Page 121 of The Proposal Pact
“Mm-hmm, spark.” I pat the pockets of my sweatpants for the phone but of course, it’s not there. I’m just about to send yet another colorful curse into the sky when it lights up with orange lights and a loud siren.
“Oh, fuck no,” I curse, after all.
“What? Who’s there?” Sophie asks before the fire department truck gets onto the sand and our way. Mentally, I try to remember what day today is and if it’s the fuckers’ shift. But they helped me figure it out real quick.
“What the fuck are you two doing here?” Of course, it is. Because God’s not done with punishing me yet.
Luke and Griffin park, getting out of the car, the headlights of which illuminate the whole insanityof this night.
“Taking a hike on a beach, which I suggest you two do as well.” I wave my hand for them to move along just as my amazing wife yells, “Help!”
“The fuck?” Luke shouts, his eyes snapping to Sophie. The eyes that I’m about to pop out.
“Hey! Eyes over here!” Luke dares to roll them, but looks away quickly. I don’t give a shit that he’s madly in love with his wife. No one’s allowed to look at mine.
“Um, Cal, seriously, what are you two doing on the beach in the middle of the night half naked?” Griffin asks, clearing his throat as he does his best not to stare at Sophie’s ass.
“I’m going to assume the same thing you and Julie keep doing all over the town, beach and everywhere else. Seriously, get a room from time to time. But these two did take it up a notch,” he adds, casting a quick look at Sophie halfway up the rock. “Jesus, how did I get stuck with you kinky motherfuckers for friends?”
Griffin fake coughs. “Says the guy with a pierced dick.”
“Okay! Is anyone going to help me?” Sophie yells.
“Jesus, Cal, go catch your wife before she falls and breaks something.”
“No!” Sophie interjects. “Clover can’t.”
Luke and Griffin frown as I lift my eyebrow. “Didn’t think I tried that, smart-ass?” I ask him.
“And why the hell not?” Luke asks Sophie.
“Because he can’t w-win.”
“Win what? What kind of kinky games are two into?”
“Luke! If y-you don’t g-get me off here, I’m going t-to tell them about th-that one time you and Grace—”
“Griff, go get the ladder from the truck,” Luke quickly cuts her off. Smart man.
They set it right next to Sophie, who is now shaking so badly from the cold she can barely hang onto it. Not to worry, I’ll warm her ass right up as soon as I get my hands on this little menace.
“You two.” I nod to my friends. “Look away.” Rolling their eyes, they do as they’re told. “How did you even know we were here?”
“Cal?” Griffin gives me a look. “You forgot where we live? We got no less than thirty phone calls about you chasing your wife down Love Street. Naturally, we had to see what was happening for ourselves.”
“Naturally,” I deadpan.
“Hey, we like you like this.”
“Like what?” I arch an eyebrow, watching as Sophie carefully takes a step onto the ladder.
“Alive,” Griffin says at the same time as Luke grumbles, “Less miserable.”
Griffin elbows Luke with a glare and they start arguing but I ignore them both, their words echoing through my mind. Alive. Less miserable.
That’s…accurate, but also an understatement because that girl up there makes me feel things—want things—I can’t fathom. Or couldn’t before.
Sophie starts descending, and a brief thought runs through my head that I should just let her go. I should stop being this selfish bastard keeping her when I have no right. And then another wave of self-loathing washes over me when I realize that I won’t. Can’t. I can’t let her go.
