can manage is staring at him, praying with each blink of my eyes that he disappears.
At least I’m not half-naked like I was the first time I met Colton’s parents, but the mop on my head and the ill-fitting clothes I grabbed out of Colton’s drawer are as good as any flashing sign of what I’ve been up to.
I don’t know what to say, but starting a conversation with when two adult people love each other doesn’t seem like the best idea either. First off, I haven’t even had that conversation with Colton and second, there’s really nothing I can say that won’t make it back to the clubhouse in the next damn hour.
Landon doesn’t look surprised to see me here, and it makes me wonder how many conversations Rick has had with him about me.
“Morning,” I say stupidly as all three of us stare at each other.
“Morning,” Landon replies, a small smile tugging up the corners of his mouth as he looks between Colton and me.
I can already see his mind working on ways to blackmail me with this newly discovered situation.
“This isn’t—”
“This is exactly what it looks like,” I counter, not wanting to make things worse with Colton trying to lie for us.
We’re adults, and we can both do what we want with each other without having to worry about the sensibilities of a boy whose eyes bug out of his head anytime a female walks by. If he wants to make a bigger deal out of this than it is, I’ll just bring up what a couple of the girls were talking about last night at the graduation party. Apparently, being a teenage boy and unable to control yourself in public is a very hard and embarrassing thing to struggle with.
“I didn’t—”
I hold my hand up to stop Landon, and his jaw snaps closed. “Can I speak with Landon alone?”
Colton looks down at me, unease filling his dark blue eyes, and I have no idea what he’s worried about. It isn’t like Landon is going to hurt me or try to blackmail me, even though I’m not above offering him cold hard cash to keep his adolescent mouth closed until I’m ready to disclose this situation to my parents and every other person at the clubhouse. Lord knows once the match is lit, the information will blaze through there like flames kissing the edge of a dry field.
“Are you sure?” Colton looks at me like Landon doesn’t exist, and I love that he’s concerned for me.
“I’ll be fine. Just need to have a little chat with my buddy.” Colton nods before backing away, and until the cool air of the kitchen hits my back, I don’t realize he’s been plastered against me this whole time. “Don’t forget the food. I know how hungry you get.”
Colton snorts before wrapping his big hands around the handles of the tray and walking out of the room.
“Crazy seeing you here,” Landon says after Colton’s bedroom door closes.
“Don’t start with me.”
“What would Dominic say?” He winks. “Didn’t know you had a thing for older men.”
“He’s not that much older than me,” I argue.
“You’re closer in age to Ricky than you are Colton.”
I narrow my eyes at him as he crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the doorframe. What is it about men in this house doing that?
“Rick is a child. Colton isn’t. So your reasoning doesn’t make sense.”
“I see.” He nods his head as if he understands, but that little annoying smile is still on his face.
“What do you want?”
“What do you mean?”
“I guess you want something for your silence?”
His brow furrows.
“No.”
“And is this you playing hardball?”
“What?”
“What. Do. You. Want?”
“For what?”
“In exchange for your silence.”
He stands, growing taller than I remember him being, but the action doesn’t have an imposing feel to it.
“I don’t want your money or favors.”
I throw my hands in the air in irritation. “Then what?”
“Nothing, Sophia. I don’t want anything.”
“Because nothing will keep you from running back to the clubhouse to blab?”
“Blab? I’m not a fuc—” His mouth snaps closed. “I’m not a kid. I’m not going to run off and tattle on you.”
“Because you expect the same courtesy if I see you doing something wrong?”
“Who hurt you?”
“What?” The question makes me take a step back, only the counter is there, and I don’t remember moving since we started talking.
“I’m not going to blackmail you. I’m not going to expect anything for my silence. This isn’t my business.”
“Really?” Surely he isn’t that damn mature. He’s