Rolling to her side, Mekena opened her eyes and automatically shielded them from the light coming in through the window. She should have shut the curtains, but she hadn’t had a chance once her head hit her pillow. She was out like a light. After her fight with Markus—if that’s what it was, she still wasn’t sure what to call it. A whole bunch of yelling and heat in their eyes for sure, but it didn’t feel like a fight. It felt like pain, if that even made sense. Then she had that conversation with Libby and one with Avery about basically the same things she’d talked to Libby about. Everyone was in agreement. She needed to talk to Markus, get some closure, but it all scared her. If they had the certainty it was over, they were truly done and that should be okay. That should be what she wanted, but she didn’t.

Which was downright pathetic, insane, and impractical.

Kicking the blankets off, she rolled out of bed with a heavy sigh. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, what pull Markus had on her, but it was driving her bonkers. She just wanted to be over it all. She didn’t want to dwell or even deal with it, but that was out of the question now. She was staying with Markus until something else opened up. Completely crazy.

Deciding that she needed to think about something else, she looked around for Mr. Right since he wasn’t in his usual spot beside her in the bed. When she noticed the door was open wider than she’d left it, she figured he had gone out to look at the birds from the front window. Heading to the bathroom, she did her morning routine before walking out to check on Mr. Right since he still wasn’t back. He usually sat at the door crying for food, but it was silent in the cabin.

As soon as she reached her bedroom door, though, she paused, reaching for her bathrobe to cover the short shorts and tank she wore. She wasn’t sure if Markus was there since he had said he had practice. But just in case, she didn’t want him to see her body, which she knew was ridiculous. She had lost a lot of weight in the last year. Almost thirty pounds, which was good from her doctor’s point of view, but she thought she looked too thin. She had always been on the thicker side, though not with muscle like Skylar was. She was chunky and embraced it. She loved food, and she wouldn’t deprive herself. Even with the weight loss, she hadn’t been starving herself. She had been so stressed with everything that happened, then the move, and then work that eating wasn’t really that important. She had never been skinnier than Skylar, and now she was. She was a little self-conscious about it.

Especially since she knew Markus had noticed.

She had seen the way he’d looked at her, not with the hunger he had before. He probably wasn’t even attracted to her. Though, why that mattered was beyond her. But there were moments when he looked as if he wanted to eat her for dinner. The way his molten eyes drank her in, the way his gaze washed over her like a hot shower. His tongue had come out, wetting his thick lips. And even with looking away and trying to ignore him, she’d noticed and it set her on fire. She wanted him more than she could ever describe and way more than she liked to.

She didn’t know what he was talking about when he had said she knew nothing, after she accused him of not caring—because she did know. It was pretty cut-and-dried. He fucked her sister, plain and simple. His defense, though, surprised her. The way he was so willing to share a room with her, how he looked at her, like…like he still had feelings for her. That was incomprehensible because if he had cared even an ounce for her, he wouldn’t have cheated. He wouldn’t have broken her heart. But because he did, the whole thing with Markus was one big question mark. One she was dying to figure out the answer to. The only problem was that involved her talking to him and giving him a chance to explain, which was something she wasn’t sure she was ready for.

But she had four days to get ready because they were stuck until Friday.

Rolling her eyes at the insanity of it all, she let out a long breath. She hadn’t seen the guy in over a year, did everything to ignore him, and now she was stuck in a cabin with him. A good ten minutes from anyone else. She was an idiot. That’s all there was to it.

Tightening the strap on her robe, she went out the door to find that no one was there except Mr. Right, who was sitting on the counter, cleaning his face in front of a dirty, empty plate. Great, not only was Markus a cheater, but he was also a slob. She would not clean up after him. There was no way…yet she found herself cleaning the plate and putting it away as she looked to Mr. Right, who was sitting very happily, meowing sweet nothings to her.

“Well, good morning to you, my sweet love bug. Aren’t you in a good mood? Did you have a nice sleep?”

