Our Star-Crossed Kiss (The Rooftop Crew #4) - Piper Rayne Page 0,73
him waving at me from the bridge. He’s got two pretzels in his hands. I tuck my phone inside my jacket pocket, grab my bag, and head in his direction. This is our day and I’m not going to mess it up by talking about business.
He kisses me when I accept the pretzel from him. “Thanks.”
“Anything for my girl.”
My stomach flips with his declaration. I’m not sure when I’ll ever be able to end this fake relationship. It all feels so real.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Seth
The day of the engagement party, I’m sitting at Ink Envy while Dylan and Jax are working. There’s no Frankie since she had to drive Jolie to her grandma’s so that she could come tomorrow night.
“So… fake engagement party, huh?” Jax says. “I mean, you clearly like the girl. Are we still pretending you don’t?”
Dylan chuckles.
“Why do you think I like her?” I ask, although he’s right. I really, really like her. Last weekend when she asked about keeping this charade going, I wasn’t about to say no. I just don’t know if she asked because she doesn’t want it to end either, or because she’s concerned about what our parents think.
“The chick is at our place all the time. She should be paying rent.”
“You never even see her.” I fight the accusation because usually Evan comes when Jax is still “out” and she leaves while he’s sleeping.
“I hear her. You two must be the loudest fuckers ever. And I had to listen to Dylan and Rian.” Jax bends forward, telling his client that he speaks the truth.
His client turns and smiles my way.
“What can I say? Our sex life isn’t boring.”
“Is that a dig at me?” Dylan asks. “Because I had no idea the shit I was missing out on with relationship sex. I mean, the shit we’ve done…” He shakes his head.
Jax eyes me. “Are you doing weird shit like Dylan and Rian?” His voice sounds so polite, I’m thrown at first.
“More shit than I’ve ever done with a woman from a bar. Or any other relationship I’ve had.” I sit back and chew on my inner lip.
“Because you trust her. I’m telling you, it’s the trust thing. She trusts you, so she opens up sexually. It’s the best thing ever,” Dylan raves as if he’s acting in a commercial for monogamy.
“Maybe because you got a good one. Could you imagine if you fall in love with someone who sucks in bed? Imagine fifty years ago when you got married before you even slept together. It’s like fucking Russian roulette.” Jax shakes his head as if the concept is foreign to him.
“Newsflash, there’s still a large population of people who remain virgins until they marry,” I inform him.
“Shame. Dumb fucks,” he says.
“Now we’ve gotten off track…” Dylan cuts in. “I get that you guys agreed to add sex to your fake relationship, but you tagged her in your Instagram feed last weekend. You seem to be at her bagel place more than your parents’. Give it up, man, you’re in love with the girl.”
All my muscles seize, and pain stabs me in the chest. “No way, man. You’re crazy.”
Dylan raises his eyebrows. I wish I knew the reason I can’t face my feelings for Evan. The thought of not having her in my life makes me feel as if I’m suffocating, so what’s keeping me from just laying out my hand to her? I guess it’s because I don’t know how receptive she’ll be and I’m being a complete pussy about it.
“Just tell the girl,” Jax says. “You’re acting like a drooling dog following his master with a steak hanging out of his pocket. I guarantee she knows how you feel. If I do, she does.”
But if she does and hasn’t even broached the subject of making this fake relationship real, doesn’t that say something?
The door chimes and in walks Brock Floyd. You’ve got to be kidding me.
Jax stands. Dylan stands next.
“Relax, I’m not gonna do anything to your boy. I just wanted a word.” Brock raises his hands in the air.
“I’m not fucking talking to you.”
“It’s important.”
The seriousness on his face makes my gut churn and I wonder if it has something to do with my brother. So I walk outside, and Brock leans against the brick wall in the alley next door to Ink Envy.
“What do you want, Brock?”
“I heard you and Evan are moving pretty fast? Engagement party already?”