Page 76 of Take My Name

Warren

Waking up the next morning,I still taste Maisie’s lips on mine. My cock ached all night because I refused to touch myself when there’s so much uncertainty in the air between us. I’m not letting myself have too much hope, as much as I want to, but I have to protect my heart after not being able to get over her.

I want to believe she feels the undeniable chemistry between us too, but when she implied that kiss was a rewrite of our last one, I lost faith she’d ever admit it.

But I’m going to use these next three dates to show her why we’re meant to be together. Even if I get crushed at the end, I have to stay all in.

Maisie’s the love of my life, and even if she doesn’t pick me, I’ll always pick her.

“You look like shit,” Colton says, barging into my office without knocking and plopping down in the chair across from my desk.

“Thanks,” I mutter.

“Are you not sleepin’? You have under-eye bags. And some puffiness…” He smacks his cheeks, smirking.

I stare, willing him to vanish into thin air. “Is there somethin’ I can help you with or did you come all this way to rag on me about my face?”

“Well…” He leans back and kicks up his boots. “A source tells me you’re goin’ dancin’ tonight with your ex-wife, who’s actually still your wife, and I wanna know why I didn’t get an invite?”

Standing, I push his filthy boots off my desk. “A source? You mean Bodie.”

Colt’s four years younger than me but an older version of Bodie, who loves getting on my nerves.

“Ricky.”

“Of course.” I shake my head. “I dunno when they’re goin’, but I’m takin’ Maisie around eight.”

“Eight?” He snorts a laugh. “Are the doors open that early?”

Early?

I roll my eyes. “I’m guessin’ we’ll run into you when we’re leavin’ and you’re just gettin’ there.”

“I’ll get there at ten and probably leave at one, unless I find a lady to dance with until closin’ time.” He smirks like I can’t read into what he’s saying.

“Well, it is Ladies’ Night after all, so I’m sure you will.” I grab my phone, checking if Maisie replied to my text. “As long as you show up to work on time.”

He scoffs. “You’re notmyboss. How would you know?”

“I’m sure one of our siblings will rat you out in our group chat and then I’ll tell Dad.”

“You wouldn’t.”

He’s right, but that doesn’t mean I can’t threaten him. It’s my duty as his older brother to keep him in line.

I shrug, pinching my lips together. “Anythin’ else or can I get back to work?”

“Is it true y’all are gettin’ back together?”

Averting his gaze, I look at my laptop screen. “I’m not sure,” I say honestly. “Obviously, I wanna, but it’s not up to me. She’s engaged.”

“But you’re fightin’ for her, right?”

“All damn week, yeah.”

“No, I meanreallyfightin’ for her. Puttin’ on that thick Langston charm.”

“And what exactly does that entail?” I glance above my screen.