoulders. She loves Tinsley. She won’t be careless with her. I might not trust her to stay, but I trust her to keep Tinsley safe. I’m going to go do something.”

As I leave the room, I hear Sage whisper to Reed, “He’s still in love with her. You didn’t see the look on his face.”

I don’t wait for his response as I head to my room.

Am I still in love with her?

No way. Infatuated with her beauty? Maybe. Damn it, if she didn’t come back from that school looking like a damn goddess.

I think back to when I first saw her in the hallway on the first day of school. She was bending over, putting something in the bottom of her locker. I had to bite my knuckle to keep from moaning at how that brief glimpse of her lace panties made me rock-hard.

Long legs running into a shorter skirt with a tucked-in, white button-up top and long, red, curly hair flowing freely down her back. She was a sight to behold.

I grow hard at the memory.

Fuck.

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