Page 42 of Strawberry Cake

“Most of it, yeah.”

“It looks nice. I mean, not that I have a clue.” Out of the corner of her eye, Decan tensed again. Hope followed his gaze to someone rushing up to them.

“Trust Fund Baby!” The man shouted. He was covered in tattoos, from his shaved head all the way down to his arms. “Fuck, it’s been years.”

“Yeah,” Decan mumbled, taking the hand the guy offered.

Hope stepped up next to Decan and shook the guy’s hand as well, the other resting on Decan’s neck.

“Subtle,” the man jabbed. “I’m Tay.”

“Hope.”

“A beautiful woman you have there. You still live around here?”

“Galleria Area, actually.”

“Fucking snob,” Tay laughed.

“And you’re still a dick,” Decan countered with the ghost of a smile across his lips.

“Can’t change now. People are used to it.”

The two fell into car talk, and that’s when Hope checked out of the conversation. Her eyes trailed to Marco who was eying her carefully. Kissing Decan’s hair, she gave his neck a squeeze and left the two men to their chat. “What’s on your mind?” she asked Marco.

“You didn’t put him up to this?”

“Cross my heart,” she said, fingers dancing over Marco’s car as she rounded to the trunk. “He said he didn’t want to tell you and disappoint you if he couldn’t show.”

“Why would he think I’d be disappointed?”

“Because even as we got out of the car, he wanted to turn around and leave. He doesn’t want to let you down.”

“I’ve asked him so many times before.” Marco sounded troubled, upset even.

“You’re upset that he came here with me.”

“A little.”

“You’re a terrible liar. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”

“Now I like you even more, because you’re not even judging me.”

“Fine. Fuck off you jealous prick. Decan is my man now.” Hope tried and failed to keep a straight face.

Marco playfully knocked her arm. “Why are you so damn nice?”

“Nice? I just called you a prick!”

“Yeah, with a huge grin on your face.”

“Thank you for saving him.” Marco only cocked his brow at her, so Hope continued, “He said you pulled him out of the car and stayed by his side during recovery when no one else did.”

“That’s what brothers do.”

“I’m sure it couldn’t have been easy. So, thank you.”

“I suppose I should thank you too.”