Page 23 of Puck My Stepbrother (Pucked and Possessed #2)

QUINN

“ I really need to talk to you about something.” I looked across the table at Jeff, who lifted an eyebrow. Thank God he didn’t look alarmed. Since our failed attempt at sex, I’d felt on edge around him, never knowing how he really felt about my reaction.

“If this is about what happened last week…”

I cupped my hands over his.

“No, no,” I said, “nothing like that. There’s just something I wanted to discuss with you.”

If I kept this up, I’d never squeeze the words out. Have you ever tried to discharge ketchup from a glass bottle? That’s what this conversation felt like.

I really wanted to ask Jeff to become official with me. I wanted to be with him, but I also had other motivations. Deep down, I thought it would drive a stake through the heart of my desire for Levi once and for all.

But I needed the courage to actually take the next step.

If I couldn’t ask him to be official, I’d at least ask him to be my wedding date. Yeah, I knew that would drive Levi nuts and open myself up to other problems, but it would show Jeff that I was serious about our relationship.

Jeff said, “So it wasn’t about…you know…”

I shook my head.

“Look, I was really nervous that day. When you invited me over, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I mean, it occurred to me that maybe you’d want to…you know.”

Bringing up the topic in a public place felt so weird, even though we were using hushed tones. Spot Coffee was so crowded that no one would overhear us through all the racket, but I still felt self-conscious as hell.

“Can I ask you something?” he asked.

“Sure.”

He leaned in a little closer and said, “Was it going to be your first time?”

“No.”

Call me crazy, but Jeff’s eyebrows raised ever so slightly when I said that.

The word did sound clipped, like I’d choked it out, which probably raised a red flag for him.

Yeah, I could’ve imagined his reaction, but I doubted it.

I probably came across like a guy who’d never come close to getting laid in his whole life, let alone with a hockey stud like Levi.

But I didn’t have to tell him my life story. He only needed to know that I wasn’t a virgin.

“I don’t have a lot of experience,” I said, “but I do have a little.”

“Enough to say that you’ve done it, but not enough to feel comfortable just doing it.”

“Yeah, that’s about right. God, I feel so pathetic.”

“No judgment there, Quinn. I’m in the same boat with you.”

“Really?”

“More or less. I have a little experience, but I haven’t jumped into every bed in Buffalo.”

A laugh sputtered out of my mouth. Only Jeff could provide that. Levi had tried cracking jokes, but he’d fallen on his face. Jeff reminded me why I needed to stay the course with someone more like myself.

“There’s no timeline for it,” Jeff said. “I can wait.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I’m not saying I’m inhuman, Quinn. I like sex as much as anyone else. I just figure it’s something you only do when both people are totally ready. It’s not everything, you know.”

Oh my God, I wished Levi could’ve been there to hear that. You know, since he was the guy I’d practically had to peel off my leg since we moved into the house. Only I wouldn’t make that wish. I wanted as much time alone with the true guy of my dreams as possible.

“I can’t tell you how refreshing that is to hear,” I said.

“Really? Why?”

“Because some people would never understand that, even if you drew them a picture.”

Jeff half-smiled, but who cares? I’d thought of Levi again. Doing that constituted flying a little too close to the sun. My focus needed to remain on Jeff and only Jeff.

“I’m not sure if I’m following,” Jeff said.

“It’s nothing. Really.”

The longer I took to say what I really wanted, the greater the danger of Levi intruding on this conversation. It shouldn’t have been a big deal to ask Jeff to be my wedding date. We’d already been dating casually for weeks.

Of course it’s easier said than done, my inner voice said. Because Levi will be there to see you two together. And he’ll feel threatened. You’ll start to squirm, too. Levi might not know he’s the only guy who can get your dick hard, but you know it.

I pursed my lips, trying like crazy to strike Levi Dunn from my mind. And yeah, I knew I was doing a terrible job.

“You know how my dad’s getting remarried soon?” I asked.

“Yeah, you’ve been telling me about all the planning you’ve been helping with.”

“Well, it’s coming up real soon. Kind of crazy when you think about it.”

“I know. Both of my parents remarried, and it was a lot of work both times.”

“So I was thinking?—”

“Hey, Quinn, what are you doing here?”

I nearly jumped right out of my seat. If I had, I might’ve landed in Levi’s arms, which wouldn’t have helped a single thing.

When I tried to respond, I realized I’d lost my breath. Definitely not how I wanted to react in front of Jeff.

Once I settled myself, I found Levi sitting across from me, making himself right at home. I wanted to scream. No, I wanted to freak out completely. I honestly felt like I couldn’t accomplish a single fucking thing with Jeff without Levi interrupting. Worse, I had to hide my frustration.

“What are you doing here, Levi?” I asked.

“I wanted some place to chill out after practice, so here I am.”

He smiled at me. I didn’t smile back. Why the hell should I have?

My stepbrother-to-be knew he was full of shit.

He would get away with it too, which made it all the more maddening.

Masking my frustration wasn’t enough. I couldn’t tell him that I didn’t want him to sit with us, because then I’d have to explain why to Jeff.

Besides, he already was sitting next to us, and we both knew I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

God, what the hell was I supposed to do?

Levi didn’t even look at my boyfriend-to-be, my future husband, the guy of my dreams. And I knew damn well why.

Jealousy. Plain and simple. Jeff presented competition, which Levi thrived on, even if it created a nightmare for me.

“You remember Jeff, don’t you?” I asked.

He glanced at Jeff for the first time.

“I sure do.” Levi looked like he wanted to shake Jeff’s hand way too hard again, but he only smiled at him. But that smile had an edge.

We sat there silently for a moment. This was more than just an awkward silence—it felt downright painful.

“So what’s on the agenda?” Levi asked.

“We were just talking about the wedding,” Jeff said.

“Oh, right. That’s coming up pretty fast, isn’t it?”

“We were saying that, too,” I said.

I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t incredibly frustrating.

I knew why Levi was here. Coincidences didn’t exist in his world.

He wanted to sabotage another coffee date between me and Jeff.

He wanted to be the only guy in my life.

Part of me thought he suspected I was planning to ask Jeff to be my wedding date, so he’d come here to get in the way.

That would have seemed paranoid to anyone else, but my experience with Levi Dunn said that he’d do anything and everything to stop someone else from having me.

“Well,” Jeff said, “I think I’m going to have to go now.”

“So soon?”

“Yeah, I’ve got a night class to prepare for.”

Jeff leaned across the table and kissed me in front of Levi. I wanted to enjoy the kiss, but I was too busy feeling nervous. I knew just what Levi would think.

And when Jeff left, I couldn’t mistake the expression on Levi’s face. He wanted the guy of my dreams out of the picture.