Page 23 of Don't Say You're Sorry

Opening the door, he pokes his head inside, glancing at the untouched bags on the floor, then at me on the bed.

“Have you eaten?” he asks.

Shit.“No.”

Chuckling like we share a secret, he tips his chin. “Come on. Nate’s making burgers.”

“These are amazing,” I say around a mouthful of my cheeseburger.

Nate’s manning the barbecue in the garden, shirtless, his ball cap turned backward. Xavi’s watching him from the edge of the pool, his chin resting on his arms as he flutters his lashes up athis man. Dripping wet from my swim, I’m lying on one of the sun loungers, my legs spread, feet planted on either side of it, the evening air cool on my skin.

The sun is setting behind the hills in the distance, the sky painted blue and pink and orange. It’s beautiful, and I wish Easton were here to see it. He’d look so good in front of that background. I make a mental note for my next drawing, picturing the expression he might have if he could see me now.

Maybe he’s avoiding me, torturing me by making me wait. The thought that he’s probably with Carter and Frankie makes my stomach churn with jealousy. Maybe it’s normal for them to get home this late, but I’m too chicken to ask the boys out of fear of them calling me out.

Once all the food is cooked, Nate grabs Xavi under the arms, lifts him out of the pool as if he weighs nothing, and carries him to one of the sun loungers opposite me. Content to be manhandled like a doll, Xavi curls up between Nate’s thighs, his head on Nate’s chest, his eyes closed as Nate thumbs his hips, drawing small circles there.

I want that.

I fuckinghadthat. And I threw it away.

Averting my gaze, I chew the inside of my cheek and play with the drawstring on my swim shorts.

“You and Easton have the same tattoo,” Nate says, and I snap my eyes back to him just as Xavi opens his, searching for the word on my chest. “Sunshine.” Nate reads it aloud, still grazing Xavi’s hips with his thumbs. “Is that you?”

“No,” I say quietly. “He’s the sun.”

They both stare at me for a few beats.

Embarrassed, I clear my throat, shifting in my seat. “Does he know I’m here?”

Eyes narrowing slightly, Nate shakes his head.

“Don’t tell him. I want to see the look on his face when he sees me.”

He cocks his head at me.

I look away again, feeling their eyes on me as they continue to stare.

I huff, lifting my brows at them. “What?”

Nate laughs, a mix of annoyance and amusement on his face. “You really don’t know, do you? I’ve never met anyone who’s more oblivious than Xavi is.”

“Oblivious to what?”

He tips his chin down at my body. “You have no idea how hot you look right now, which is the only reason I haven’t kicked your ass for sitting like that in front of my boy.”

What?

My cheeks heat as I look down the length of my body, my spread legs, my hands on my lap, the droplets of water dripping off my hair and running down my chest.

Sitting up, I grab my towel and dry my hair, using it to cover the top half of my body.

“I’m not oblivious,” Xavi grumbles.

“How many people looked at you like they wanted to fuck you at the coffee shop today?” Nate asks.

Xavi scrunches his nose. “None.”