He purred happily as she dried the plate and then put it in the rack. She considered making herself some breakfast but then remembered she was meeting the girls for breakfast, so she switched on the coffeepot just as a piece of paper caught her eye. Reaching for it, she recognized Markus’s handwriting before she read it. Her heart kicked up in speed at his messy scrawl as she read it.

 

Mekena,

Hey, I had practice, and you know how I love me some banana pancakes. I know you love them too, so I thought maybe you’d like some. Enjoy.

Love,

Markus

 

Love.

Love, Markus.

Markus, love.

Love.

Ugh, she was in complete trouble if only those two words made her heart do flip-flops.

Damn it.

But where were the pancakes? Her brows pulled together since she saw no pancakes. Looking in the microwave, she found nothing, and that disappointed her. She loved his pancakes; they were the best she had ever had. He used to make them every Sunday for the boys at the Bullies house back on campus, and she always came to eat. She wondered where they… And then it all clicked.

The empty plate, the very happy fat cat.

Glaring at her kitty, she scolded, “Mister! You ate that whole plate!”

Mr. Right only purred before jumping, if that was what you could call what he did to get down, off the counter and waddling to the bedroom. “You are pathetic,” she yelled as he disappeared into the bedroom before her bottom lip puckered out. “And an asshole. I wanted pancakes.”

Leaning on the counter, she was annoyed by not having any pancakes. But she was also a little giddy, her lips curving a bit. She wasn’t sure what Markus was doing, or even his endgame, but he’d made her pancakes. Something he didn’t have to do, but he did.

For her.

Because he remembered she loved his pancakes.

Even after two years…

And that pleased her more than it should.

God, she was an idiot.

 

 

“So, I’m thinking karaoke tomorrow night since we are having dinner with Mom and River tonight. I think my dad is coming in too.”

Mekena looked up from the spa book she was studying to where Lucy was sitting with her glass of wine. How she got invited to spa day with Lucy and the girls was beyond her, but it was a welcome escape. Her back was in need of a good massage and her toes were busted, so they needed some love. Plus, she got to spend the day with Avery.

“Is he coming?” Baylor asked, wiping up Dawson’s mouth as her face scrunched up. It was common knowledge that no one really cared for Mark Sinclair, Lucy’s father. He had cheated on Mrs. Sinclair and then tried to buy off his kids. It was shitty, but word had it he was trying and being really decent to everyone. The Sinclairs were about family, first and foremost, so Mekena guessed they had buried the hatchet and were trying. Something she should consider with Skylar, but maybe she was petty because she couldn’t do it. “For real?”

“Apparently. We’ll see.”

“Cool,” she said with a grin as she cuddled Dawson in her arms. “Jayden was supposed to come get Dawson before they hit the greens. I wonder where he is.”

“Jude just said they’re running late, but they’ll swing by in five,” Claire said, setting her phone in her lap. “He also said there is talk of trading him to Minnesota, which is fucking awesome. Or not.”

“Oh, Claire, I’m sorry,” Avery said, and Mekena’s heart went out to her.

On the verge of tears, Claire shook her head. “It’s already hard enough, me living in Vegas and him in LA. Now he’ll be farther. And that’s not a car ride, it’s a plane ride. Ugh. I just want out of this contract. I’m done, you know? I want to start a family. I want to be home with my husband.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Lucy reached over, squeezing Claire’s wrist. “It will work out. Don’t worry. And if he does get traded, it will still work out. No worries. You guys are good.”

She bit her lip as she nodded. “He really wants a baby.”

Lucy smiled. “And y’all will have one. Don’t worry. Still got a lot of baby-making years in ya.”

That made everyone chuckle. The side door opened, and Markus suddenly entered. He looked gorgeous, almost like a model in some ankle-length trousers and a light blue button-up shirt that made his skin shine. He had gotten a haircut and his face was beautiful, but his poor nose. It was a wreck, so swollen, but she didn’t think anyone noticed with the big grin on his face. Holding her breath, she looked over at Avery, who was watching her. What was he doing here?

