Page 228 of Break Away
“From who?”
“My mom and your terrifying face.”
“Excellent instructors.”
We got dressed with the kind of speed that involved him losing one sock, me yelling about mascara, him finding my lip gloss in the blankets, and both of us pretending we weren’t smiling like idiots every time we passed each other in the hallway. He wore his clothes from last night, which I had luckily washed and dried after the first round of carnal delights. I wore leggings, boots, and a cropped sweater Charm had once called casually lethal.
Easton stopped in the living room when I came out. His gaze moved over me slowly enough to warm my skin.
I pointed at him. “We’re late.”
“I’m appreciating.”
“You’re staring.”
“Those overlap.”
I walked past him and grabbed my purse. “Try to appreciate with your feet moving.”
He caught my hand before I reached the door and tugged me back against him. “One more thing.”
“Easton.”
He kissed me until my complaint forgot where it was going, then pulled back with a pleased little smile. “Now we can go.”
“You are smug.”
“You kissed me back.”
“I was ambushed.”
“You participated.”
“I’ll argue the nuance later.”
Waffle House was already loud when we walked in, because nothing said public reconciliation like hash browns,fluorescent lights, and a table full of hockey players pretending not to stare at our joined hands.
The crew had claimed the long corner booth. Cade sat at one end with Bliss tucked under his arm, her face lighting up the second she saw us. Charm sat beside her in sunglasses that were unnecessary indoors and deeply suspicious, stirring coffee like she had secrets and a headache. Ryan sat across from Charm, one tattooed forearm stretched along the back of the booth, his expression too casual to fool anyone. Briggs was beside him with a menu open upside down, which felt intentional. Rider sat at the far end, calm as ever, already watching us like he had been assigned security.
Bliss clapped both hands over her mouth.
I stopped walking. “If you cry before I sit down, I’m leaving.”
Her eyes filled immediately. “I’m not crying.”
Charm lifted her sunglasses just enough to look at Bliss. “You are actively leaking.”
“I’m joyful.”
“You’re damp.”
Easton squeezed my hand. “You sure you want to sit with them?”
“No. Keep walking.”
Briggs shot out of the booth like he’d been spring-loaded. “Absolutely not. The emotionally constipated captain and the pre-law menace have arrived together, hand-in-hand, post-healing, definitely post-coital, and I have prepared remarks.”
Ryan grabbed the back of Briggs’s hoodie and yanked him down. “No remarks before coffee.”
