“Didn’t say shit to anyone else about it,” I informed her, reading her mind and figuring she’d think that.

Tori gave me a sideways glance. “Fine,” she replied. Her voice was unbothered, but I knew better.

Layers of bullshit. This was just another layer.

We reached the car and piled in.

Quinn talked up Tori the entire ride to Chante’s house, asking her questions and handing over information Tori didn’t ask for, just giving it because Quinn liked her and thought she was cool for putting on that performance back at Hammerjacks. She was talking fast and easy, oversharing a little, which Tori didn’t seem to mind. Legs paid attention, glancing in the back frequently, and commented when Quinn would take a second to breathe.

She even agreed to come out to celebrate Quinn’s birthday when it was insisted by my sister she show up. That surprised me considering the venue. Didn’t think Legs was into that shit.

“Nine o’clock! Wednesday. Don’t forget, okay? And wear something hot, like those pants you got on!” Quinn hollered out as she was climbing from the backseat.

The door shut behind her.

I watched Tori tilt her head down. “Really? They’re just leggings,” she argued to herself.

“Babe, ain’t nothin’ on you ever gonna be just anything. When you gonna learn that?”

She blinked, then her eyes slowly lifted to the dash.

“Later, Jamie!”

I looked through the windshield and brought my hand off the wheel, letting Quinn see it after she called out.

She spun around and ran up the driveway, climbing the porch. When she got inside the house, she stuck her hand out the door and waved once more.

“She’s sweet,” Tori stated as I was backing us out of the driveway. “Is her birthday party really going to be at a strip club, though? Was she serious?”

Laughing, I started down the road. That was the only response I gave her.

When we got back to her place, Tori didn’t say shit to me about not coming inside or getting gone and not wanting me there. She didn’t even seem to mind when I took it upon myself to get us set up with a movie to watch while we ate, choosing a free one On Demand after plopping down on the couch and grabbing the container of chicken and broccoli, minus the broccoli.

Tori didn’t say a damn thing to me about what I was doing.

It was weird. A good weird, but still … weird.

She sat on her end of the couch, knees bent and bare feet propped up on the coffee table after kicking her flip-flops off, shrimp fried rice and mango chicken containers in her lap, still warm, so we didn’t bother reheating them, and watched Mad Max with me while alternating bites of food between the two meals and sipping on the Cherry Coke I gave her.

She didn’t talk. She ate.

I was liking this side of her, the non-bitching-at-me side and the one who seemed to not only tolerate my presence, but possibly enjoy it, so I didn’t talk either and chowed down.

And I was absolutely enjoying it. Every fucking second.

When Legs was finished eating, she put the half-empty containers next to the other ones on the coffee table, grabbed the tattered green quilt off the back of the couch, wrapped it around her shoulders, tucked her knees up against her chest, and continued watching the movie.

She didn’t dismiss me. She didn’t get up and sprint upstairs again since I was hanging around, finished eating myself.

Tori sat there, not saying a word, and gave me more of her time.

I thought that was weird, too, really fucking weird, but I wasn’t about to shed light on this side of her she was showing me, figuring if I did that, she’d pile on more layers for me to peel back and become more aware, putting up a stronger guard in response.

I couldn’t have that. I was liking this version of her too much.

I liked the other version, too. The mouthy, giving as good as she gets version, but I wanted it without the bullshit.

And I was gonna get it.

A bet was a bet. And last I checked, we were still playing.

When the movie was over, I made it look like I was leaving, heading out with the leftovers she didn’t want while she used the bathroom down the hall.

I stood in the entryway and told her I’d see her tomorrow.

She called out, “Please don’t,” from behind the bathroom door.

I smiled.

Then I pulled my dick out and waited.

Chapter Seven

TORI

“I’m out, babe. See ya tomorrow,” Jamie hollered from somewhere inside my house.

He was leaving. Good.

“Please don’t!” I hollered back, head turning toward the bathroom door I was behind as I washed my hands in the sink.

I really needed him to leave. And I really needed to go a day without seeing him.

Things were starting to feel a little too familiar.

And when things started feeling familiar, stupid people started letting things happen, like sharing meals and watching movies together after going on a family rescue mission like some cozy duo.

I had no business meeting his family, ever, because Jamie and I weren’t a duo or cozy in any way.

But I had gone with him. And I didn’t just meet his sister. I liked her. She was sweet, easygoing, and talked my ear off like we’d been best friends for years.

Not many girls were that friendly off that bat.

Then Jamie and I came back here, shared a meal, and watched a movie together while sitting on the same piece of furniture. Looking like a duo. And looking cozy, considering I hadn’t smashed myself up against the armrest again to put as much distance between Jamie and myself as possible.