Page 91 of Tapped

I exhale and look around before my gaze lands back on my friend. “It’s something. She’s different. At this point, that’s all I know. It should be complicated.”

“Look at who she is.” Brax bites. “It is fucking complicated.”

“But the thing is, it’s not.” I glance back at Evie. She’s laughing at Brian as Rocco dangles him upside down by the ankle. I turn back to Brax. “I know complicated and this isn’t it. In fact, when I’m with her, it’s the least complicated thing in the world.”

Brax stares at me a beat and takes in what I just said. Finally, he hikes a brow and says, “Then you’d better make sure it’s the same for her. If my wife gets attached and the doctor leaves you, I’ll have to kick your ass.”

“You wish you could kick my ass. Watch my college highlight reels and say that again. You’re lucky I’ve never let loose on you.”

Brax smirks and gets back to the topic at hand. “It’s never complicated when you’re thinking with your dick, but trust me, it is. I’ve been there. And she has a child.”

“The fact that you’re implying that I might’ve forgotten that pisses me off.”

He holds a hand out low. “Chill the fuck down. You know what I mean.”

“I do, which is why I’m pissed. Do you think I’m that much of a meathead that I don’t take anything seriously? I fucking do. Especially when it comes to a kid.”

He crosses his arms. “Fuck me. I’ve never seen you like this. It really isn’t complicated for you.”

I luck out—my Godson saves me from having to confirm what Brax has finally opened his eyes to. Brian comes running and is about to jump in the pool, but Landyn yells from inside, “Brax, put sunscreen on him!”

Brian trudges back to his dad and groans.

Rocco follows him out as he yanks his T-shirt over his head, kicks off his slides, and smirks. “Not exactly the Olympic-sized pool you had when we met, but it’ll do.”

Brax wrangles Brian as he slathers him up. “Anything for you, Roc.”

Tim’s youngest daughter, Teagan, walks out and claims a lounge. Tim walks around the corner and frowns when he sees her. “Good luck having a daughter, Cruz. I’m fucking outnumbered at home. Annette assures me every teenager wears shit like that, but I can’t stand it.”

I do not look her way, because Teagan is barely sixteen. She’s followed Rocco around like a puppy dog for years. Everyone sees it and it drives Tim crazy.

Brax drops the sunscreen, picks up his son, and tosses him into the pool right after Rocco jumps in. Water hits everyone and Teagan squeals. “It’s cold!”

Rocco ignores her and tosses Brian into the deep end.

“Kill me before I kill someone else,” Tim mutters.

Brax smirks and looks at me. “You guys staying to swim?”

I turn back to the house and see Evie set her empty wine glass on the counter. “No. In fact, we’re leaving. Evie will want to call Chase soon. I need to get her home.”

Tim sighs like he’s giving up on life. I’m not sure if he’s more pissed about how his youngest daughter is dressed or the fact I’m about to take home the wife of a drug runner with every intention of distracting her from reality with my cock.

I hold up my beer to them one more time before I down the last swallow. “Here’s to not seeing or hearing from you fuckers until tomorrow morning. Thanks for today.”

I walk into the house and go straight to the woman who’s taking over my every thought and motivation. She looks up at me through dark eyes I could lose myself in.

I ignore Landyn and Annette and speak directly to her. “Time to go, baby.”

I can’t tell if Evie is relieved to get out of here or as anxious as I am to get naked. All I know is her answer comes swift and could mean many things. “I’m ready.”

So am I, Evie.

So am I.

* * *

Evie

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