“Hello, ladies,” he said, flashing his lady-killing smile. “Sorry to interrupt, but I gotta get my main man and go riding in a golf cart.”

Without saying more, he reached for Dawson, taking him from Baylor. “Where is Jayden?” she asked as she looked to Markus.

“He’s getting his clubs or something… I don’t know. I hate golf, so Dawson and I are gonna ride and talk shit the whole time.” Baylor rolled her eyes as she handed him the baby’s bag. “Wait, isn’t there like a baby carrier, sling thingy? Jayden said I could wear him.”

He looked so excited that Mekena had to fight back her smile. Baylor, though, laughed, standing up and opening the bag to pull out the baby carrier. Lucy took Dawson, and Mekena watched as Baylor strapped Markus up. They weren’t awkward around each other, laughing and joking as she strapped the baby thing to him hard and with force. They had been best friends for a long while. For the longest time, Mekena was convinced they were together, but they were really more like brother and sister. It was sweet, but nothing was as sweet as seeing Dawson sit against Markus’s chest as he smiled proudly.

“There we go, Big D!” he cheered, and Dawson burped in agreement, which made everyone laugh. “Do I look amazing?”

Baylor laughed as she pulled her phone out of her back pocket, taking a picture as Markus posed in a silly way, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. “Perfect.”

As she kissed Dawson’s head, Avery said, “You know most guys hate that.”

Markus scoffed. “Why? This is awesome. Me and my dude, I don’t even have to carry him. He just hangs. You know, because we’re hanging out,” he said with a chuckle, and Mekena couldn’t help it, she laughed.

He noticed too and flashed her an even bigger grin that she quickly looked away from. She shouldn’t feel this way, she shouldn’t think he was funny, but apparently, her heart wasn’t listing to her brain.

“You’re such a loser,” Lucy teased, and Markus stuck his tongue out at her.

“Hater.”

Baylor laughed. “Okay, so everything is in there. He should fall asleep as soon as you start walking, and call if you need me.”

“We won’t,” he said, kissing her temple. “Enjoy your spa time. All of you enjoy. You deserve this, you beautiful ladies you.”

Everyone grinned as he turned away, heading out the door with a baby bag on his arm and a baby strapped to him like he did this in his sleep. Even with the hatred she was supposed to feel and the fact that she was supposed to ignore him, she still had to admit it was supersweet.

“He’s such a great guy,” Lucy said, and everyone nodded—except for Mekena and Avery, of course.

“He loves Dawson something fierce, but he’s like that with all the kids,” Baylor mentioned, and Mekena noticed that Avery smiled.

“He painted Ashlyn’s toes yesterday and had a tea party with her. That’s Markus, though, he loves kids,” she said, but when she noticed Mekena was glaring at her, she looked away. “But, so what?”

Lucy laughed. “He did what he did, and I won’t make excuses for him. It was wrong and disgusting, and he knows I think he is a pig for it. But besides that lapse in judgment and stupidity, we all can agree he is a good guy, can’t we?”

Everyone nodded. Even Avery did because Lucy was right. Markus was a wonderful guy. Good with kids, loyal to a fault, and would give the shirt off his back to anyone.

Mekena had seen it done firsthand. A guy on campus was sleeping under a tree, no shirt or shoes on, and Markus gave him his shirt and shoes, along with fifty bucks to get something to eat or a place to stay. There were all kinds of moments like that. He was the first to organize the volunteering efforts the Bullies undertook to help the community. The many food drives he did, and how he went to read to the kids with cancer at the local hospitals. Markus was giving, that was his love language, but still, he’d broken her heart. Could that one act cancel out all the good he had ever done?

The fact that the answer wasn’t clear bothered Mekena to no end.

