Page 62 of Foul Territory

FaeAtHeart

Her?

12

SYDNEY

Guests for Nash’s party should start arriving in the next hour or so. Walking around the main floor of the townhouse, I do one last check to make sure everything is ready.

We spent most of the afternoon putting up decorations and hanging lights both inside and outside on the deck and fence line. It looks like a tropical paradise with palm trees and flowers in every direction.

Not that a bunch of college kids will care about our efforts.

I open the sliding glass door that leads to the back yard and step out onto their small deck. Wyatt and Eli are working on the fire pit with Wren directing them. Gage and Koa are on the other side of the yard setting up the beer pong table and the cornhole boards.

I check the list on my phone one more time. The food and drinks are good. Hart is waiting inside for the pizza delivery. Everything is right on schedule.

“Is there anything else you need us to do?” Gage asks, making his way up the deck stairs with Koa following behind him.

“No. I think we’ve done all we can until people start showing up. Thanks for all your help.” I give him a quick hug.

“Of course. I’m going to go to my place and shower,” he says. “Tell Nash I’ll be back later and text me if you need me to grab anything on my way over.”

Koa leans against the deck railing, glaring at Gage’s retreating back as he walks inside the house. If I didn’t know better, I would think Koa was jealous.

I don’t have time for another one of his little games. I still need to get myself ready for the party. Without sparing him another glance, I turn on my heel and head inside too. Lauren and I are getting ready together in Hart’s room.

“I helped too. Don’t I get a hug?” he asks, before my hand reaches the handle. “He only helped with the tables and the cornhole. I hung all the lights and helped Wyatt with the wood pile.”

“Are we bartering for hugs now?” I ask, turning back toward him. He pushes off the railing.

“Barter. Steal. Beg. What would it take?” The intensity of his eyes steals my breath. I could easily give him the same friendly hug I gave Gage. Standing toe to toe with Koa, my body craves more. One hug wouldn’t be enough.

“I would love to see you beg but I’d feel bad if you got a splinter in your knees.” Leaning into his chest, I wrap my arms around his shoulders. “Thank you for your help. Nash is going to love it.”

His arms go around my waist and up my back. He pulls me into a tight embrace. Instinct has me wanting to melt intohim, but I stand my ground. “I did this for you. If I was just doing it for Nash, I would have bought him a gift card and called it a day,” he says, his fingers digging deeper into the cotton material of my shirt.

I drop my hands and step out of his arms. “I need to get dressed.” I don't know how to respond to his statement. While I’m sure what he’s saying is true, I feel like a fool for believing it. Everything is always for Nash.I think.

“Are you wearing the dress I picked out for you?” His eyes slowly peruse over the length of my body as if he’s picturing me wearing it.

“You’ll have to wait and see.” I smirk, backing away toward the sliding glass door. “I wouldn’t bet on it,” I say over my shoulder. Koa shakes his head, grinning, and follows me inside.

“Fifty pizzas Sydney?” Hart asks the second I step in the kitchen.

“We can order more if we run out,” I reply. Lauren winces. “What?” I ask her.

“How many people are coming?” Hart speaks before Lauren can answer me. She continues to stack and organize the pizza boxes by topping.

“That would be his department.” I toss a thumb in Koa’s direction. “I just ordered the food according to the headcount.”

Hart directs his attention to Koa relieving me from his icy stare.

“Why don’t we go upstairs and get ready while the two of you work this out,” Lauren says, giving Hart a kiss on the cheek. Koa looks at me and I shrug.

“She can’t help you,” Hart says. “How many people did you invite? I thought we were keeping it small.”

“Not sure if you know this but Nash is the starting quarterback at Newhouse. He’s one of the most popular students on campus. The fact that I’ve kept it to one hundred people is a miracle,” Koa replies.