The Moth and the Flame (When Rivals Play #2) - B.B. Reid Page 0,136

to good use. “Sweet dreams, sweet Lou.”

I lingered long enough to finish my glass of warm milk, and when I finally made my way back upstairs, I ran into Ever and Four, covered in sweat and wearing nothing but their wide smiles.

What the hell did these people have against wearing clothes around here?

“Oh, shit!” Four quickly ducked for cover behind her boyfriend’s back.

Ever, however, peered into the dark, completely unbothered by his nakedness. Obviously, he and his cousin were more alike than what met the eye. It was no wonder why they were often at each other’s throats, locking horns, and battling for dominance.

A quick peek was all I needed to confirm who had the slightly larger edge.

“Lou? What are you doing up?”

I glared at them both. The words you kept me up were on the tip of my tongue.

“We need to talk.”

The next morning, Four kept shooting me apologetic looks. On the stairs last night, I informed them that I could hear every moan, plea, and squeak of the bed springs. Of course, I’d been exaggerating—they weren’t that loud—but it got my point across.

I don’t think the red has left Four’s cheeks since.

Her oh-so-charming boyfriend, however, acted as if nothing happened, other than the glare or two I caught him throwing my way. I was sure that it had more to do with Four spending the rest of the night in her bed with me instead of his. I stuck my tongue out, taunting him with the possibility of me stealing his girl right from under him, and he sent me another scathing glance. I could barely hold in my laugh when he immediately pulled her from her chair and into his lap.

Boys.

For a heartbeat, I wondered if I was overreacting about their late-night sex marathon. After all, misery loved company, and the thought of no one getting any if I wasn’t, sounded strangely bittersweet.

“It’s not that big a deal,” Jamie chimed from his place at the end of the island where he devoured a bowl of Lucky Charms. “We just need to get her laid. Wren basically hit and quit it. Of course, she’s bitter.”

Ever’s tight mouth loosened into the grin. “Is that right?” he said slowly, and if anyone—most especially Four—didn’t know any better, it would have seemed suggestive. “The douchebag did leave explicit instructions to provide for your every whim, and if I couldn’t, I was to call him immediately.”

My stomach dipped.

“Don’t you dare,” I warned, but Ever was already reaching for his phone sitting next to his plate. Four tried to intercept but Ever was faster.

Retaliation for last night lit up his light brown gaze, making them look golden as he watched me. He thumbed the screen without taking his gaze away, and then he held up his phone as ringing filled the room.

Oh, he so better sleep with one eye open.

I shot up from my seat at the same time he carefully placed Four on her feet and backed away.

“And here I thought your bullying days were behind you,” Four said as she stood with her feet planted and her arms crossed. I realized at the same time Ever did that she was blocking his chance of escape as I approached from behind.

He stared at her in disbelief as if she’d betrayed him. “Whatever happened to for better or worse?”

“We’re not married,” she retorted dryly.

“Yet.”

That promise, however real, was the distraction he needed to toss the phone over her head—to Jamie.

Four whirled on him and screeched, “What the hell?”

“Sorry, kitten.” Jamie grinned at her. “Blood is thicker than water.”

The phone stopped ringing, and I said a quick prayer that it went to voicemail, but then I heard his voice for the first time in two days, clipped and to the point.

“She better be alive.”

“She is,” Jamie confirmed. “And all the soft hairs on her head remain intact. You’re welcome.” Without warning, he tossed the phone over the island to me, and I managed to catch it before it hit the ground.

Wren was remarkably quiet on the other end. Knowing he was probably seething, I disabled the speakerphone and put the phone to my ear.

“Wren.”

“What the fuck is going on?” he barked. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Ever and Jamie were just being pricks, is all.”

Silence, which stretched so long I thought he’d hung up, but then he sighed. “Remind me to kick their asses when I get back there.”

“Done.” I clutched the phone tighter hearing that he was coming back to me. “I’ll even help