Page 72 of Between Steel and Secrets
“Villain Bristol has come out to play.” I keep my gaze tight on her as she shrugs her shoulders.
“I’m making it clear. It’s a hard no. That’s one line you don’t cross, Moretti.”
“Understood.”
We approach the house and I’m surprised that Luca’s car is still parked out front. It seems he hasn’t left yet.
I unlock the front door and lead Bristol inside.
“Liam!” Zeke comes barreling for me, and I put Bristol’s bag down on the ground before lifting the little man into my arms.
“Hey, bud. How are you this morning?” I give him a huge hug then put him down as he stares up at Bristol.
“Hi.” He smiles up at her and makes a kissy face at her.
“Well, hello again.” Bristol bends down to his height. “Long time, no see.” She gives him a hug before he hurries off, running through the house.
“Mama!” Zeke squeals excitedly as he goes tearing into their bedroom.
I hope for Harper and Luca’s sake, they’re fully clothed back there.
Ashton stalks around the corner of the house, rubbing his eyes. It looks like he just rolled out of bed. “Someone woke me,” he grumbles, glaring playfully at Zeke.
Zeke giggles, his dimples more pronounced as he runs past Ashton. “Nova!” Zeke shouts, looking for his other friend.
“Seriously?” Ashton playfully glares at Zeke. “Not even a good morning? You go running to steal my girlfriend. I’ll remember that later,” he teasingly threatens.
“Morning,” Bristol says to Ashton, “although it is technically afternoon.”
“Noon isn’t afternoon. It’s noon,” Ashton growls and rubs a hand over his face. “It’s too early for this shit.” He stumbles into the kitchen while I escort Bristol to my bedroom, bringing her bag with me.
Turns out, her sass isn’t solely reserved for me.
I’m not sure if I’m jealous or relieved.
“Do I get a tour?” Bristol asks, following close behind me.
I flip on the bathroom light. “The bathroom.” I wander past it to my room next door and let her inside. “My bedroom.”
She glances around my room, taking it all in while I place her bag on my bed.
“Seriously, what did you pack, all your textbooks? A ton of bricks? A dead body?”
“Yes, Liam, I brought a dead body and stuffed it inside for you to dispose of. Thanks for getting your hands dirty.” The witty smile adorns her face, and I refrain from kissing her.
It’s not that I don’t want to, I’m just never sure if she’s going to cold cock me or kiss me back.
“Right. Well, deceased bodies go in the trash outside. I can show you where that is if you’d like?” Two of us can play this game.
She snorts and plops down on my mattress beside her bag, lying back. “Your bed is so much bigger than mine.” It’s a full-sized bed. Not quite a queen, but it does offer enough room for two when I bring a girl over, which isn’t often.
I haven’t touched another girl since Iris, my friends-with-benefits who, well, we were hardly friends. Mostly, just benefits.
I want a girl to cuddle, to pull against me and whisper into her ear, watch her cheeks redden as I tell her all the naughty things I want to do to her, while her friends are oblivious to what I’m whispering.
“I’m glad you like it, because we’re sharing my bed tonight.” I smirk, hoping she doesn’t decide to kick me to the couch, or worse, go home.
“We’ll see,” Bristol says and smiles. She sits up and glares at me. “What’s on the agenda for today, friendemy?”
