Page 31 of Love Gamble
“Nothing,” I reply in a sweet, singsong voice. “What did you think of the mural?”
“I think it’s perfect,” he says, blue eyes gentling. “Do you want me to take a photo of it so Mom can see?”
The mention of my mother ruins my good mood. “I don’t think she’d really care, do you?”
The relationship I have with her is definitely a sore point. I mean, who doesn’t want a good relationship with their parents? They are the ones who are supposed to show us unconditional love, and instead I got saddled with an abusive father and a mother who always treats me like she doesn’t want a daughter around. She clearly doesn’t care—she’s off living her best life on River’s money, fostering animals instead of showing the same love and attention to her own child.
“I’m sure she’d love to see it. You got your artistic side from her,” he says, pulling out his phone and going over to take the photo. He’s so oblivious when it comes to her.
Yeah, so maybe it’ll get the attention of her narcissistic side. She can claim my talent comes from her, and then probably criticize it. Wonderful.
“He’s such a proud brother,” Jag points out, now stretching his arms above his head with a yawn. “And he doesn’t look like he wants to kill me anymore whenever he sees me with you.”
“Probably because he knows we’re just friends and you’re usually just being a dickhead.” I grin, and Jag grabs me in a pretend headlock and messes up my hair.
When I finally stand upright and gaze over at Damon, he looks like he wants to kill us both.
“He’s obviously not getting the friend zone memo.” Jag smirks, just as Leif, the Viking prospect, comes over to us, a beer in his hand.
“Your mural is amazing,” he says, smiling. He’s tall, very, very tall, and his blond hair is loose around his shoulders.
“Thank you so much,” I reply genuinely, just as River returns to show me the photo he took.
“Look how good it is, Corey. I’m sending it to her,” he announces, pressing send.
“Want to send it to Tatum, too?” I joke, but then wish I didn’t with the way his expression darkens.
“I don’t know what game he’s playing, but he’s going to lose,” he says, sliding his phone into his jeans pocket. “If he reaches out to you in any way, tell me right away. I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“I will. Don’t worry, I have no foolish notions about wanting to get to know him,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “As far as I’m concerned, I only have two brothers—one here and one in heaven.”
“The third one is about to be in hell,” I hear him mutter under his breath.
Damon finishes his conversation and strolls over to join the party, standing next to me. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Actually yes, I’d love a beer,” I tell him, and he goes to get me one.
Good boy.
River watches him but doesn’t say anything. I guess it’s not a crime to be a gentleman.
“Who do you like better, Damon or Jag?” I ask, feeling a little bold this evening.
“Why?” he asks, lips tightening into a straight line. “You need to be more specific.”
“Just in general,” I insist, shrugging.
Something is going to happen with me and Damon. I can feel it in my bones, and I need to prepare River. But no matter how he reacts, I’m not going to let him control my life and tell me I can’t be with who I want. That doesn’t mean that I like him being upset, though.
“They’re both my MC brothers” is all he says, giving nothing else away, but I know he has to like Damon more. Not that there’s anything wrong with Jag, but he hasn’t been around too long, with the Devils MC getting him in as a prospect a few months ago, and Damon has been an Angel for a long time, and is quickly moving up in the ranks.
River loves power, and he’d want me to be with someone like that. At least that’s what I’m hoping.
The alcohol starts flowing, the music gets louder, and we all start having some fun as the sun goes down.
Once everyone is thoroughly inebriated, we ask Diamond if he can show us some of his stripper moves. We even put on “Pony” by Ginuwine. He does a little teasing body roll move, but then shakes his hands likenope, sorry, not happening.
But even that little move was sexy as hell.