Make My Move (Hannaford Prep #5) - J. Bree Page 0,56

him, the type she knows will get her whatever the fuck she wants because Ash loves her more than he needs air. “Stay for the day? I’ll cook something for dinner later and we can watch something Blaise picks so he doesn’t whine at us. Like old times, but better because Lips will side with me when we pick snacks.”

I discreetly check my knuckles for blood and Ash raises an eyebrow at me. I shrug; there’s no hiding from him what I’ve been doing all fucking day.

Blaise huffs and fucking whines, “I don’t whine, you guys just have shit taste.”

I really want to hang out but the thought of dealing with him simpering the whole fucking time has my jaw clenching already. Mostly because every time he does it the corners of Lips’ mouth quirk up like he’s so fucking funny.

I hate it and then I hate myself for how much I fucking hate it.

I kick my shoes off, close enough to the door that I can ignore the daggers shooting out of Avery’s eyes, and say, “If he’s picking I’m going to need a beer.”

I head to the kitchen to wash my hands and Ash covers for me by rifling through the cupboards and saying, “Fuck it, I need something stronger than beer to get through this. Where are you hiding the good stuff, Floss?”

Lips doesn’t notice what we’re up to, or it’s not important enough to register in that super genius brain of hers, and she stalks over to get settled onto the couch. Avery fucking preens with satisfaction, homemaking joy just fucking oozing out of her at us all being here together.

She glances down at my knuckles but doesn’t say a word about it as she messes around with the coffee machine and gets shit together for her and Lips. She already knows that if she doesn’t hand the kid from Mounts Bay food, she’ll just starve.

They all broke me out of that shit years ago.

I grab enough beer to deal with whatever bullshit Ash and Morrison are going to pull on us all and then park my ass on the couch next to Lips. Floss leans forward to give me a look but I ignore it easier than breathing at this point.

I pointedly refuse to look Ash’s way and catch the seething jealous judgement from his hypocritical ass.

I get started on the beer and even grab a handful of the popcorn in Lips’ lap, trying not to get pissed the fuck off at how uncomfortable she seems to be jammed between me and Floss. She wasn’t at all fucking uncomfortable when she was grinding on my dick but, for my own goddamn sanity, I let it slide.

Until she sighs and nudges me gently.

“Can you grab me the blanket you’re sitting on? My nipples can cut glass at this point and I’m not ruining my new bras.”

Fuck.

I can’t be thinking about her tits right now or her nipples, which I was fucking robbed of seeing by a bottle of whiskey and my own fucking conscience.

Avery giggles as I scoff, shifting and handing her the blanket. Ash watches the three of us like we’re prey and then gives Lips a sly look, drawling out, “Which ones are you wearing today?”

She chokes on her coffee, sputtering, “Uh no, my underwear choices are not going to be a daily conversation starter.”

Two things become very clear to me.

Lips and Ash have been hanging out without me being aware of it, and I don’t fucking like it. This feels like Ash’s warped version of flirting and there isn’t enough beer in the fucking world for me to sit through it without breaking his fucking jaw.

Ash shrugs. “Might help me like you.”

“Hard pass,” she snipes back and I thank small mercies that at least she’s not playing along. Fuck’s sake.

“They say women pick their colors according to their moods, so which is it Mounty. Red? Are you feeling feisty today?”

She throws a pillow at his head which saves his life because Avery uses the distraction to text me all of the ways I’ll fuck everything up if I say a goddamn word right now. I hate her almost as much as I hate Ash right now, but I keep my mouth shut and let my Mounty girl deal with him on her own.

“Black, now fuck off.”

“Depressed or horny?”

Blood explodes in my mouth as I damn near bite my tongue off to stop myself from butting the fuck in. To her credit, Floss is