Page 9 of No Shot (The Toronto Tundra #2)
Mia has her own company, Cookie and Co, and everything she makes is fucking fantastic. I ’ ve missed my cookie plug these past couple weeks. I ’ ve used all my willpower to hold out, I haven ’ t asked for any, and now I ’ m desperate for my fix.
“ Maybe,” I huff.
“ That ’ s more like it.” Jack smiles, pulling me into some pseudo side hug. “ I missed you, man.” AHA! I knew it.
“ I better pre-emptively get a few dozen cookies for having to deal with some new freaky neighbor.”
“ Come on, she seems super nice.” He looks genuinely surprised at my statement, which only serves to confuse me more.
“ Who is? ”
Now he looks confused, as he gestures over to where Bri is standing. “ Your new neighbor…”
Well, well, well. Isn ’ t that fucking interesting. I could work with this.
My mind is getting more excited by the second. I barely register the “ So, we good now?” from Jack.
“ What? Oh, uh, yeah. Sure, we ’ re good.” He immediately straightens up with a relieved smile and leads the way back to the table.
“ Everything okay?” The hopeful tone in Mia ’ s voice pulls at my heartstrings. I was never mad at her. I hope she knows that. I was just pumped for a year of living next to them. Jack and I going on our morning runs, then coming back to their place to chill together. I love hanging out with them.
I spent two weeks this summer at a cottage they rented. All we did was chat, eat, and play games—it was some of the most fun I ’ d ever had. I thought it ’ d be like that all year, or hoped it would be at least.
I wrap my arms around her neck and pull her back into a hug before planting a quick kiss on her forehead with a loud smack of my lips.
“ All good. Excited to come visit you and Bean soon,” I say with a smile. Bean is their chunky, chocolate brown cat. I love that little guy.
“ We ’ d love that,” she replies with a relieved smile.
For the next thirty minutes, I watch as Max and Evan both take their turns chatting with Bri. I ’ ll admit, she seems a hell of a lot nicer to them, but I like to think she reserves her prime sass for me.
I try to focus on enjoying my night, but there ’ s a bitter taste on my tongue that I can ’ t quite shake.
“ It ’ s a done deal.” Max grins like a cat who caught the canary when he returns and slumps into the seat next to me.
“ What is?”
“ Bri and I. I ’ m calling it. She ’ s coming home with me.” The fuck she is.
The prickles on my neck take me by surprise, and I grow irritated. That ’ s new.
“ I doubt it, bud.” I slap him on the back, a lot harder than necessary. I needed to get some of my building energy out.
“ I ’ m serious, ten more minutes, and I ’ m asking her back to my place to fuc—”
He stops mid-sentence, and I don ’ t immediately register that it ’ s as a result of how hard I just slammed my beer on the tabletop.
“ You okay, Penn?” Mia asks from her spot across the table, cozied up next to Jack.
“ Fine,” I mumble. What the fuck is happening to me right now? I chug the rest of my beer and turn my head for what feels like the millionth time tonight. Bri ’ s left her usual spot, and I shamelessly scan the crowd, only catching her short brown hair peeking out behind Scott ’ s massive frame.
I casually stroll over to the far end of the table without a word to the rest of the guys.
“ We ’ re heading out, Bri. Do you want us to drop you off?” Cami shouts over the sound of the speaker. It ’ s a lot louder over here.
“ I think I ’ ll stay for a bit longer. You guys head home.
Sweet girl is out like a light. I can Uber.
” Yes, I mentally pump my fist in the air.
She wants to stay, which means she ’ s even less likely to leave with Max.
Not like that was a real possibility anyway, but uh, it ’ s a little comforting nonetheless.
“ You sure?” Cami doesn ’ t seem convinced.
“ Positive, don ’ t worry about me.”
“ Alright, babe, thanks for a fun night. Good luck on your quiz tomorrow. You ’ re gonna kill it!” As I watch the sisters hug it out, Scott turns to me, grasping my arm.
“ Keep an eye on her, alright, Penn? Make sure she gets home okay?”
“ Course, Cap,” I assure him, suddenly feeling my chest puff up with his trust in me. He nods and leads his family out the door. Just like that, I ’ m left standing next to Bri.
Max ’ s words reverberate in my brain, and my mind flashes back to every moment I caught her smiling or laughing with Evan or Max tonight.
I bite down on my jaw, unable to shake the growing irritation in my gut.
The sense of adrenaline pulsing through me when she looks up at me catches me off guard.
In a second, I prowl toward her. She looks as surprised as I am.
The heat of the moment burns in my gaze as I stare wordlessly into her bright blue eyes.My hand has a mind of its own as it gently sweeps its way down her bare arm, igniting a trail of sparks where we connect.
She goes to turn away, but I grab her hand in mine.
“ Hey, dance with me.”
It ’ s so small, and soft, and… warm. I like it. I don ’ t know why my heart starts to beat faster as I wait for her answer, silently praying she says yes so I can put my hands all over her. She ’ s not going anywhere with any other guy, that is for fucking certain.
Whatever trance I ’ m in is rudely interrupted by the soft clearing of her throat before she drops her hand.
“ Mmm, it ’ s gonna be a pass from me.”
“ It ’ s just so I can keep my eye on you,” I lie.
“ I ’ m a big girl, Penn. I don ’ t need you looking out for me.” She crosses her arms over her chest and pops her hip out indignantly, but stumbles slightly before recovering.
“ Fine, you don ’ t want to dance? At least sit for a few minutes and have some water.” I don ’ t know why I said that. I don ’ t know why I suddenly feel very protective of her well-being. How many drinks has she had tonight?
“ Fine, I will sit.” Well, at least that was easier than I thought. I was expecting her to put up more of a fight. I pull out the chair beside me, but she narrows her eyes at me and saunters to the farthest seat at the other end of the table.
She settles right next to Theo with a stubborn humph I can see from here.