him, but the fucker just laughs away at my misery. “I knew this was a bad idea,” I groan, slumping in my seat, pushing the plate of muffins away.
These assholes have managed to take away my appetite, and that’s saying something. I’m a big guy, so I’m always down for a snack. These idiots just ruined any craving for sugar I could have had.
Assholes.
“Will you two stop?” Kennedy reprimands, grabbing my clenched hands in hers. “Don’t pay attention to these two fools. You said you and Stone had a good time together, right? So perhaps she was in a hurry because she had something to do the next day. Or maybe she was tired because you wore her out, big guy.” She tries desperately to soften the blow on my ego.
“She did say she had to work,” I mumble, still unconvinced.
“See? She was just being responsible. Don’t take it so personally. You both had fun. That’s what you should be focusing on.”
“I guess.”
Shit, I think I might even be pouting. The fuck is wrong with me? Am I becoming a pussy all of a sudden? I’m looking down at my crotch and see that all my male parts are still intact, but it sure feels like my balls have taken a leave of absence along with my dick, leaving me high and dry on this one.
Kennedy tilts her head to the side, taking a long, hard look at me and asks, “You like her, huh?”
I feel my forehead wrinkle and my nose twitch at the question, but before I’m able to organize my thoughts and give Kennedy an honest answer, Easton interjects in my stead, “It’s not like that, Ken, so don’t you go off and start planning a double wedding just yet. Finn here just got his ego hurt instead of stroked. That’s all this is.”
“I don’t think so,” she sings.
“You’re wrong,” he deadpans.
“I’m right.”
“Not on this one, Ken.”
“God, you’re infuriating.”
“Is East right? Is that all?” Lincoln hushes beside me while Kennedy and East continue to bicker with each other.
I turn to face Linc, and although his features seem carefree and bright, beneath his ocean-blue eyes I see a storm brewing—one provoked by fear and regret. He knows, as well as I do, the threat looming above us. Stone is only a target for The Society. Nothing more, nothing less. For all our sakes, it will pay me well to remember that.
I give him a curt nod, which seems to lighten the weight of the boulder on his shoulders, even if just by a little bit. His instant relief throws rocks into the pit of my stomach, making my insides twist and coil at the unexpected assault.
Why do I feel like I just lied to my best friend?
“Yeah, I don’t buy it,” Kennedy continues to debate with East. “I think Finn’s way more interested in her than you realize. Otherwise, why would he be upset with her leaving their first date so fast?”
“It wasn’t a date!” all three of us answer her in unison.
“God, you guys are being such weirdos. What’s the problem if Finn likes this girl or not?”
“Finn likes who now?” a deep velvety voice questions, announcing an uninvited presence.
Shit.
We all look up in unison and are confronted with the other two men in Kennedy’s life; Thomas, her fiancé, and Jefferson, her twin brother—two pricks who I wish hadn’t overheard our private conversation.
I don’t mind Jeff so much, even though he can be a tool when he wants to. But he’s a pussycat compared to the senator’s son at his side. That’s the asshole I can’t stand. Maybe it’s my loyalty to Linc that makes me biased, but there’s just something about the guy that rubs me the wrong way. And it has nothing to do with the fact that he likes to play for both teams. I couldn’t give a fuck where he likes to stick his dick. I’m just not entirely convinced that he’ll stop getting his cock sucked by all genders, once he gets Kennedy’s ring on his finger. His own daddy is famous for his side pieces, so something tells me that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to Tommyboy over here.
“So? Don’t leave us in suspense. Who does Walker here have the hots for?” Jeff jokes, messing with my hair, leaving me all disheveled. I slap his hand away, but the fucker takes it as his invitation to sit next to me.