Page 51 of The Rowdy Ones

“Possessive? What does that even mean?”

I know exactly what it means.

“I’m not sure. She says it’s the way you look at me.” She turns, her cloudy blue eyes cast in the general direction of my face. “I told her you’re just protective.”

Or both.

“I’m sorry,” I croak out. “I’m just on edge. Tell me about your day. Please.”

She relaxes at the defeat in my tone and sets her bag beside her. Then, all too happily, she tells me each and every detail. The most awkward part is about how her new friend Claudia wants to hook up with me. “What about you?” she then asks. “How was your day? I’m guessing not so good.”

Unable to keep from touching her, I move my thigh until it’s pressed against hers. Fiery heat burns through my jeans at the connection. She doesn’t move away, much to my twisted delight.

“I went to breakfast with Uncle Atticus. Ran into Evan and his boyfriend.”

She jolts at my words. “What? Are you okay?”

Her hand reaches out for mine, fumbling over my thigh as she seeks it out. I watch, aching for her to move it over a different part of me that throbs for attention, but then come to my senses, snatching her hand before she actually touches my dick.

“I’m fine, I guess.” I sigh heavily, shuddering at having been so close to him today. “He wants me to work out with him and Alex.”

“No,” Destiny says firmly. “Absolutely not.”

“Uncle Atticus said—”

“No, Rowdy. Evan hurt you. If Uncle Atticus is encouraging you to hang out with him, it’s because he has no clue what that man did to you. You can’t do that. I forbid you.”

Her eyebrows are pinched together angrily and her lips are pressed into an unhappy line. She’s cute. Who’s the protective one now?

“I don’t plan on it,” I assure her. “Just had to pacify Wild’s dad.” Then, because I shouldn’t, I tell her about what happened. “We exchanged numbers.”

She jolts and shakes her head. “Why would you do that? Delete and block him.”

I barely know how to text, much less do all that other complicated shit. If I don’t want to talk to him, I’ll just ignore it. “Sure. I’ll get around to it.”

“I’m serious. I don’t trust him and neither should you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She smirks at me. “I guess it’s not just you. I’m the same way. Gwen was overreacting. It must be a Jamison thing. We are what we are.”

Stubborn. Pigheaded. Quick-tempered. Bossy. All of the above.

“Can I take your picture?” I ask, words tumbling out of my mouth before I can stop them.

“Okay, but why?”

Because I want to stare at you all damn night with my dick in my hand…

“Just to have.”

“We could take one together,” she suggests.

“I’m good with that. Too bad I don’t know how to do it.”

“Pay attention and learn,” she sasses, pulling her phone out of her pocket. “Access camera.”

The phone comes to life, obeying her command. I’m amazed as she speaks back and forth with the digitized voice, learning how to navigate using the camera. Then she holds it away from us. I stare at her as she confidently tells it what to do next.