Page 16 of Between Steel and Secrets
Wish I could spread the joy around here, because the tension steaming off Luca and Ashton is worse than when they wanted to kill each other a few months ago.
“You’re happy. Did you get laid recently?” Ashton quips.
Nova smacks his arm.
“Ow. What was that for?” He shakes his head, staring at her. “Are you still mad at me from earlier?”
“That’s a rude question to ask,” Nova scolds her boyfriend.
“If I’m mad?”
Nova grumbles and steps closer, staring up at him. “No, if he’s had sex recently. You’d be pissed if Liam asked me that question.”
“Of course, I would, but that’s because the only person fucking you ought to be me.”
Nova tries to suppress a smile, but she’s failing miserably. It’s cute. “That’s not happening tonight, at least not with you.”
Ashton raises an eyebrow. “Who else do you plan on bringing to bed? This guy?” He jabs a thumb in my direction.
Why are they bringing me into their flirty, fighting banter? “Excuse me? I’d rather fuck Bristol than get in between the two of you and whatever it is going on there.”
As soon as the words leave my lips, I grimace, realizing the truth.
I’ve known it for a while, since that stupid kiss.
I’m catching feelings for Bristol Greyson, and as much as I want nothing to do with her, I can’t stop thinking about her.
Ashton smiles down at Nova, wrapping his arms around her waist and then immediately dropping his hold.
Their banter is a bit strange tonight, but it’s nevertheless amusing to watch. Besides, I’m glad to have Nova around, she keeps Ashton a bit more in line than he otherwise would be.
Nova glances in my direction, raising an eyebrow. “Who’s Bristol?”
“No one,” I mutter under my breath.
Luca comes to crash next to me on the sofa, bringing Zeke with him. “Is this the girl you spent all day with yesterday? The one that broke your dick and landed you in the emergency room?”
I roll my eyes and turn my phone around so no one else can see the text message that I’ve been staring at from her father.
“She didn’t break my dick because we didn’t have sex. We didn’t even kiss yesterday.”
“Boring!” Nova climbs onto the sofa, squeezing between Luca and me. She winks at Ashton, who is forced to sit on the love seat on the other side of the room.
“It was anything but boring,” I admit. Whenever I’m with Bristol, boring does not describe our relationship, which isn’t even a relationship. It’s not even classifiable as a friendship.
“Are you going to share any other details, or just relive it in your head?” Nova stares at me, and I hope I’m not blushing.
The room is warm, or maybe it’s just the fact there’s three of us on the sofa.
Zeke climbs across Luca’s lap and lands in Nova’s arms. Burying his face in her neck, he closes his eyes.
The little guy is getting sleepy but clearly fighting it.
“Liam?” Nova is waiting for me to answer.
“Right, I, uh, saw Bristol yesterday at the coffee shop. The short version is that she came all the way from Great Falls to see me.”
Nova’s eyes widen. “That’s promising.”
