Page 94 of When It's Us
Josie lays a hand on Hayley’s arm, and I notice the same look pass between Hayley and Josie from the night of the BBQ. “Maybe we’ll get some water with those shots, yeah?”
Nat downs her drink and leans back. “Well, hell, if we’re doing shots, we need something to toast. What are we celebrating?”
Finn lifts her glass—water, probably—and grins. “Being kid-free!”
“Ginger and me, too!” Wren grins, clinking her glass against Finn’s.
Finn tries for a high five but settles for an air slap in my direction. I laugh and meet her halfway.
“Not exactly baby-free over here,” she jokes, patting her bump, “but I’m here for it either way.”
“Alright, but someone else better go get the shots this time,” Natalie says, shooting a look at Finn. “Last round, Hudson nearly had a coronary thinking Sage gave you actual vodka.”
Finn cranes her neck, scanning behind the bar. She spots her husband mixing a drink and waves. Hudson catches her eye and tosses her a wink, which makes her blush from the neck up.
She fans her face dramatically. “What can I say? The man’s a little protective these days.”
Hayley bumps my arm with a tipsy smirk. “My brothers and their women. Right, Ginger?”
My name comes out in two very distinct syllables, and I blink, caught off guard by the gleam in her eye.
I glance around the table and catch Wren’s eye—her brows pinched like she’s wondering the same thing I am.
Does she know?
“You must be drunk already, babe. I wouldn’t know.”
Hayley hasn’t said anything…but maybe she caught something? We weren’t exactly subtle the other night, and it’s possible she saw him leave the next morning. Her room’s downstairs and across the house, but still.
Either way, I keep my face neutral. No way I’m bringing this up—not here, not with all his sisters and half the town packed into this bar.
“Mmm…” Hayley hiccups, eyes narrowed, before pointing an outstretched finger at me next, circling it around like she’s got my number. “I think you know a thing or two about it.”
“Hales,” Finn says, caution in her tone.
“Hey, don’t look now, but there’s your buddy,” Hayley says with a light elbow to my ribs.
I follow her gaze across the space, my eyes landing on a familiar hulking frame leaning against the bar. My stupid belly gives a little flip-flop.
“Probably looking for his flavor of the week,” Nat mumbles into her empty glass. “Knowing Hutch, he’s already picked her out of the crowd.”
“You mean flavor of thenight?” Norah chimes in.
“Give him a few minutes and they’ll be fucking in his truck out back,” Natalie snorts, clinking her empty glass against Norah’s.
My stomach tightens at their flip statements. It shouldn’t bother me like it does. It’s probably normal sibling banter; they all give each other shit, so why should he be off limits?
Besides, Hutch and I are having fun. And for all I know, he may very well hook up with a different woman every night. Their words bring to mind those women at Timber’s Treats and my conversation with Wren a few days ago.
Still, the need I feel to defend him is visceral; to jump in and tell them thatI’mthe apparent flavor of the week.
Obviously, I need therapy.
The conversation shifts, and I let my eyes drift back over to him. He’s dressed in black jeans, a dark green T-shirt, and black Chuck Taylors. His hair is thrown up in that messy bun that shouldn’t be sexy on a man. But on Hutch, it totally is. His laugh is easy, talking to Hudson, before tipping back his beer.
My eyes drink him in, tuning out the conversation going on around me. I don’t have to try too hard to remember how the leather of his belt felt, sliding across my skin, the sharp sting of it connecting with my tits and pussy. The confident, sexy way he used it on me then tied my hands with it.
I wonder if he’s wearing that belt right now and my clit gives a little throb. Letting my imagination run, my eyes drift to his forearms, tattoos on display, and I remember every filthy second of him jerking off above me, thick veins and large hands pulling pleasure out of himself until he was shaking and spent, and I was covered in him. The way he’d tasted himself off my skin was insanely sexy.
