Page 35 of His Temptation

Before I could respond, he sent another message.

LiamC:And it’s just to talk. I don’t want you getting the wrong idea.

My heart sank. He wouldn’t have given in so easily, though. It wasn’t like the movies where two mutually interested people halfheartedly pushed each other away and then came together hot and heavy a day later before confessing their love by the end of the month.

No, real life was messier. More complex.

Me:The wrong idea? This is a hostage negotiation, Mr. Liam. For Larry. Nothing else. I’ll be over around 9.

LiamC:See you then.

I had to work twelve to five that Sunday, so I took a quick shower, dressed, and left the apartment. Mom and Steve had still been asleep, both of them usually not waking up until late afternoon most days, which worked out because it meant I didn’t have to deal with them before leaving.

My shift dragged, minutes feeling like hours. Probably because I was eager about seeing Emery later. When five o’clock finally arrived, I clocked out and checked my phone. Ryan had texted me.

Ryan:What r u doing 2nite?

Shit. What did I tell him?

Me:Just got off work. Gonna grab some food.

Ryan:Wanna hang with me and Lexi afterward? If she’s gonna be my girl, she has 2 get 2 know my boy.

Why did he have to say shit like that when I was about to go behind his back? As if I needed any more of a reason to be guilty.

Me:Sure. Let me grab a burger and then I’ll be over.

That would give me a few hours to hang out with them before having to meet Emery.

I got fast food before driving over to Ryan’s house. Amber was outside digging in the flowerbed when I pulled up. It was the perfect weather for it. The days would only get hotter from here.

“Hey, Cas,” she said, using the floppy hat she wore to block the sun as she looked up at me.

“Hey. Ryan invited me over.”

“You should know by now you don’t have to have a reason to come here,” Amber said with a shake of her head.

“Yes, ma’am.”

She laughed and went back to gardening.

I walked inside the house, finding Ryan in the kitchen picking at a sandwich. I tossed the bag of burgers at him.

“Got one for you too.”

“This is why we’re friends,” he said, unwrapping a burger and taking a huge bite. “Just make sure I don’t have anything in my teeth before Lexi gets here, ’kay?”

“Deal.”

Lexi came over half an hour later, and the three of us went to Ryan’s room. He’d tried to clean it up, and I hid my smile when seeing he’d mainly just shoved everything under his bed and in his closet.

“We’re gonna go to Trev’s later tonight,” Ryan said, after Lexi talked about her day and they made out for a few minutes—a bit awkward for me. “You wanna go?”

“I…uh.” I cleared my throat. “I have plans actually.”

Ryan’s brows shot up. “You have a date? Is it the chick from the mall?”

“Her name’s Faith,” I corrected. “And no, it’s not her.”