Page 50 of Patrick

CHAPTER 13

FIFI

Istep away from Trick, closer to Darcy, hands on my hips. “Girl, really?” My face flames, but not embarrassment, more in anger, which is something so foreign to me I can’t even think what to say next.

Not even when Darcy grins and looks Trick over like he’s a Chippendale candidate—which he so could be, but he’s not, and I have to squelch my impulse to throw myself in front of him like a towel to hide whatever he’s showing that makes her look like she’s about to drool.

“Can’t you see he’s too stuck on Fifi to wolf around like he used to?” Nina says. I know she’s trying to support me, but her reference to his past wolfing around doesn’t help the sudden jealous streak that flashes like a hot green lightning bolt.

Ricci says, “Let’s take more pics. Turn up the music.”

“I’ll take the pics. You dance.” I slip my phone from my pocket, and the girls quickly form a semi-circle around Trick like he’s the main act and they’re a harem of backup dancers. I click through dozens of shots and take a quick video clip because I know Nina would love it for her IG reels. She’s such a social media maven, devoting more than a casual amount of time to it and has the followers to show for it—over ten thousand.

Trick has some moves, including a spin that I catch perfectly, but when one of the girls next door moves her hips up close and personal with Trick’s crotch, I shut it down. Slipping my phone back in my pocket, I jump in front of Trick, taking the girl’s place as I front him.

He wastes no time grabbing my hips. That’s when I notice Darcy aiming her phone at us.

Trick swings me around and dances me through the kitchen on the way to my bedroom.

He waves over my head. “It’s been fun, ladies.”

The girls respond with giggles, waving back, and a few shouts about us having fun and promises not to listen at my door. Shit.

He closes the door behind me, but we can still hear the music and the chatter. “I’m sorry. We had a few people over for drinks before going out. They should be leaving soon. I hope.”

He glances back at the door. “Shit. I left your jersey out there.”

We stare at each other for a few blinks, and I’m wondering if it’s worth it to go back out there and retrieve it.

“How about if you text Ricci and ask her to bring it to us?” He cocks his head and stalks toward me as I smile at him, nodding. “I know, I know, it’s a great idea. Sometimes my brain comes to life after a long slumber, surprising me with its brilliance.”

I laugh and kiss him, lingering on those generous lips. “You are brilliant. I love your brain almost as much as your muscles.”

“There you go making my muscles feel bad again.”

Grabbing my phone, I text Ricci, and she doesn’t reply, but there’s a loud knock on my door within a minute.

“It’s me. Open the door a sliver and I’ll pass it through. I promise I won’t look.”

Trick laughs, shaking his head. “She’s definitely my favorite.”

I shush him and open the door wide enough to give Ricci a hug while I take the jersey, which is rolled up in a ball. “Thank you so much. You know you’re the best.”

She cranes her neck around me to take a peek at Trick. “Shit, the least I should get for my good deed is a peek at his bare chest.”

I laugh, but when I turn, my heart thuds hard when I see Trick whip off his shirt in a move so quick it would make a magician jealous.

Ricci squeals and then covers her mouth, glancing behind her out the door. “You’re so bad, Trick Jennings.” She rubs two fingers together in the old-fashioned sign for shame on you, making Trick laugh. But the longer she lingers in the open door, the more worried I get that the rest of the girls will invade our privacy.

She glances at me. “Don’t worry. I’m rounding up the herd right now. I just got a line on a wrestling team party. I think even Darcy will be excited to go.”

“I owe you big time. In fact, just a sec.” I pick up my bag from the nearby desk and fish through it to find my keys. “Here, take my car. I know you want to.”

She rolls her eyes. “Awe shucks. You know about my thing for Mini Coopers.” She pauses for drama and taps her chin while I suppress a grin. “Too bad pink isn’t my color.” She snatches the key fob from my hand. “But don’t get me wrong—I’ll make it work.”

We hug and kiss cheeks, and she pulls my bedroom door closed firmly behind her as she leaves.

Before I finish turning around, I feel the heat and the mass of Trick’s body behind me. My heart does a triple-axle jump as the impact of him hits me, sending electric bolts through every nerve ending—in a good way. The best way.