 

 

“I know I used to go up the middle a lot back at Bellevue, but I don’t here. I’ll carry it in, but I usually pass it up. We can’t be reckless. We have to support our goalie but also give our forwards some opportunities. If you have an opening or a shot, take it, but be smart.”

Markus nodded over at Jayden as Dawson kicked his legs, leaning his little head against Markus’s chest. As much as he wanted to pay attention to his friend and captain, he couldn’t get the sight of Mekena out of his head. He tried to play it off; he tried not to make it seem like he was drinking in every detail of her. The tight black leggings she wore with the oversize shirt and some nude pumps. Her hair was down, a braid down the side, tucked behind her ear. The thing that stunned him the most was that she didn’t look like the girl he had known. No, she looked like a gorgeous, successful, and professional woman.

One he was dying to touch and whisper to that she was beautiful.

She wouldn’t even acknowledge him, though. He wanted to ask if she enjoyed the pancakes, if they were as good as she remembered. He wanted to know how her morning had gone, what she was getting done at the spa. Hell, he wanted to know everything. He just wanted her to talk to him, not scream, but talk. Had she finished Gilmore Girls? What about Game of Thrones? Did she finish the books? What else had she been doing in the last two years?

But most of all, he wanted to make her smile.

It was killing him, but he had to put that aside when Jayden said, “I think you did great today.”

“Thanks, Cap,” Markus said, pride filling his soul, and Jayden smiled.

“I knew you could do it. Always knew that, but seeing you out there, man, I’m really happy I fought for you.”

Markus laughed. “Me too. I needed this opportunity.”

“Yeah, and we’re gonna kill it,” he said, holding his fist up, and Markus knocked his to Jayden’s as Dawson cooed happily. Laughing, Jayden said, “I’m surprised he isn’t asleep.”

Looking down at his little buddy, Markus agreed. “Yeah, Baylor said he should knock out as soon as I started walking, but he is wide awake.”

“He’s crazy like his momma. Huh, little guy?”

Markus smiled at the googly eyes Jayden had for his son, just as Benji, Jude, and Jace walked toward them. Standing, Jayden threw his hands up. “Finally, assholes.”

“Sorry, I had a call,” Jude said, and even Markus could tell something was up.

“You okay?” he asked, and Jude shook his head.

“Apparently, they want to trade me to Minnesota.”

“Minnesota? What the hell? Why?” Jayden asked, his face scrunching up. “Who could they get for you?”

“Two awesome defensemen and a first- and fourth-round pick.”

Benji whistled as Markus hissed, shaking his head while Jayden said, “Oh, well, I guess we’ll see you in Minnesota.”

“Yeah, it isn’t final, but it will probably happen, and Claire is already upset. She can’t get out of her contract, so we’re really going to be living apart now.”

Nodding sullenly, Markus looked up from Dawson. “Too bad that Vegas team isn’t ready.”

“For sure,” Jude laughed, shaking his head. “I’m just ready to have my wife at home more than not, you know? It’s annoying, but we’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, you will be,” Jace said confidently. “You guys are like mac and cheese.”

“Peanut butter and jelly,” Markus added with a grin, and Jace grinned back playfully.

“Pickles and ice cream.”

“Toast and jam.”

“Are you two done?” Jude asked, and they both shook their heads.

“Tuna and mayo!”

“Ketchup and mustard!”

“Let’s go. These idiots will be here forever,” Jayden said, walking away toward the golf carts as Jace slapped Markus on the back.

“Did I tell you that you look like a loser with my nephew strapped to you?”

Markus shrugged as Dawson looked up at him. “Did I tell you that you look like a doofus, ’cause you do?”

That had them both laughing as they hurried to catch up with the guys, but a question lingered in Markus’s heart.

Did Mekena think he looked like a loser with Dawson strapped to him?

 

 

“There is my sugar! Come here and give me a big ole hug, Markus Reeves!”

