Page 83 of Stay With Me

She smirks. “For the unforeseen future, I work until three and then I’m free the rest of the evening.”

“Geez. Get some friends, Sunny,” I mock.

She leans over and twists my nipple.

I’m too slow to smack her hand away. “Ow! That’s attached.”

She scowls. “Then don’t be rude!”

I laugh, capturing her hand and pressing my lips to it. “Just pencil me in for every night.”

She yanks it out of my grip. “No. According to you, I needfriends. Maybe I’ll go ask Harrison to hang out. Or Kyle. I mean, you weren’t specific on onlygirlfriends.”

“Do that and you’ll find out very quickly how fast a fight can break out.”

“Over me having friends you told me to get?” she challenges.

“I don’t want my girlfriend hangin’ out with guys who want to get into her panties. And I’d hope you’d feel the same way aboutme being around chicks who make suggestive comments about ridin’ my dick.”

She stares at me. “Did you just call me yourgirlfriend?”

“Yes.”

The silence lingers as Landen returns with a baggie of ice for Ellie and the anxiety of her not responding surfaces up my chest and neck until I can no longer take it. The hives are making me itch and even if she’s messing with me, I need to clear the air now.

“Have I not been clear that we’re together and athousand percentexclusive?” I ask, no longer watching Landen ice Ellie’s fake broken toe.

“Hmm. I guess I don’t remember you askin’ for my hand in girlfriend-boyfriend matrimony.”

My hand lowers beneath the table and when I find her thigh, I squeeze it hard between my fingers. She releases a little yelp and flashes a smart-ass grin at getting me worked up.

Yeah, she knows exactly what she’s doing. The little shit.

Leaning closer until our shoulders touch and my mouth brushes her ear, I decide to fully give in to her little game and make her eat her words. “I still have the taste of your sweet pussy on my mouth from when you came on my tongue this afternoon. The photo of you in that little lacy number is all I see when I close my eyes. The first thought I have when I wake up at five in the morning is wondering when I’ll get to talk to or see you again. And the first time I took a woman out on a real date or let drive my truck has only ever been you. But if you need me to drop to my knees and propose girlfriend-boyfriend to you, then just say the words, sweetheart. I’ll do it right now.”

Her throat moves and her body stiffens when I lean back in my chair. Ellie has apparently dismissed Landen after he brought her ice. And considering it’s melting on top of the table confirms she gave him a bullshit excuse to avoid dancing with him.

Magnolia turns toward me, neither of us seemingly worried about who could be watching us right now, and I arch a brow as she noticeably struggles to speak.

“Something you wanna say, Sunny?”

Her eyes narrow into a glare and my lips curl up in victory.

Finally, she swallows hard and straightens her shoulders. “No. I think I’m good.”

With a wide grin, I nod once. “Glad we’re on the same page, then.”

Chapter Eighteen

Magnolia

The urge to straddle his lap in the middle of the reception was so strong, I had to remind myself why I couldn’t.

I spent an embarrassing amount of time getting myself off in bed that night. Pretty sure I wore out my vibrator’s batteries and they were a fresh pair.

Goddamn him and the hottest words I’ve ever had whispered in my ear.

It’s not that I wanted to put any doubt in Tripp’s mind, but our relationship over the years has been built on giving each other shit, teasing, and taunting at any given time. Mostly because I just wanted his attention even if I thought my feelings weren’t reciprocated. It’s hard to just turn that off when I’m still in denial that he wants me the way I’ve always wanted him.