an in-person conversation.”
“Still, I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, or think it’s something it isn’t, so I don’t mind if you wanna come, too. I just—”
“West, I trust you.”
I hadn’t realized he needed to hear that until he looks up again, meeting my gaze. He isn’t smiling, isn’t saying a thing, but I know the very words I just spoke were right on time.
“Of course you do. Because you’re fucking amazing,” is all he says, which has me smiling a little.
“I’ve been called worse,” I tease with a shrug.
He responds by coming closer, placing a kiss on my forehead.
“Go talk to Casey tomorrow. I’ll be here when you get back,” I assure him. “However, in the spirit of awkward-but-necessary conversations, I think it might be time I sit down and have a chat with Ricky, too.”
West holds my gaze, and while I expect a little bit of resistance, or even that twisted look he gets on his face at the mere mention of Ricky’s name, I don’t get either of those reactions. Instead, only a look of understanding.
“I’ll call and tell you everything the second I’m back in Cypress Pointe,” he promises.
“I know.”
His eyes leave me and he’s staring at the floor again, seemingly deep in thought.
“I honestly have no clue what I’ll say to her tomorrow,” he admits. “All I know is she’s entitled to a heads-up before you and I go to Harrison and Pryor. Because once that happens, it’s only a matter of time before Parker opens her big-ass mouth and word gets back to Coach Wells about me and Casey.”
“Just be you,” I suggest. “Tell her whatever’s on your heart and trust that it’s enough.”
He nods and I smile at him, sensing his relief now that everything’s out in the open.
“Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” I ask with a smile.
“You mean spilling my fucking guts to my girlfriend and praying she doesn’t leave my ass? Nah… piece of cake,” he teases.
My brow quirks just before clearing my throat. “Um… girlfriend? Thought you said that term was off limits. Think I recall you mentioning something about kindergarten?”
“Smart ass,” he growls, flashing that soul-stirring grin of his half a second later, and then grabbing my waist. He falls backwards on my bed and brings me down on top of him.
I smile down at him because I still can’t believe that he, West Golden, turned out to be… just… everything.
Chapter 36
BLUE
The air is clear, and we have no more secrets.
As we relax together on my bed, there’s a quietness to this moment between West and me, but I wouldn’t classify it as awkward. And oddly enough, I’m not even thinking about sex anymore.
Only him.
Only us.
“Let’s get out of here.”
The statement’s so perfectly random it makes me laugh. “Tonight? I can’t leave Scar.”
“No, in a few weeks,” he clarifies. “Been thinking about visiting my grandfather in Louisiana for Christmas and, if you don’t have plans… I want you to come with me.”
Once again, he’s left me unsure of what to say next. Mostly, because meeting his extended family sounds like kind of a big deal.
“I can’t leave my sister. Especially not on a holiday. I—”
“Bring her,” he cuts in, surprising me with the excitement in his voice. “As a matter of fact, bring whoever the fuck you want. Dane and Sterling will go if I go. You can invite your one friend with the red hair—”
“Jules?”
He nods. “Yeah, her. And even Rodriguez if you want. My family has a lot of property down there, plenty of space. I’ll just let my grandfather know we’re coming down and he’ll take care of everything else.”
He looks so hopeful, thrilled just at the thought of me saying yes. I glance up at the door, thinking I might get a little pushback from a certain pink-haired fireball if I agree to this.
“She’ll hate me if I make her leave Shane.”
West smiles. “I have four cousins I know wouldn’t mind showing her around the parish. Trust me, they’ll make sure she forgets all about missing Shane.”
Something about the way he says that has me laughing. “If these cousins are anything like you, I don’t want my sister anywhere near them.”
His fingers dig into my side with the insult and I yelp.
“Sorry!” I scream. “Please! Stop!”
It’s impossible to get away, especially laughing so hard tears are coming from my eyes.
“Take that shit back and I’ll think about it,” he rasps.
“Okay! I take it back! I take it back! You’re an angel.”
After a few