Dirty Curve

“I think it means he loves her.”

My head snaps toward Milo and I frown, but it quickly turns into a laugh when Bianca swiftly spins, slapping him with a pillow I didn’t even see her snag. “Make yourself useful and go get us some ice cream or something.”

Milo smirks, salutes me, and walks out the door.

“He always listen to you like that?”

Bianca grins. “The smart ones do.”

Both of us look down the hall when the squeak of Bailey’s door sounds. Meyer steps from the room, anxiously running her hands along her jeans.

I walk up to her, grab her by the hands and pull her to me. “You sure you want to go? We can put a movie on instead.”

“I think we finished Netflix,” she jokes with a smile. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

We’re out the door in five seconds flat.

I love how she didn’t pause to look in the mirror or take the time to change.

I love how she’s comfortable in her own skin and has stopped hiding her body under her baggy sweater.

I think that means he loves her...

I look to the girl at my side, and before she can reach for the door handle of my truck, I’m spinning her against it, leaning in and taking her lips with mine.

Meyer responds instantly, kissing me back with as much need as I’m feeling, but when her hands begin to glide along my skin, I pull away. I drop my forehead to hers. “Get in the truck, Meyer, or we might not make it out at all.”

“I think I’m okay with that,” she pants.

My laugh turns into a groan, and I free myself from her wandering hands. “Not a chance. I’m ready to show you off.”

She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and my chest rumbles. I rip away, practically running around the damn hood. “In the truck, Tutor Girl. Now.”

She laughs and climbs right in.

q

Walking into the house, Cooper is the first person to spot me, and he throws his hands into the air, beer sloshing from his cup onto the floor at his feet. “Ohh! Your royal fucking highness, you’ve graced us with your presence!” He mock bows.

Grinning, I clap my palm into his.

“What up, fuckhead?” He grins. “Finally get your head out of your ass, or what?”

My fingers tighten around Meyer’s and I tug her forward, placing her a space ahead of me and Coop’s eyes fly to hers.

He’s shocked, that’s for sure, but his smile stays in place. “Meyer!” He flies forward, hugging her, and the beer splashes again.

I grab him by the collar, hauling him back, but Meyer simply smiles, kicking her foot to get the droplets of beer off her toes.

“Hey, Coop.” She glances from him to me and back.

Coop does the same. “You and Cruz?” He whistles. “That’s ...”

I lift a brow, but it’s Meyer who finishes his sentence for him.

“Unexpected?” Meyer gives me a sly smile before returning his attention to Cooper. “Trust me, I know.”

Cooper grins, shrugging his shoulders. “Well, hey, rock it out, girl.”

Meyer laughs and I wiggle my brows, dragging us farther into the house, saying quick hellos to people we pass, but without stopping.

It’s when we get into the main room that people really get rowdy.

Neo’s eyes hit mine and he starts barking, jumping up on the pool table in the middle of someone’s game. He cups his mouth with his hands, gaining as much attention as possible. “Fellas, tip your hats and pull out them handcuffs. Time to lock a woman up or watch her go, ‘cause Tobias motherfucking Cruz has returned to the hothouse!”

The team shouts like they’re in a fucking nightclub, and I catch Neo’s eyes again, gliding my fingers past my throat as if to say cut the shit.

He frowns, but then he spots Meyer at my side and winces.

Then the fuckhead shouts again. “And to all you lovely ladies, keep your clothes on, and steer clear of my boy ...” His grin is slow, and he shifts all his attention to Meyer. “’Cause he’s got a woman now and trust me when I say, she’s first-string material. You don’t stand a chance.”

He follows it up with a wink, hopping down to head our way, but we’re already bombarded by the rest of the boys, each dying to get closer and find out more about the girl on my arm.

They’ve seen me leave with more girls than I care to admit, something I’m pretty fuckin’ embarrassed by now, but they’ve never seen me come with one.

“You’re literally a celebrity to your own team,” Meyer mumbles through clenched teeth.

“You proud?” I joke, and her lips pull to one side.

She thinks I’m fucking adorable.

It’s odd I love that she does.

Nobody wants to be adorable, but if she likes it, I want to be it.