Kings of Anarchy (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #3) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,215

I said nothing.

“That was a terrible analogy,” he groaned. “I’m so out of practice with this stuff. And if I’m honest, I never really wanted to date anyone like I want to date you, Tatum. I wanna date you so fucking hard, you’ll have teddy bears and fucking love hearts coming out of your ears by the time I’m done tonight.”

“You got me a teddy bear?” I asked, only slightly – alright a lot – excited by that.

He shrugged one shoulder, looking embarrassed and it was so freaking cute I wanted to snap a photo and keep it in my pocket forever.

“Maybe,” he said, looking away to face the burgers.

“Where is it?” I looked around the house hopefully.

“You’ll get it later,” he said, his back still to me so I darted away, racing toward his room and pushing the door open. “Tatum!” he half shouted, half laughed.

The soft toy was sitting on his bed, but it wasn’t even a teddy bear. It was a unicorn the same golden colour as my hair with a little crown on its head, sitting between two brand new boxing gloves that were a shimmery rose gold with white skeleton hands curling over the back of them.

“You weren’t supposed to see those yet,” Monroe complained from behind me and I leapt away from him, diving onto the bed and scooping them all up in my arms as I turned to him.

“I love them!” I exclaimed and he grinned like a school kid, running a hand down the back of his neck.

“Good, now get your ass back in here for dinner.” He walked away and I took a moment to try my new gloves on, admiring them as I strapped them into place before moving to the punching bag he had hanging in the corner of the room and throwing a few punches. Then I placed them back on the bed but took the unicorn with me as I headed back into the lounge, running my hands over its silken soft coat.

I dropped onto the couch just as Monroe placed a plate with the best looking burger I’d ever seen on it in my lap. He dropped down beside me, switching on the TV.

“What do you wanna watch?” he asked.

“Super Truckers,” I said immediately and he frowned.

“Don’t you get bored of my trucker shows?”

“Nope, they remind me of you. Of being safe and…home.”

His brows pulled together. “I’m no one’s home. Not even my own.”

My lips parted, my heart hurting at those words. “That’s not true. You’re home to me. Every time I’m with you it’s like…like I belong.”

I thought of graduation again and a knot formed in my chest. My inheritance from my dad had come into my bank account and I couldn’t even stand to look at a penny of it. But I guessed after I left Everlake I’d have to look at finding somewhere to live. But would that somewhere include Monroe?

He considered my words for a second then his mouth pulled up at one side. “I feel the same about you, princess.”

“So give me a beer and put Super Truckers on.” I grinned and he smirked before fetching two beers from the fridge and settling in beside me as he passed me mine.

We ate our burgers - which were freaking godly - then drank three beers, devoured a huge slice of chocolate cake and two hours of trucker shows later, I felt seriously relaxed. I’d meant what I’d said to Nash. His company was so easy, so familiar. He really was home to me. And the added bonus of me wanting to tear his clothes off at any given moment meant I’d somehow fallen into the seriously lucky position of dating my mouth wateringly hot best friend.

At quarter past ten, Monroe stood up and gave me a mysterious look. “Time to go.”

“To…go?” I frowned. “What stage of your plan are we on? I figured the next bit was sex.” I bit my lip, letting my gaze travel down him and he growled, capturing my hands and pulling me to my feet.

“What did I say about dating you tonight?” he said in his teacher tone which had my core liquifying.

“Umm, that you wanna date the fuck out of me?” I said teasingly and he chuckled, walking away and grabbing my shoes and coat.

“Now you’re getting it. Put these on.” He handed them to me and I laughed as I put them on, watching as he tugged on a hoodie then threw a letterman jacket