Page 30 of Playing For Keeps
“Do you know who Stacey was sleeping with after she got here?”
“I don’t think she’s been with anyone here.”
“He said she claimed to have slept with someone, but it’s been seven years…what?” he asked seeing the expression that crossed her face.
“Lucca,” Emma stated.
“Lucca—study buddy Lucca?” he questioned. “Oh man, if that’s true…”
“And Jake’s around when the carnival gets to town woo, lock up the throwing knives,” she said with a nod. “Okay, get dressed so we can convince our friends to get married and be as happy as we are.”
“I like the sound of that,” Miles said kissing her soundly.
She returned to the living room and gave Stacey a smile. “He knows sweetie but it’s okay, whatever Jake told him made it seem like he was the one to blame.”
“Okay,” she sighed giving up. “Guess there’s no reason to hide the pictures anymore.”
“What pictures?” Jake asked coming down behind her.
“Of us, from high school and college…”
“You told her?” he said with a smile, and she nodded. “Good then there’s no reason I can’t do this then,” he added pulling her in for a full kiss. “So much nicer than those easy little ones, wouldn’t want your friend to figure out that far from being empty the room she’d changed in was used on her wedding night.”
“What?” Emma gasped looking at them. “Stacey…”
“Come on Em, he’s Jake ‘The Jet’ Warren,” she laughed kissing her friend’s cheek.
“So, you two seriously slept together that night?” she asked as Miles joined them.
“Whoa, what the heck did I just walk in on?”
“Our friends here just told me that they spent our wedding night doing what we were.”
“Good old southern boy charm huh man?” Miles asked. “Or was it the two of you argued until you fell into bed?”
“Mostly the latter,” Stacey admitted, “but the boy certainly can please.”
“Okay on that note it’s time to go,” Emma said shaking her head. “Seriously, you talking about sex is just too weird.”
“You all didn’t regale each other about your conquests?” Jake asked as the girls slid into the passenger side of the car and Jake took the wheel.
“Emma usually did all the talking,” she teased turning to look at her friend. “Hey, it’s only fair I had to hear all about how much you loved how Miles…”
“Whoa, new subject please,” Miles said stopping her.
“I don’t know, I’d like to hear a bit more about my Cee’s past lovers. So, I can find them and pound them into dust for stealing my girl.”
“No one stole me, you gave me up remember?”
“And I’ve regretted it for eight years, but now I’ve got you again and this time I’m not going to settle,” he said holding her hand tighter when she went to pull it away from him. “I mean it Cee; I want it all.”
“We don’t always get what we want, remember Jake?”
“Using my words against me? Cee at her best,” he laughed kissing her fingers as they stopped at a light.
“You know I’m curious too,” Emma stated. “I mean you don’t tell me about him for eight years, what else have you kept hidden?”
“Oh no I am not about to reveal the names of the past lovers,” she said glancing at her in the mirror. “I tell you, you tell Miles, who then tells Jake, who then proceeds to hurt people for no reason at all and I will not let that happen.”
