Page 67 of Fourth Wheel

“Baby, do that thing I like,” I croon, moving his hand down so it’s skimming my hip again.

“Uh, what thing?” he grunts, balling his hand into a fist when he touches bare skin.

So hedoeshave some sort of limit. Interesting.

“You know. That thing,” I whine, prying open his hand and lacing our fingers together. “Or maybe we could try that fantasy I told you about the other day.”

I’m playing with fire here. But he’s the one who struck the match. Now he needs to burn.

He clears his throat and shifts away from me. Any farther and he’s going to fall off the damn bed…

“What was it again?” he stammers. He’s clearly uncomfortable. Hehasto know I’m fucking with him at this point—doesn’t he?

I turn around and face him. No way am I missing his reaction.

“You know. The one where you pretend to be your brother.”

His eyes triple in size—he’s like a cartoon character, his eyes practically popping out of his head—and this time he actuallydoesjump off the bed. “Maddie, I—”

“Save your breath, Fielding,” I snap. “I already texted him. You might want to make yourself scarce.”

As if on cue, Dempsey comes flying into the room, bare chested and worked up into a rage. He scans the bed, his attention first landing on me before turning to his brother.

He charges, and before I know what’s happening, they’re both on the floor, grunting and exchanging blows.

I was proud of myself for knowing it was Fielding within seconds. But as they tussle on the floor, I can’t figure out who’s who, or who’s winning.

“Uncle… Tony…” one of them grunts from where he’s pinned under his brother. “Uncle Tony!” he yells louder, using both hands to shield his face.

Now that they’re not moving, I know Dempsey’s sitting on top, breathing hard as he keeps his brother pinned.

“Um… who’s Uncle Tony?” I giggle.

They look over at me at the same time, their matching blue eyes and perfectly chiseled jawlines a freaking sight to behold. Dempsey hops to his feet, then reaches out one arm and helps Fielding stand.

“Code word to call off a fight,” he explains, shoving his brother once for emphasis. “Uncle Tony means total forfeit. Uncle Andy means pause for a breather. And Uncle Buck means fuck right off.”

I roll my eyes at his explanation, looking from Fielding to Dempsey, then back to Fielding again.

I’m here.Heknows I’m here. And yet neither of them is acting like this is an earth-shattering revelation that’s going to change our dynamic or ruin their relationship.

Dempsey walks over to the bed and props up on the edge, holding out one arm to me in invitation. I crawl over to him, careful to keep my ass covered now that we have an audience.

“You okay?” he murmurs into my hair and strokes my shoulder as I sink into his touch and hum my reassurance.

“Dude,” Fielding starts, calling our attention to where he’s bent over and panting in the middle of the room. “She did it,” he declares. “She seriously did it.”

Uncertainty shoots through me as I look between the brothers. Fielding’s smirking. I don’t know what the hell he’s playing at. I didn’t do shit. I wouldn’t. Dem knows that.

“You’re an idiot. If you didn’t already have a broken rib, I’d break one for you,” Dempsey quips.

Fielding grins, puts both hands on his head, and does a twirl right in the middle of his brother’s bedroom.

“Bro. Sheknew!”

“I’m lost,” I interject. “What did I supposedly know?”

“You knew I wasn’t him,” Fielding answers without missing a beat. “I don’t know when it clicked—”