Tangled (Playing With Fire)

But she couldn’t help it.

“You’re not busy, are you? I was hoping we could talk.”

Caution slithered down her spine, and she tried to smile through it. “No, I’m never too busy for you, Drake.”

“I won’t take up too much of your time.” He seemed to be stalling.

“What’s going on?” she asked, ready to get right to the point.

His gaze met hers, pale and piercingly direct. “I’m curious. Are you and Trevor…involved?”

Oh. Well, she hadn’t expected that question. Talk about putting her on the spot. “Um, well, we’ve been seeing each other a little bit. Kind of. Nothing serious, though.” She winced the second the words left her mouth.

Was she giving Drake hope? Did she want him to think she and Trevor were exclusive? Was she even still interested in Drake?

Confusion muddled her brain, scrambled her thoughts. She honestly didn’t know the answer to any of those questions.

“Nothing serious.” Drake’s voice was flat, and he looked away from her with a sigh, plunged a hand through his hair in a gesture of frustration. “I don’t want to ask you this Scarlett, but did he say anything about me…and him?”

“Yes.” She wasn’t going to lie. Better to be out with it. “He told me about it.”

“Everything?” Drake looked shocked.

She nodded. “Everything.”

“Wow. Huh. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. He has no shame. He puts everything out on the table.”

Wasn’t that the truth? She knew she certainly appreciated Trevor’s honesty.

“He won’t take my calls. Now I know why.” He glanced back at her. “You two make a good couple.”

“We’re not a couple.” She shook her head as if to emphasize her words. The idea scared her. It scared her because the thought of them being a couple also appealed. “We’re not even dating.”

“Then what are you two doing?”

Fucking? She couldn’t say it like that. Didn’t want to hurt Drake’s feelings or make herself look like some callous bitch.

But it was the truth. Right?

Uh huh, right.

“Just something very casual,” she said instead. It sounded better that way.

“Hmm.” He gazed at her desk as if lost in thought. “Can I admit that I’m jealous?”

“Can I admit that I’m jealous of what went on between you two?”

“Sure.” He smiled, dazzling her with perfectly straight white teeth. No wonder she had a crush on him. She still had a minor little thing for him. Her tummy fluttered at the sight of that sweet smile. “Too bad we can’t share him.”

“Who says we can’t?” The words fell out of her mouth when an idea formed in her brain. A very wicked one.

Drake’s smile faded. “You can’t be serious.”

She was dead serious. The more she thought about it, the better it sounded. She’d get the best of both worlds. All three of them would. She’d originally wanted Drake, Drake wanted Trevor and Trevor wanted her.

Now they could all have each other. Tangled webs and all that good stuff.

“I am very serious,” she finally said, wanting to choose her words carefully. “I mean, why not? It might be fun.”