Page 53 of Trick Shot

Melody spins like she’s guilty of treason, back straight, the bitten apple clutched like a grenade in her hand.

I open the fridge and grab the first beer I see, cracking it open like it’s going to save me from the noose I almost hung myself with.

Dom walks in a second later.

He pauses in the doorway, eyes scanning the kitchen casually. Melody’s already turned toward the counter, sipping from her water bottle. I take a sip from the beer and toss the cap in the trash just to have something to do.

“Anyone seen my sunglasses?” Dom says again, scanning the room.

Zed lifts his glass, sips once, then gestures toward the patio door with the same hand.

Dom mutters a “Thanks” and walks right back out.

Silence stretches like elastic. I don’t breathe until the door shuts again.

Then I glance at Zed, who’s still watching us.

His mouth curls into the faintest shadow of a smirk. He just covered up a crime and enjoyed it.

Melody clears her throat.

“I need to... um,” she mutters before turning and bolting out of the kitchen like she didn’t just grind on my cock.

I stare after her, heart pounding, thirsty in the worst kind of way.

I take a sip of beer and glance at Zed again, who’s already turning to leave.

“Zed,” I call after him.

I need to make sure we’re good.

He turns his head a fraction, looks at me, and nods once before walking out.

The sun’s bleeding out over the horizon, slow and sultry, turning the water gold. The beach has quieted. Some of the guys are still tossing a football around. A couple of the puck bunnies are draped over towels, pretending they didn’t get ignored all day, while others are getting all the attention. Matt’s at the outdoor grill, prepping it for dinner since I gave him cooking rights tonight.

I lean against the counter, phone in hand, beer untouched beside me, thinking.

I’ve been thinking about her all day—and how Zed saved me from catching hands with my best friend earlier.

Melody, on the other hand, has been on her phone day, smiling and chewing on her lip while texting Ghost.

She’s been texting all day, very obviously having noticed my absence. I have to remind myself that she doesn’t know. I don’t need to text someone I have right in front of me. But she’s noticed my lack of replies, and that’s something I need to work on.

I open the chat with Bunny. I still haven’t renamed her. Dom sometimes uses my phone, and having his sister in my DMs would be a ticking bomb.

I look at the messages she’s sent today, my lips pressed tight.

Bunny:You’ve been quiet today. I miss you.

My jaw ticks as my thumb scrolls.

Bunny:The guys here are so loud and annoying. Is the offer to get kidnapped by you still up?

I blink at the text, rage building slow and hot. It’s not explosive. It’s slow and rotting.

She misseshim.

She missesme.