Page 25 of Sexting My Best Friend's Brothers
A pang of jealousy hits me, sharp and sudden. I shove it down. For the first time, the idea of Asher analyzing her or Ethan claiming her makes my chest tight.
It’s a traitorous thought, wanting to keep her for myself, but I can’t shut it off.
I don’t want to be part of a rotation. I want to be the one who unravels her first.
But telling her about Ethan is safer than admitting that.
“And Asher?” she asks, her voice breathless. “Does he stare too?”
“Asher watches everything,” I say. “He brought you a brownie. Do you know the last time Asher brought someone food? Never. He usually forgets to feed himself.”
She smiles, a soft, private smile. “The brownie was good.”
“And me?” I ask, my thumb tracing a small circle on her knuckle. “Do you want to know if I stare?”
Her breath catches. Her eyes lock onto mine, the pupils blowing wide. “I catch you staring all the time, Owen.”
“Guilty,” I whisper.
The air between us is charged, thick with the scent of salt and citrus. I lean in, the movement instinctive, until I can feel the warmth of her breath against my chin.
“Owen,” she warns softly, her voice trembling. “You’re my boss.”
“Screw the titles,” I say roughly. “I’ve known you since you were twelve, Tess. You were just Harper’s loud little friend. But now…” My gaze drops to her lips. “Now you’re here, every day, sitting ten feet away from me. It’s torture.”
I squeeze her hand.
“It’s killing me,” I admit. “Knowing you asked that question. Which one guarantees I get laid?”
She turns a deep, burning crimson. “Please stop reminding me.”
“I can’t,” I say. “Because I keep wondering… did you get an answer?”
“What?”
“Did you get laid, Tessa?” I ask, my voice rough. “Did the red dress work?”
She stares at me, her throat swallowing hard.
“No,” she whispers. “I didn’t go home with anyone. I went home alone.”
The tension in my shoulders snaps, letting my lungs finally fill with air.
“Good,” I breathe out.
“Why is that good?” she challenges, her chin lifting. “Maybe I wanted to go home with someone.”
“Because,” I say, releasing her hand slowly, forcing myself to pull back before I climb over the table and kiss her. “If you’re going to be a liability, Tessa… be my liability.”
Her eyes widen. She chokes on a breath, staring as her chest rises and falls rapidly.
My phone buzzes on the table, shattering the moment. I glance at it. It’s a text from Ethan.
Ethan: Investors just walked in. Get her back.
I let out a groan, picking up the phone. “The fun police has arrived.”
Tessa blinks, shaking her head as if waking up from a trance. “Ethan?”
