Nerdy (Unexpected Lovers, #2) - J.B. Heller Page 0,33

head to the side, and releases a deep groan as he comes, then he collapses over me, his sweaty forehead pressed against my neck. I sigh in absolute contentment and run my fingers through his damp hair.

I want to stay in this blissed-out bubble with him forever. If only that was an option…

We enter the rehearsal dinner a few minutes late and receive a knowing look from my twin as she approaches with her soon-to-be husband. I arch a brow and shake my head, unable to stop smiling. When they stop in front of us, Storm smirks. “My, my, my, Mr. Perpetually Early is...”—she gasps, looking at an invisible watch—“late,” she says, her smile so big it lights her entire face.

“It was all her fault,” I grumble, wasting no time throwing Emory under the bus. “She seduced me in the shower.”

Emory’s eyes widen, and she punches me in the shoulder, surprisingly hard. But I don’t even care because this woman makes me happier than I thought I ever could be.

“What?” I say, smiling. “It’s true.”

Storm chuckles, and Jake grins, offering me a fist to bump. I, of course, oblige him then curl my arm around Emory’s waist, tugging her flush against my side, needing her close to me.

She peers up at me with those crystal-blue eyes that made my heart beat faster the very first day I saw her and grins. I can’t help myself. I bend my neck to brush a kiss to her full, pouty lips, and she sighs contentedly.

This woman has cemented herself in my heart in just a few short weeks, and I already know, without a doubt, that I will be telling her exactly that before this weekend is over.

Sebastian and I sit at a large, round table with Storm, Jake, the girls, and Jake’s family for the meal portion of the evening. And it’s all too easy to picture myself as a part of this big, beautiful, and boisterous group. They all talk over one another, laughing, teasing, and joking together. It’s everything family should be.

“So, Emory, how did our man Bash here land a beauty like you?” Spencer, Jake’s younger brother, asks, waggling his brows.

I blush and shrug. “It just kinda happened,” I tell him. It’s the truth; this was supposed to be fake, a ruse. But it doesn’t feel that way anymore. It hasn’t for a while. My feelings for him just kinda happened.

Sebastian throws an arm around the back of my chair then drops a kiss on my temple. “Eyes off, Spence,” he says, glaring playfully at the other man who chuckles.

“Ain’t no harm in lookin’.” He winks at me.

If my cheeks weren’t already on fire, they would be now from the salacious look in Spencer’s eyes, even though I know he’s just doing it to rile Sebastian.

A hand appears out of nowhere and smacks Spencer upside the head. “You cut that out right now,” Jolene chastises her son on her way past him as she heads to the ladies’ room.

I laugh. “I really like your mom.”

Spencer rubs the back of his head and grumbles, “You would.”

The night progresses, and when it’s time for dancing, Sebastian stands and offers me his hand. I balk at it. “I don’t dance anywhere except my bedroom and the kitchen unless I’m drunk off my ass,” I tell him.

He opens his mouth to respond but slams it shut when Jayla appears at his side. She locks her hand around his bicep and croons, “I’ll dance with you.”

My jaw locks, and Sebastian’s body goes rigid. He stares at her hand in silence, and I don’t know what to do.

“Come on, Seb. Think of it as practice,” she purrs, smirking down at me still seated in my chair.

“Practice for what?” I say, finally finding my voice and getting to my feet. Her gaze rakes over me, and I swear I see pity in her eyes. Screw that. “Practice for what?” I repeat, narrowing my eyes at her.

She smiles serenely at me, cocks her head, and says, “For the wedding, of course.”

The way she’s deliberately choosing her words to make it sound like she’s referring to their wedding makes my blood boil. I have never been jealous or possessive in my life, but this bitch is getting under my skin, and the satisfied expression on her face says she damn well knows it.

Sebastian seems to snap out of whatever daze he was in—freaking finally—and yanks his arm out of her grip then steps toward me, completely ignoring Jayla.