Pretend You're Mine (Inked Hearts 3)

For a second, I forget all the ugly shit surrounding us.

Then I blink and it all comes flooding back.

I want the easiness back. “You drove her instead of getting laid?”

“I don’t have a shortage of pussy.”

“You’re getting soft on me.”

He laughs. “Never had that problem. You’ll have to explain it.”

I laugh too. The familiarity of my brother’s teasing is comforting. Hell, his concern is comforting.

That hole in my gut is wide open.

I need Leigh. I need to make this right.

But there’s this freedom surrounding me.

I’m done with Penny.

I don’t give a fuck that she’s getting married tomorrow.

And not in that the lady doth protest too much kind of way.

It means nothing to me.

I’m letting go of my baggage.

I can have everything I want.

And I want Leigh.

“I gotta go, Dean.” I end the call before he can respond and I buy tomorrow’s first flight out of Maui.

Then I text Brendon to see if I can make the rest of this happen.

Of course it’s the middle of the night in California.

My phone stays quiet.

But I know he’s good for it.

Whether or not this works…

That’s anybody’s guess.

Chapter 49

Leighton

I sleep in fits. When I do, I dream about Ryan. When I press my eyelids together in an attempt to end my consciousness, I think about Ryan.

The hurt in his blue eyes.

The weight of his body on top of mine.

The feel of his palm against my lower back.