Markus’s face broke into the biggest grin as Autumn Moore and her husband River came toward him, wrapping him up in their arms, careful of Dawson who had decided he wanted to stay strapped to Markus. Not that he was complaining.

As she took his cheeks in her hands, Autumn’s eyes were full of love and she exclaimed, “Your face!”

“I ran into an umbrella.”

River scoffed. “That’s gonna be a good story for the kids when we’re older and looking back at these wedding pictures.”

Markus laughed as Autumn nodded. “Other than that, how are you?”

“Good, tired. I got called up.”

A hard slap came to his back from River as he gushed, “That’s great! You couldn’t call?”

“It’s been a whirlwind, I’m sorry,” he apologized as just out of the corner of his eye he saw Mekena enter with Avery and Jace, along with baby Ashlyn. Mekena hadn’t been at the cabin when he went to change earlier, only the fat cat was there. But she must have gone back at some point because instead of the leggings she was wearing earlier, she had on a dark plum dress that stopped at midthigh, with the first few buttons at the top open a bit. Her hair was up in a messy curl thingy to the side of her head, and she looked amazing. Perfect, especially with the high black pumps that made her legs look longer than they were.

“Oh, it’s fine. You’re so busy, we understand,” Autumn gushed, pulling his attention from Mekena. “Why are you wearing my grandson?”

Markus laughed, cuddling Dawson to him. “He’s my buddy.”

“Well, give him here,” she said, but when she tried to take him, Dawson started to wail. “Dawson! What in the world? It’s Nana!”

“Yeah, but I’m Markus. He loves me more,” Markus teased just as Lucy called everyone to the dinner table. They were in the grand hall, where a large table was set up for the whole family to eat. The flowers were in abundance, and the plates looked high-end and elegant. Benji wasn’t holding back with this wedding, giving Lucy everything she could ever dream of. It was nice, and it gave Markus some intense goals for when it was time for him to settle down. The main thing was giving the lucky woman everything she ever wanted, which would be easy for him.

For the right girl.

When Markus sat down between Autumn and Baylor, Jace sat across from him with Avery and Mekena to the left of him and Lucy and Benji to the right. Markus’s eyes instantly fell on Mekena, and God, he wished he could tell her how gorgeous she was. Her face was so much thinner, more angular, but oh, still so gorgeous. When Baylor went to reach for Dawson, he stopped her. “What are you doing? He’s fine.”

“Don’t you wanna eat?”

“Yes, but if you take him, you won’t be eating.”

Baylor smiled, leaning into him. “You’re my favorite.”

“I know.”

“Um, excuse me. Husband right here,” Jayden said, which bought him a round of laughter. But that died down once the appetizers were served. Soon everyone was eating and enjoying the conversation, which was basically the Sinclairs arguing and nit-picking at each other. They were honestly their own comedy hour, and Markus loved every second.

“Are you sure you want to marry her, Benji? You’re such a nice guy, she’s gonna ruin you,” Jude teased, and Lucy glared.

“Well, Jude, problem is we’re already married, so I’m in it for the long haul,” Benji said, wrapping his arm around Lucy and kissing her cheek.

“Plus, I didn’t have to beg him to be with me like you had to beg Claire. We all know about the over-the-top girlfriend proposal,” she joked, and everyone chuckled.

“I loved it!” Claire gushed, and Jude gave Lucy a snide grin.

“Winning.”

“I think you just made me sound easy,” Benji said, and Markus’s face scrunched up. Huh?

Laughing, Lucy said, “What?”

“You said you didn’t have to beg me to be with you, and we all know I begged. So does that mean I’m easy?” he asked. For a second, Markus thought he was serious, but then he saw the playfulness in Benji’s eyes.

“Yes, Benji, we all know you put out on the first date,” Jayden teased.

“How do you know? Wait, didn’t y’all share a room on the road?” Jace accused, and again, a roar of laughter filled the room. “I always knew you had a thing for my brother.”

