Four Letter Word (Love Logic #2) - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,11

up and hurry over to answer it.

By the time I take the pizza and turn back to the couch, Leo is already holding the PS4 controller in his hand, the Madden logo flashing across the screen.

I groan and he smirks. “Come on, let me kick your ass for a few rounds, and then you can whoop me at Fortnight.”

“Deal,” I agree, sliding onto the couch and putting the pizza on the coffee table. I pick up the other controller and settle in for what’s sure to be more than a few rounds of having my ass handed to me.

Leo opens the pizza box and smiles, grabbing a slice and taking a bite before placing it back in the box and focusing on the screen. I smile at him for a few seconds, my chest filling with warmth and affection. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get the chance to hang out with Leo again like this. Sure, we’ve video chatted over the years, and we play online games together, but it’s not the same as having him here in my living room, eating pizza on my couch.

I’m glad he’s finally home.

Chapter 4

Hudson

The ticking of the clock hanging beside my office door sounds like the seconds are easing by at their usual rate, but every time I look up, I swear the hands haven’t moved an inch. Am I trapped in some sort of Friday sub-dimension where time moves at a different rate than every other place in the universe? Or is the clock actually broken?

Who am I kidding? It’s not that Friday is the problem. It’s been this whole damn week.

My phone vibrates on the desk, and I reach for it in a hurry, hoping like hell it’ll be a text from Bishop asking to hang out tonight. He’s sent me a couple of random memes this week, several texts full of the normal kind of rambling I’d expect from him. But he hasn’t asked to hang out, so I haven’t either. He said he needed space, and I’m doing my best to respect that. How long did he mean though? Will things be back to normal between us in a week? A month? A year? Never?

My gut twists at that possibility, and I unlock my phone to see the text that’s waiting for me.

Seph: Twisted Cherry tonight?

I deflate a little seeing it’s from my friend Persephone rather than Bishop, but it’s better than nothing.

Hudson: Who all is coming?

Seph: My company isn’t enough for you? I’m hurt.

Hudson: I’m sure you’re more than enough for anyone, gorgeous.

Seph: Flirt.

Hudson: You know it ;)

Seph: I think Bishop is coming, but he was being a little cagey so who knows. Alex seemed excited when I mentioned it, so I’m sure he’ll be there. And Elijah swears that when Pax’s plane lands, they’ll swing by for at least one drink.

Hudson: Who the hell is Alex?

Seph: Really? He came to Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving, right. I was a little distracted at Thanksgiving, but I do vaguely remember Pax’s boyfriend, Elijah, bringing a friend with him. Come to think of it, he’s been around a few times, giving off the cute and nerdy vibe with a heavy dose of flirty.

But what I remember a lot better is how irresistible Bishop looked, how he’d been snippy and adorable with me when we were alone in the kitchen, and I hadn’t been able to resist shoving him against the refrigerator and kissing the hell out of him.

My lips tingle with the memory, and my cock starts to swell.

Hudson: Right, I remember. Sorry, I’ve had a shitty week. I think my brain is down for the count.

Seph: Sounds like you need your very best friends tonight then.

Truer words have never been spoken. But as much as I love Seph, the best friend I really need is Bishop.

Hudson: I’ll be at Twisted. You know I never miss a chance to see my favorite people.

Seph: Always a charmer. See you tonight!

I close out the text thread and pull up the one I have with Bishop, letting my thumb hover over the keyboard for a ridiculous number of seconds before I give in and type a message.

Hudson: You coming out tonight?

Little dots appear next to his name almost instantly and my heart jolts.

Bishop: I’m not sure.

My stomach sinks. We’ve been going out for an after work drink every single Friday night since we turned twenty-one. It started out as just Bishop and me, every Friday without fail. Then, we met Seph, and she became part of our