“What’s gotten into you?” he asks with a condescending tone, as if he doesn’t know.
But I don't even know. What has gotten into me? Since when does Jagger, or any guy for that matter, make me feel this flustered? No one ruffles Scarlett Sunder.
“Nothing. I’m just trying to…” My words trail off when Crew walks into the room holding a shopping bag.
“What’s going on in here?” Crew asks, suspicion in his tone.
Jagger pushes himself off the floor and rubs his hands together. “Not much,” he steps past Crew, heading for the door and speaking as he walks. “Scar was just looking at my dick.”
My jaw drops, and I shout to Jagger as he leaves the room, “I was not!” I look at Crew. “He’s lying.”
He sets the bag down on the bed, observing me. “What was really going on then?”
“Nothing!” I blurt out defensively. “We were just…talking.”
He side-eyes me, knowing there’s more to the story. “You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure! He was only here for a couple minutes, and I’m not even sure what he wanted.”
“Oh, I know,” he drawls. “I know exactly what Jagger wants.” I raise my questioning brows. “He wants you. The question is, do you want him, too?”
“Why are you even asking that? I’m with you.” I stand up, chewing on the inside of my cheek.
“You admitted you're drawn to him and that you like his company, so answer the question. Are you falling for my best friend?”
“For the last time, I’m with you, remember? Starting over? Building something fresh and new?”
“Okay.” He nods, reaching out and grabbing me by the arm. He pulls me close and his spice-scented body wash floods my senses. It’s a nice escape from his musty, sweat stench of a few minutes ago. I draw in a deep breath as I fall into his arms. My head rests on his chest as he says, “You’ll tell me if anything changes, right?”
I nod against his thumping heart. “Of course.”
I’ll get over this infatuation I have with Jagger. My future is with Crew. It’s always been him and it always will be him.
“What’s in the bag?” I ask, changing the subject.
Crew steps back and reaches over to grab the bag. With a broad smile, he hands it to me. “Got you a little moving-in present to hang on the wall.”
I bite back a smile, feeling a swarm of giddiness in my belly. “You did?”
He nods toward the bag in my hand. “Open it up.”
I pull apart the twine straps of the paper bag and look inside. My heart doubles in size when I see theNightmare Before Christmasgift inside. “Oh my god, Crew. I love this.”
Pulling it out, I hold up the Jack and Sally wall art. It’s a metal display with tiny little lights on the back. Crew knows how much I loveNightmare Before Christmas. “It’s perfect. Thank you, baby.” I press my lips to his, knowing that this right here—me and Crew—is exactly what I want.
ChapterThree
JAGGER
“Put some damn clothes on.”Neo chucks a pillow at me from where he’s sitting on the couch. “My date will be here any minute, and I don’t need her staring at your half-naked ass before I’ve had my way with her.”
I catch the pillow in midair and use it to wipe the rest of the sweat from my face before throwing it back at him. With a clenched fist, he punches away and it falls to the ground.
“Throw that thing in the laundry for one of the three Rooks to wash.”
Since we had The Gathering to promote the ranks, Rooks are limited. Only three didn’t advance, and it sucks ass to be them. They’ve been our bitches daily, and while I'm not complaining, the remorseful side of me does feel a tinge of guilt. Neo, on the other hand, doesn’t have a sympathetic bone in his body.
I drop down on the couch beside him, kicking my feet up on the coffee table in front of us. “So, who’s the date?”