“I will squish you like a bug,” Benji threatened, but Jace just laughed.

“Lucy, get your husband. He’s being mean to your baby brother.”

Lucy rolled her eyes at Jace. “You started it, brat. How do you deal with him, Avery?”

“He’s good in bed,” she joked, and then her face went beet red when her eyes met her mother-in-law’s. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Mom.”

But Autumn was laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe, which made everyone else laugh. These people were nuts, but Markus loved it. He’d never had this. Never had the siblings to pick at or the parents who laughed off stuff like that. No, he pretty much was alone after he lost his grandfather. Thankfully, though, the Sinclairs came soon after that.

The second course was served then, a disgusting pumpkin soup that Markus wouldn’t touch, but apparently, everyone else thought was amazing. Sitting back in his seat, he played with Dawson as everyone ate and talked about the upcoming wedding.

“Will the Adlers be there?” Autumn asked and Benji nodded.

“Yup, along with most of the team, except for Tate and Erik, since they are competing at Worlds.”

“Oh, yeah, I knew that,” River said, nodding his head. “You know, Elli Adler called me about coaching the Ninjas.”

Markus’s neck almost broke, whipping his head to River. “No shit?”

River laughed. “Yeah, told her no. Can’t leave my grandbabies and all my kids.”

“Dad! That is an awesome opportunity,” Baylor complained.

“You would be great down there. Coach Saint sucks,” Markus commented, and Autumn nodded.

“I told him that, also that I’d go with him, but he won’t do it.”

“My family is here, I have a great job, and my daughter coaches with me. Why would I leave that? I’m happy where I am.”

Baylor held her father’s gaze. “Are you sure? This could lead to the NHL.”

“I did my time in the NHL, I watched my baby do her time there, and I’ll one day watch my grandchildren there. I’m good. Don’t worry about me. I’m happy.”

“He’s stubborn and says someone has to teach Dawson how to play,” Autumn teased, and Jayden pointed to himself.

“I’m actually sorta good, don’t know if you know that,” he said, which everyone scoffed at. “I’m the captain of an NHL team, and I won the Norris.”

“You suck,” Jace called. “Like big donkey dick.”

“Wouldn’t it be horse dick? It’s bigger,” Lucy said, and Jace nodded, pointing to her in agreement.

“Horrible defense, I don’t even know how you won the Norris for your shit play,” Jude teased.

“I don’t even know what you’re doing on the ice. I basically have to play for you,” Markus joined in, and Jayden glared. “It’s good that I’m there now.”

“It’s okay, baby. You’re great in bed,” Baylor added, and Markus sputtered with laughter. Soon, everyone was laughing again. Even Mekena. Her eyes were bright, beautiful, and he swore he had never seen anything so mesmerizing.

He kept staring boldly, with no cares. That was until Autumn pulled his attention away. “So tell me the goods. Anyone special?”

Markus looked away smiling as Lucy teased, “Come on, Mom. You know Markus is enjoying that single life.”

Markus laughed. “Eh, not so much enjoying it.”

“No?”

He felt Mekena’s gaze on him as he looked down at his plate, shrugging. He wasn’t lying; he hated being single. The different girls, the shitty dives where he found them. Never really knowing if they’d have his back, or if they were out for the money he didn’t have. In a way, he didn’t feel single—he felt empty.

Looking up to his pseudomother, he smiled. “Yeah, I mean, I’m single, technically, but my heart is owned by someone I don’t deserve.”

He felt everyone’s gaze on him as he wet his lips, glancing across the table where Mekena was looking very interestedly at her plate. He had known that she was special, that she had meant a lot to him, but at that moment, he realized she owned his heart—completely.

“Is that right?” Autumn asked.

He nodded just as Mekena looked up, his eyes locking with hers. He hadn’t meant to say all that, but it was true. Beyond true. True as it may be, though, he knew that no matter what, he had fucked up and he would not get another chance. No matter how desperate he was to have one. God, he just needed another chance.

