Page 43 of Love Puck

“So, you all ready for tonight?” Trey asked as he grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge and tossed it to me.

“You bet. I read it cover to cover.” I opened the cap and took a nice long guzzle of cool water.

“This was her best one, yet. I loved it.” Trey opened his own water and drank half of it with one gulp. His eyes widened, and he waved to someone behind me.

Beau walked up to us, and Trey asked if he wanted anything. Beau asked for a sports drink.

“So, how’d you like the book?” Trey asked him as he reached inside the fridge.

Beau shot me a look and said, “I really liked it.”

Trey shut the door and passed him the drink. “Can you expand on that?”

Part of me wanted to laugh right the hell out loud. But now was not the time.

“Okay, everybody!” Gigi yelled, inadvertently saving her fiancé from answering Trey’s question. She waved her arms around. “Let’s get started.”

The chatter stopped, and everyone settled down.

Beau turned around and led us into the living room. He walked over and sat in a chair next to Gigi. Trey wandered off in Lexi’s direction. She smiled up at him and leaned into the girl beside her—who leaned into the girl beside her—forcing them to squeeze over and make room for her husband. They didn’t mind—I could tell that from the giggles and subsequent shoving matches that ensued.

There was one seat left.

Of course, there was.

Right beside Jillian.

On the loveseat.

Christ.

If I chose to sit on the floor—everyone would notice that I didn’t sit beside her.

If I sat beside her—everyone would notice that I sat beside her instead of sitting on the floor.

Fuck.

This was a lose/lose situation.

The one thing I knew I couldn't do was hesitate any longer. Or people would take note of that as well.

Christ.

So, I sucked up my pride, and headed toward Jillian. Her eyebrows lifted slightly as she watched me move closer.

Then she turned her head and spoke to one of her teammates. I sat down and the cushions sank—causing her to slide into me. There wasn’t much room on the love seat, but I took up most of it.

“Oof,” Jillian grunted while pushing against my arm. “What are you doing?” She jabbed her elbow into my ribs.

I frowned at her and tried my best to move over as much as I could. “I’m sitting. What are you doing? Besides elbowing me?” I shot back at her and grabbed the offending elbow. Her skin was soft and warm, and I felt a bolt of electricity blaze through me.

Not that I could let it show.

“Let go of me,” Jillian whispered sharply. The look in her eyes didn’t match her words, though.

Nope.

The look in her eyes—yeah, I knew that look well. It was her “kiss me” look.

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