Page 74 of Forever Golden

Not even five seconds have passed and he’s glancing over his shoulder again, to where Scar’s now posted beside Sterling, chatting while they watch the flames.

Joss and I share a look that suggests this guy’s left the same impression on us both.

He’s trouble.

West is finally on his way back, and when he pulls me into his side, he seems to take notice of where Linden’s sights are set.

“Something over there got your attention?” West asks, prompting Linden’s head to whip back toward us.

He doesn’t answer, but then a menacing smile tugs at one side of his lips.

“Nope. Don’t even fucking think about it,” West warns, at which point Linden chuffs a short laugh, and then slowly trudges back to his post. He strums a few chords on his guitar like before, but his eyes never leave Scar.

Never.

“Relax. I’ll keep an eye on him,” West says close to my ear.

Dane comes to claim Joss, convincing her to join him near the fire. Now, it’s just West and me.

“Tired?” he asks.

“Exhausted.”

Thinking about how little sleep I’m running on, that was the easiest question I’ve answered all day.

“I figured, which is why I was thinking.”

When he leans in to make sure no one hears but me, I’m admittedly intrigued where this is going.

“When all this is over and everyone leaves, you should meet me somewhere.”

A laugh slips out. “This is your cure to my exhaustion?”

“Not exactly,” he shrugs, “but if you agree to it, I promise to make it worth your while.”

This proposal has me thinking I can probably make it a bit longer without rest. I mean, it isn’t like I can’t sleep in tomorrow, right?

I only hesitate for half a second before asking, “When and where?”

He smirks, knowing he has me on the hook.

“Just keep your phone close. I’ll let you know.”

Chapter 26

WEST

“Pretty sure this is about the most un-Christmas-like thing I’ve ever done,” Southside huffs, still trying to catch her breath as she lays on my chest.

“You would’ve preferred porn?” I ask, glancing toward the theater screen.

“Not sayingthat,butIt’s a Wonderful Lifejust feels like a weird choice,” she reasons, trying to glare at me, but there’s a smile ghosting on her lips.

“Well, it couldn’t have beentoobig a distraction, seeing as how you came in less than five minutes,” I tease, which makes her punch my arm like I fully expect her to.

“Girls can do that. It only ruins the sex if theguytaps out early.”

“That’ll never happen, so it’s not even worth talking about.”