Not that he deserved it, but man, he sure wished he could have it.

“Yup, not sure I’ll get it back anytime soon either.”

He looked down at the top of Dawson’s head just as Autumn asked, “It isn’t Lucy, is it? You know she’s getting married.”

It was like time stopped, and when he looked up, Lucy was choking on her drink as he looked back to Autumn, horror in his eyes.

Oh, crap.

“What? Why would it be Lucy?” Benji asked, just as confused as everyone else at the table.

Autumn, never the wiser to the tension in the room, just laughed, “Because they had that thing.”

Lucy was choking on her wine, and Markus didn’t know what to do, what to say as his best friends, aka Lucy’s brothers, who all looked at him in confusion along with some anger.

“What thing?” Jace asked.

“You had a thing with Lucy?” Jayden asked as Baylor snorted with laughter.

“Oh, my God! Mom!” Lucy complained.

“What is she talking about?” Benji asked, and Markus looked down, knowing this was not going to end well.

“It was nothing, really. Just one time,” Lucy said and Markus scoffed.

“I mean, it wasn’t nothing. We had fun, made love, but then we realized we were better as friends,” he said simply for his pride’s sake. Sex with him was good, dammit, and not nothing.

“Markus!” Lucy snapped. “You’re not helping!”

“Wait! You slept with my sister?” Jace asked, and Markus shrugged.

“Like a million years ago,” he said and Jayden glared.

“You and Lucy?”

“It’s really not a big deal, people!” Lucy cried, her face turning red as Benji looked at her in disbelief.

“You never told me you slept with him,” he said, and Lucy laughed.

“I didn’t tell you about a lot of people I slept with! It was after I left Rick. It was one time, I was lonely.”

“And so was I,” Markus said with a shrug. “And we all know Lucy is hot.”

“Markus!” she snapped, and he looked at her, confused.

“What? You are!”

“Excuse me, asshole, that’s my wife!” Benji exclaimed, and Markus laughed, holding his hands up.

“No offense, bro. Just saying.”

“This is insane. Thanks, Mom,” Lucy said, covering her face as Jude looked around, eating a piece of steak from his salad.

“Wait, you guys slept together?”

“Oh, my God,” Lucy groaned, but Markus just laughed.

“It’s really not a big thing.”

“Yeah, ’cause you basically sleep with everyone.”

The room went quiet as he looked across the table, meeting Mekena’s eyes. They were full of heat, and if his declaration before had maybe helped a bit, it was now totally forgotten. All she saw was that he slept with someone else’s sister. It wasn’t even like that. The thing with Lucy was over before it started—one time and that was it, but Mekena was looking way too much into it.

Clearing his throat, he held her gaze, not letting her escape like he had before. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You sleep with everyone, apparently.”

“Um, I haven’t slept with him,” Baylor said, raising her hand.

“Me neither,” Claire and Avery added.

“He never offered,” Autumn said, and the table went silent.

But then everyone was doubled over with laughter.

Well, everyone but Markus and Mekena.

Instead, their eyes stayed locked together, hers burning into his and his begging for a chance to even speak to her.

“I didn’t sleep with you, did I?” he said matter-of-factly, and her eyes widened, her face flushing red as the laughter around them died down. “So, in reality, I haven’t slept with everyone.”

Mekena looked away, shaking her head as everyone else glanced around awkwardly. The redness in her face ran down her neck, and her shoulders were back and taut as she exhaled loudly. Avery and Benji were glaring at him, while Jude, Jace, and Jayden had their murderous gazes on him. He wasn’t scared of any of them. What scared him was Mekena. She rattled him because with every second that passed, he knew any chance of her ever forgiving him was dwindling. Because of that, he knew that dinner was ruined. Hell, everything was ruined.

And it was all his fault.

Or maybe his dick’s fault.

That guy was always getting him into trouble.