Dirty Toe Drag (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 6)

My darling sister knows about Wes because she walked in on us making out. She’s got the biggest mouth, but even she knew telling Aiden would be bad for everyone. Surprisingly, she didn’t rat me out the way she’s ratted out Aiden and Asher.

Wes_McMillan: We talk. At the restaurant.

StellaAnn: Wow, what else did you type but decide not to send?

Wes_McMillan: Hey, give me a break. My face hurts.

StellaAnn: Never. You’re the one who slid into my DMs.

Wes_McMillan: Got me there. Listen, it’s complicated.

StellaAnn: What every girl wants to hear.

Wes_McMillan: Fine, tell me something. Do you think of me, past Instagram?

Yeah, but I’m not telling him that. “Don’t say yes. Even if you do, make him say it first,” Emery says from beside me.

“Excuse me, younger sister. I know how to talk to guys.”

“Sure, that’s why you have so many boyfriends.”

“Nope, I have admirers because no one can have me until they come up to my standards.”

“And Wes is that standard.”

I scoff. “Not yet, but he has potential.”

“I mean, he’s hot and all, but so are a lot of guys.”

I grin as I type and delete my next line. “I don’t know. I like the Viking look of him.”

“Viking?”

“Yeah, he reminds me of that guy from Vikings, the main dude. He looks wounded, like he’s been through some shit. Only pretty boys want me. Wes is rough.”

I feel Emery’s gaze on me, and when I look down at her, she says, “And you say I’m deranged.”

I give her a dull look. “Who’s in my bed?”

She snuggles close, grinning at me. “I’ll shut up now.”

I snort. “Sure,” I draw out as I look back to my phone.

StellaAnn: Maybe.

Wes_McMillan: Ha, now who deleted and sent a one-word answer.

I send the emoji of the girl raising her hand, and he sends me back a crying smiley face.

Wes_McMillan: Fine. Be all cryptic.

StellaAnn: Says the king of cryptic.

Wes_McMillan: I am not!

StellaAnn: You are. You ask me that but don’t even tell me if you think of me, past Instagram?

His next sentence comes so damn quickly, I get hot everywhere.

Wes_McMillan: I think of you past Instagram way more than I should admit.

A grin pulls at the corner of my mouth as my heart flutters. Emery snickers beside me.

“He’s cute.”

Yeah, he is.

StellaAnn: Hmm, interesting.

Wes_McMillan: That’s all I get? Interesting?

StellaAnn: I mean, I can’t show you all my cards, Wesley.

Wes_McMillan: Can you show me one?

I bite my lip as I stare at the screen, thinking over if I want to. If I do, it’s entertaining something that has no potential. I know this. He doesn’t want me the way I want him. I’m fun to flirt with, to slide into a DM for, but I’m not a relationship for him. I don’t even know if he can be in a relationship. Pretty sure that’s the damaged part of him that turns me on, but it also pisses me off.

But what the hell. I’ll play his game.

StellaAnn: Yeah.

Wes_McMillan: Yeah?

StellaAnn: Yeah.

Wes_McMillan: Elaborate, please?

StellaAnn: If I have to elaborate on “yeah” when you are the one asking the question, I may have to wonder how hard that dude hit you and then consider that maybe you didn’t win that fight.

More snickering from my sister as his chat bubble comes and goes. His response tickles my core.

Wes_McMillan: I totally lost the fight, but that four-letter word just made me feel like I won anyway.

I fight back my grin as I write him back.

StellaAnn: Goodnight, Wesley.

Wes_McMillan: Goodnight, gorgeous.

I put my phone on top of my iPad and cuddle down into my pillow beside my sister. I call out to Alexa to shut off the lights, and when my room is illuminated with my galaxy lights, I shut my eyes. But I can’t ignore that my lips don’t relax.

I’m smiling way too hard.

“You should give him a chance.”

I turn to find Emery looking at me, her eyes shining in the soft lighting. “If there is one thing I can ever teach you, Em, it’s to know your worth. I don’t want to be some mindless fuck for him. I want to be important.”

Her lips curve. “Anyone who looks at you knows you’re important. That’s not a question. It’s if they’re brave enough to potentially get their heart broken by you.”

I can’t hold back. “You’re my favorite.”

She leans into me, and I close my eyes. “You’re mine.”

And as my mind dances with thoughts of Wes and cupcakes, I slowly drift off to sleep.

With a grin on my face and my baby sister who got scared by her murder show in my arms.

Maybe there is hope for us both.

Chapter Six

Wes

I’m lying on my stomach next to Zac as he coos and babbles while I play Call of Duty with his dad and uncle.

He’s a cute kid, Zac is. He’s got these wide eyes that I swear he looks through your soul with. But yet, he’s a potato. He just lies there, making noises, demanding food and sleep. He’s basically living the good life. I’m jealous. I am excited for when he can skate, though. I’m gonna show him the coolest moves. I’m hoping Aiden has a boy so we can teach him the same, and also, so Aiden isn’t broke. If that baby takes after her mom, God help him. Shelli is so over-the-top extra. She bought bedazzled pens so that when we sign our contracts, we feel special.