Page 79 of Combust (Everyday Heroes 2)
By the constant reminder of why I can’t have more.
Why I can’t want more.
Why she can’t stay.
Why she needs to forget everything and run.
“I know that look.”
I glance over to Emerson. “What look?”
Desi laughs that cackle of hers. “The I’ve fallen for a Malone man and I can’t get back up look . . . although, I’m not sure why you’d want to if one of them have fallen on top of you.”
“I have not fallen for a Malone man. I’m with Jett—”
“Such bullshit.” Desi laughs. “You so have and your secret is safe with me.”
“You two have had too much to drink and are now hallucinating.” I laugh and try to play off the raised eyebrows she’s giving me—the ones that are saying she knows the truth but won’t tell—as another round slides in front of us.
“Pregnant woman here,” Emerson says and points to herself. “Not drinking.”
“Then pregnancy brain,” I reassert.
“You are such a liar,” Desi scoffs. “You’ve seen Grady, right? All ripples and perfection and—”
“I’ve seen him, all right,” I murmur as I take a sip and think about yesterday. Grady coming home from being dad on Brody’s first day of school. The silent desperation in his every movement and expression. The way he held me, pulled me in, and didn’t take his hands off me until a long time later when we were naked beside each other in his bed and his breathing evened out.
“She’s fucked him.”
I’m not sure what else was said while I was thinking of all things Grady, but those three words definitely catch my attention. “Excuse me?” I sputter out a laugh.
“It’s written all over that face of yours,” Emerson says.
“Dreamy eyes,” chimes in Desi. “Check.”
“Squirming in your seat because . . . just damn.” Emerson sighs and then winks. “Check.”
“You guys are incorrigible.” I shake my head.
“We might be, but you know it’s true.”
“Double check,” I finally confess, garnering a holler from Desi.
“I have a million does-he-know-how-to-use-his-hose jokes I can throw at you, but I’ll spare you,” Desi says as she taps her wine glass to mine. “Just tell me one thing . . .”
“Oh God.” Emerson puts her hands over her eyes, worried about what comes next.
“Does he find you hot and leave you wet?” Desi throws her head back and laughs as I roll my eyes. She slaps a hand on the table. “I’ve always wanted to ask that.”
“Hey, Desi,” I say as I crook my finger for her to come closer. “You know what they say about firefighting, right? It’s all about the size, the equipment, and the technique . . . I’ll vouch that Grady’s the total package.”
“Well, hot damn. At least there’s one Malone man left. I still have hope.”
“Grayson is so not your type,” Emerson says.
“For the night he could be.” She lifts her eyebrows and laughs.
“Who’s gotta go pee? This prego,” Emerson says and raises her hand.
