Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 141464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
“This is so cute. I love it.” I work the clasp loose and poke the sharp end of the post through my sweater, right over my heart. “I needed one to replace my fuckboy repellent pin.”
Jigsaw scowls as he helps me fasten the back of the pin. “Why are you replacing it?”
Puzzled, I frown up at him. “I don’t need it anymore.”
He stares at me.
Heat rushes over my cheeks. “I only bought it to express my frustration with you.” I cough and glance away to cover my embarrassment.
“Oh.” He lets out a short huff of laughter. “Yeah, but you still need it to repel other fuckboys.”
I reach up and press my hand to his cheek, smiling sweetly. “Why, when you’re mean-mugging at every man we run into is so much more effective?”
He scrunches his face into a silly version of his get-away-from-my-woman expression. “Excellent point.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” I say, not sure if he deliberately avoided it or didn’t hear me. Jezzie said she wanted to stay at Cain’s place last night, instead of here. “Do you think Jezzie and Cain stayed up all night, catching up?”
He shrugs, the levity in his expressing vanishing.
“Are you upset she wanted to stay with him?”
“Not really. I get it.” He hesitates, his gaze flicking away for a second. “I was more worried she might’ve hurt your feelings. Not wanting to stay here, I mean.”
“Oh!” I step closer and wrap my arms around him. “You’re so sweet for worrying about that. But I’m fine. It crossed my mind for a second, yeah—but even if that was the reason, it’s okay.” I pull back and look up at him. “But honestly? I really think it was more about wanting to spend time with him.”
He nods slowly. “You’re probably right.”
“Well then,” I smile, “are we going to pick them up?”
“I think he wanted to ride his bike there,” Jigsaw says. “But yeah—we’re going to get Jezzie.”
The scent of gasoline, scorched rubber, and fried food hits my nose the moment I step down from Jigsaw’s SUV.
Cain’s bike glides to a stop beside us, sleek and nimble, the neon accents gleaming under the overhead lights.
“That’s looks so much more nimble than his Harley,” I say, nodding at Jigsaw.
Cain unleashes a grin as he climbs off the bike. “That’s ’cause Harleys are sluggish and built for old dudes.” He rests his helmet on the seat and pulls up his baggy pants.
Jigsaw laughs, sharp and amused. “Careful where you speak such blasphemy, kid.”
He loops an arm around my shoulders, dragging me close, his heat searing through my sweater and jeans. “Why you out here startin’ trouble?”
“I didn’t realize I was,” I laugh.
Jezzie pulls Cain toward the track, and we fall in behind them.
Near the bleachers, a tall figure lifts a hand in greeting.
“That’s Rooster.” Jigsaw picks up the pace.
Jezzie stops to give Rooster a quick hug.
“Hey, Jezz.” He pats her back, then turns to Cain.
“Cain, this is my friend Logan,” Jigsaw says. “Everyone calls him Rooster.”
Rooster lifts an eyebrow, like he’s waiting for Jigsaw to tack on something obnoxious.
Cain dips his chin. “Hey, Logan. I remember you.”
“I remember you too. Glad you found your way here.”
Cain’s mouth curves—not a full smile, but close.
“Did Shelby come with you?” Jezzie asks.
Cain’s eyebrows rise. “He’s the one engaged to Shelby Morgan?”
“Yeah, I told you that,” Jezzie says.
Rooster’s jaw shifts like he’s fighting off a laugh. “Yeah. She’s over by the picnic tables with the girls.” He nods to Cain. “She’s looking forward to meeting you.”
The five of us head toward the track. Rooster drifts closer to Jigsaw, the three of us walking just behind Cain and Jezzie.
“Everything all right?” Rooster asks in a low voice.
“Yeah, I think so.” Jigsaw tilts his head, studying his friend. “You?”
“Not really. Torch brought this guy—Buck? He’s gettin’ sloppy drunk. Mouthy with some of the girls. Pax says if he keeps it up, we’re tossing him.”
Jigsaw squeezes my hand, the pressure a silent order. “Stay with me.”
I nod. “You know if he says something to me, I’ll give him the tongue-lashing of his life, right?”
“Yeah, but he might like that.”
I snort and roll my eyes.
A group’s gathered around one of the food trucks at the edge of the track. Some guys I recognize from the club and a handful of people I’ve never met. One of them saunters toward the picnic tables. He plops down at a table where Heidi, Ella, Shelby, Molly, and some other girls are sitting.
“Looks like a guy-free zone he just crashed without an invite,” I mutter under my breath.
“Noted,” Jigsaw growls beside me, his eyes narrowing as he tracks the guy’s every move.
Griff approaches with his hand out, still sporting the bruised evidence of his recent win. The dark blotches on his cheekbone and jaw make me wince.
Jigsaw grips his hand, pulling him in for a rough hug and clap on the back. “How you feelin’, bro?”