Page 174 of Second Sets Omnibus

Sounds good.

Rocco

Wear something sexy…

Me

You are impossible…I swear.

Rocco

That I am, babe…but I can’t wait to hear about this mysterious band you’ve gotten yourself assigned to. *Winky face*

Me

I hate you. Goodbye…

I scowl,discreetly peeking out the blinds with narrowed eyes. There, beneath the streetlights, in River’s driveway is a loaded-up, flashy, black sports car. In my girl’s driveway, which definitely isn’t mine. I fucking wish; it looks sick as hell. But still! Not! Mine!

About ten minutes ago, the loud exhaust of an accelerating vehicle plowing down the driveway caught my attention, dragging me to this spying chair and magically splitting the blinds for me to watch. With a rapidly beating heart, I focused my gaze on a tall man with dark hair and a fancy suit walking straight into River’s house without knocking. A man! In her house! That isn’t me!

Jealousy rages through my system at the thought of another man not currently in this house laying a finger on her. River West is mine to win back. Not Mr. Fancy Pants, who better keep his hands firmly to himself. I nibble my bottom lip, watching with rapt attention for any movement outside the house.

A few nights ago, after kicking the shit out of my bike and clearing my head, a light bulb went off inside my brain. An important, life-altering decision came to me like a damn epiphany. Within two seconds of my ah-ha moment, I erased the past with a flick of a switch and decided to bury everything that happened. There is no past between us; there is only the future. That I will absolutely be in.

After our short, intense talk and seeing the raw emotions simmering behind her gorgeous eyes, I knew everything she said held nothing but the truth. Sure, a few more incidents need to be investigated. But I’m all in again.

And if I’m being real, I never really got over her. I’m ready to prove that I’m up to the task of being her boyfriend. More importantly, I’m ready to be a father to the little girl who bandaged my face and made me feel something for the first time in years. Everything seems so damn clear to me now. My Pretty Girl belongs to me. Not Mr. Tall, Dark, and Sexy in a suit with a fancy-ass car.

“What are you doing?” Callum asks, plopping down next to me on the couch. Looking me over with a curious gaze, he raises a brow.

I grit my teeth, glaring out the window. “There’s a car in River’s driveway,” I grumble, wildly gesturing.

“A car?” Callum asks with suspicion, peeking out the blinds. “Who is it?” he asks, nearly growling at the thought. That only fuels me further, making a grin spread across my face.

“You care, don’t you?” I ask, studying the darkening of his face when his eyes meet mine. The little shit doesn’t have to say anything. For the first time in a long time, I see his transparent feelings shining through. “Callum likes River. Callum wants to FUUUCK her,” I sing-song mockingly, earning a slap to the back of my head. “Ouch, Fuckface. That’s not very nice.” Rubbing theback of my head, I shake off his attack and continue my ninja spying.

He grunts his answer, huffing as he peeks out. “Who is that?” Callum questions with suspicion, eyeing the man who has the audacity to have his arm around River’s shoulder.

God damn. My heart drops when she smiles up at him, laughing at whatever he says. It lights up her gorgeous face, highlighting her flawless look. A beautiful teal dress clings to her body, letting the world—me and Callum—see her shapely form. She’s definitely not the same girl from Central City. Half of me bets my daughter is the reason she’s filled out after all these years. God damn. I bite my damn fist. No matter how big or small or tall or short River West is, she’ll always be beautiful. Even with a top knot on her head and mismatched pajamas.

“No idea,” I mumble, tracking their movements as he opens the passenger-side door for her. Briefly, she stalls, staring up at him and running a hand down his chest. “Whoever he is, I’m going to bury him.” My heart accelerates when they get into the car together, and I jump from the couch, attempting to walk away. Callum catches my arm, studying my face with concern.

“Where are you going?” he asks softly yet demanding me to answer him. Ah, there he is—the Callum I grew up with. Finally, he’s coming back, and so am I. Call us the comeback kings of East Point. It’s time to reclaim our girl and reclaim ourselves—and cum on her back, of course. It’s the greatest comeback of all time!

“To follow them, duh. I thought that was obvious. Grab your cape and black hood; we’re going stalking, Cally boy.” I grin at his unwavering frown as he stares at me for a few more seconds until the sound of the stupid flashy car roars to life, and he lets me go with a resigned sigh.

“Okay,” he says reluctantly, digging into his pocket and pulling out his keys. “But you’re riding bitch,” he snickers when my face falls.

I purse my lips. “Asshole. Ash has a car we could steal,” I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest. “He wouldn’t fucking mind.”

Since the day we moved in here, we’ve been cooped up. Well, some of us have. I brought my damn dirt bike but no other forms of transportation like an idiot. The guys, on the other hand, brought their vehicles and stored them in the garage—genius assholes.

“Ride bitch or don’t, but I’m following to see. You can sneak up the stairs, steal Ash’s keys, and then try to keep up. But they’ll be long gone by then.” Fuck. Fuckity, shit balls. I hate his stupid logical side.

I scowl even more, huffing at his words. “Fucking fine,” I grumble, shoving my feet into my sneakers as he does the same. “But if I get a boner, it’s from the vibrations. Not you.”

Callum stiffens, stopping dead at the doorway to the garage. “Really? That’s the first thing that pops into your head?” Pops up, hell yes, it will.