Page 61 of Stay

“It’s his favorite.”

“It’smyfavorite,” he says.

“Mine too,” Sutton says.

I glance at Sutton and his eyes are gleaming in the lowered kitchen lights. I shiver and he notices, eyes widening.

“Are you cold?” he asks.

I shake my head.

“Why aren’t you having cake, Felicity?” Owen asks.

“I had a lot of frosting while I was making it. I think I had my fill.”

He laughs and eats the last bite, sighing and rubbing his belly. “Can I have another piece?”

“That’s probably more than enough sugar for tonight,” I tell him. “Or…whatever your dad says.” I flush when I look at Sutton.

There I go again, inserting myself when it’s not really my place.

I have cringed a thousand times since calling myself a Mama Bear.

“Felicity’s right,” Sutton says. “Thank you so much for the cake though. I want another piece too, but I’ll save it for tomorrow.”

I smile at them and start gathering my things. “I’m glad you like it. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? I hope you sleep well. Congratulations again on that game, Ace. You went out with style.” My hand crashes with Owen’s in a high five.

“Is that my nickname?” His eyes are so bright and excited, I can’t take it. My heart is a melty lump of mush.

“If you want it to be. I think it fits,” I say.

“I loveit.”

“Why don’t you go get your shower, Owen? It’s late, so don’t take a long one,” Sutton says. He looks at me and his eyes are warm. “Can you stay for a minute?”

“Sure.”

Owen gives me another hug before he goes upstairs.

There’s a pregnant pause when it’s just the two of us.

The sound of Owen turning on the water comes through one of the monitors and then he’s singing as he showers.

Sutton takes the plates to the sink and then leans against the island. He’s still in his dress pants and button-down shirt from work, his tie pulled loose. It’s one of my favorite looks on him. His hair is messier than usual, and I want to sink my fingers through it and tug it the way he did mine that night.

He stares at me, his eyes dropping to my mouth for a second before meeting my eyes again, and I wonder what he’s thinking.

“I just wanted to make sure you’re okay,” he finally says. “That was quite a night, and…I wanted to thank you again. I don’t want you to ever put yourself at risk and thought it might make you feel better to know that, besides a shitty attitude, I think Lance is harmless. That being said, well…I think I already said it earlier,” he chuckles, “but please don’t do anything like that if me or my brothers aren’t around. I don’t know what I’d do if…”

He’s quiet for so long, his eyes boring through me.

“If what?” I ask quietly.

“If anything happened to you,” he says.

He stalks toward me and the next thing I know, my back is against the wall. His hand skims my neck until his fingers are lifting my jaw, his body hard against mine. His eyes are intense, as he looks from my eyes to my lips, and hovers so close we could almost kiss. I barely breathe.

“I can’t stop thinking about this mouth,” he whispers. “I’m such a hypocrite, warning you to be careful of other men when I’m no better…”