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She finishes my right hand in silence and then grabs my left, starting with my thumbnail. “What are you wearing tonight?”
“A cute little strapless dress. It’s going to be sweltering out.”
The temperature has been running in the nineties during the days, and the nights don’t cool down much this time of year.
Oakley nods while using the tip of her finger to wipe away the excess paint that landed on my cuticle. “I brought a dress too. It has this sexy halter top. Chase hasn’t seen it yet.”
“I think you could wear a trash bag and Chase would still think you were the hottest girl on the planet.”
She sighs, but with a contented smile on her face. “A trash bag might be pushing it.”
I arch my brows, and she laughs because we both know I’m not exaggerating. Her boyfriend is one hundred percent head over heels in love with her. She walks on water, according to him. And she deserves every bit of that love and adoration.
“Where’s my brother?” Oakley asks, spreading my fingers wider so she has more room to work.
“Where is he always?” I drift off.
“Working out,” we both finish together.
“Is he coming out with us tonight?” she asks.
I nod. “I think Charlie and Ben will be there too. Has Chase talked to Sam? What’s he been up to?”
She shakes her head with a frown. “He hasn’t talked to him. Sam’s been MIA. Mike said he’s at some hockey camp all summer. And as you know … Chase and Sam aren’t exactly best friends right now.”
The tension started when Chase and Oakley got together while Sam was pursuing her again.
“That’s Sam’s bad for letting you go in the first place,” I say, matter-of-fact.
She pauses for a second to examine her work, unconcerned with Sam now that she’s happy with Chase. “Let that first coat dry, and then I’ll do a second.” She glances around the apartment. “How’s it been, living here with my brother? Is he driving you crazy?”
I shrug, trying to act indifferent. “It’s fine. Our schedules are opposite, so I’m actually alone a lot of the time. I work some lunches, but mostly nights at Cheerz. And Ollie goes to bed practically before the sun goes down and definitely before I’m home. Then, he leaves early to lift and train. So, we don’t cross paths as much as you would think.”
Everything I said is the truth. But I don’t mention that I climb into his bed every night when I get home these days or that he holds me well into each morning. And I don’t bring up his magic hands that had me virtually screaming while straddling his lap over a week ago. It’s the type of thing a girl might tell her best friend. But it isn’t the type of thing a friend wants to hear about her brother. Plus, I’m still not sure how Oakley will take the news, so I don’t have the guts to drop the bomb right now. And if this ends up being a fling, it might not be worth stirring the pot with Oakley over it.
We spend the next couple of hours getting ready for the night. Ollie comes home, drenched in sweat—like normal. He showers and catches up with his sister while Oakley and I take turns curling each other’s hair and applying our makeup. Ollie and I play it cool with one another. It’s like we have some unspoken agreement to get through the night with our friends, undetected. I purposely don’t allow my gaze to linger on him when he speaks, and I try not to notice how gorgeous he looks in his cargo shorts and black T-shirt.
All our pretending ends the moment Oakley disappears into the bathroom. Ollie’s off the couch as soon as the door clicks shut, pulling me into his arms. Those large hands of his slip beneath the hem of my skirt and palm my butt. His touch is warm, but I shiver anyway. He freezes when he feels nothing but skin.
“You aren’t wearing any panties,” he murmurs for my ears only.
“I am. A thong.”
I swear his eyes darken by at least two shades when I whisper the word. He explores my skin until he finds the string holding my underwear together. He grabs hold of my cheeks again and squeezes before letting go with a groan.
“You’re going to kill me tonight in this dress.”
“That’s the plan.” I smile wickedly, nipping at his lower lip.
“Or I’m going to end up murdering some guy for looking at you too long …”
He kisses me, but it’s too short and too shallow, leaving me wanting more. And then he moves away to sit down on the couch when we hear the water running through the bathroom door. Oakley emerges a moment later. She walks across the room to check her phone, oblivious to Ollie and me.
“Chase will be here in a couple of minutes,” she announces.
“McMann and Sims are meeting us there,” Ollie adds.
I snag a purse that I can wear across my body and slip my sandals on my feet. We lock up the apartment and are waiting out front when Chase pulls up a few minutes later. Chase and Ollie slap hands through the driver’s window.
