Well so much for coming here to watch a good fight. Damn . . .

“Follow me to Blue’s. Then we’ll talk.”

After fighting our way through the crowd, we both hop in our separate trucks and meet up in Blue’s parking lot. I haven’t been here since that night I left Jade’s to meet Tripp here; the night that she asked me to move in with her.

I jump out of my truck. “I need a few drinks to talk about this. Until then, don’t expect too much.”

Memphis just nods in understanding and follows me inside. He’s used to my shit by now.

We’re here for a good twenty minutes, him watching me as I slam back my third shot, before he decides to jump back in and push the subject.

“You slept with her didn’t you,” he says without hesitation. “It’s all over your face, Alex . . . and trust me, downing those shots aren’t going to do shit to clear your head. It doesn’t work. Trust me.”

“Is it really that fucking obvious?” I push the empty shot glass away and run a hand through my hair in frustration. “It’s eating at me, bro. I want more. I can’t look at her without wanting to put my hands all over her now and claim her as mine.”

“Why don’t you,” he questions. “Do it. Make her yours. You guys have been friends long enough to know if it would work out. You haven’t gotten tired of each other yet, right?”

I peel the label from my beer bottle and then slam back my beer. “It’s not that simple. She has a ‘boyfriend’ or whatever you call that douche. We all live in the same damn house.”

Memphis smiles knowingly and takes a drink from his beer bottle. “We both know that’s not what’s holding you back. You’d win her over that fucker any day. There’s not a damn thing that girl wouldn’t do for you. You’ve been there for each other through everything. He has nothing on you. It’s not even a competition.”

My heart speeds up as his words set in. He’s right. Lucas has nothing to do with me not making Tripp my girl. I’d steal her from him in a heartbeat without giving a shit. It’s the loss that scares me; the loss that we’d both feel if things didn’t work out and we had to move on from each other. I never want to be hurt by her and I sure as fuck would never want to hurt her. I care about her way too much.

“I know, man. I don’t know. It’s some shit I’ll have to figure out. Until then, I’ll just have to do my best to keep my hands to myself. No more sexual shit between us. Strictly friends.”

Memphis snickers. “That won’t last long.”

“It’ll have to.” I finish off my beer and stand up, ready to go home and jump in the pool to cool off. “Or I’m fucked.”

“You want Lyric to talk to Tripp and see how she’s feeling about all this shit?”

I shake my head and toss down some cash. “Hell no. That’s the last thing I want right now.” I throw my arms around Lyric and squeeze her as she attempts to sneak up on me. “You’re not that smooth, doll.”

“Damn you, Alex!” She slaps my chest and pulls away. “Why won’t you just let me scare you once? Just one time and I’ll be happy, dammit.”

I can’t do that.” I tease. “Well, I’m out of here so you guys can enjoy dinner. I have food waiting at home for me.”

“Lucky dog you.” Lyric teases. “Tell her to send dinner my way sometime. She’s got skills in the kitchen and I’ve been dying for her homemade dumplings.”

“Alright, man.” Memphis looks up at me, before wrapping his arms around Lyric and pulling her against him. “I’m here if you need anything. I mean that shit.”

“What’s going on,” Lyric questions, looking between the two of us. “Something I should know?”

“Not right now, doll.” I wink and start walking backward to get away before she can get it out of me. “Later.”

As soon as I get out to my truck, I strip out of my shirt and pull out of the parking lot. I need to hit that pool at full speed to blow off steam, and quick.

Before I blow off steam in the one place that I can’t. Between Tripp’s thighs . . .

OH MAN! OH MAN!

I don’t know what made me think that this tattoo was a good idea. I have to be stupid to think that I’d be able to handle his hands on me after last night. I can’t. I couldn’t, and I don’t know when I’ll be able to again.

Ever since I left his room at the shop today, I’ve been imagining the feel of his strong, tattooed hand holding my breast. Every time I looked down and saw his hand there, flashes of him between my legs invaded my mind. I couldn’t see anything else. I couldn’t seem to shake the image off. All I wanted was to feel what I was I was imagining. I wanted to feel him filling me.

“Babe . . . damn, you’re somewhere else tonight. Hello . . .” Lucas snaps his fingers in front of my face, saving myself from the dirty thoughts of Alex that I’ve been drowning in the whole night.

Even at a party I can’t seem to keep my mind straight. There are over thirty people here, yet the only person I want to talk to is Alex; the one person that isn’t here.

“Lucas . . .” I warn. “Don’t snap your fingers in front of my face. You know how much I hate that.” I push my way out of his arms to go make myself another drink. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long week and I’ve got a lot on my mind with the bar and stuff.”

Lucas pushes up behind me and wraps his arms around me, squeezing my breasts and jiggling them. Ugh . . . I fucking hate when he does that.

“Let me wake you up then, baby.” He rubs his lips up the side of my neck, before biting. I slightly pull away, before he can leave a mark.

“Alex . . .”

Shit . . .

My whole body becomes heated in embarrassment from calling Lucas by the wrong name. I seriously just cannot function tonight. This is so not good. I’ve never been this distracted in my entire life.

“Alex, huh? Is that who’s on your mind?”

Just as I think Lucas is about to pull away and get pissed at me for calling him by Alex’s name, he pulls me closer to him instead and slips his hand up the front of my dress, sliding his finger through my folds.

“Close your eyes, baby. I can finger fuck you as Alex if you want.” I lose my breath for a second at the mention of Alex finger fucking me. “You’re so fucking wet and warm. Fuck me . . .”