Page 12 of Knot a Bad Idea
“You have two options. Either you come with me willingly, or I carry you over my shoulder.”
I knew she would say something likeyou don’t have to do this for me.
And too bad for her, because I want to do everything for her.
One day, she’ll accept it.
But if I have to carry her through our dates kicking and screaming in the meantime, so be it.
“You wouldn’t dare.” She narrows her eyes, and my grin grows wider.
“Fucking try me, baby.”
She huffs and rolls her eyes playfully. “Well, if I have no other choice, then I guess I’ll go.”
I kiss pull her in by her bun and kiss her, hard, until we both pull away breathless. “Damn right, you don’t. Get ready in half an hour, baby. I’m stealing you away for myself the rest of the day.”
She flashes me a smile and nods, and I reluctantly leave her in the bedroom to grab the supplies we need.
The studio will have most of them, but my sketchbooks are here.
Liam finds me in my room. “Where are you going?” he asks, watching as I hunt for them.
My room couldn’t be more different from Liam’s or Donovan’s—while theirs are tidy, mine is more of organized chaos. There is an L-shaped desk in the corner with multiple monitors, along with a specialty gaming headset and controller. Shelves of board games and books line the walls. Art supplies are in the other corner, along with a desk I use just for sketching.
It’s clean, but a bit cluttered.
“To the studio,” I reply. “She hasn’t seen it, and we don’t use it enough. I was figuring maybe?—”
“We could set up a space for her,” Liam answers. “I have an extra easel there, too, along with paints. She can have whatever she wants.”
I turn to see him in the doorway, his face carefully blank. “You can’t come on our date, Liam.”
He scoffs. “Iknowthat.” But the flush on his face gives him away.
I raise an eyebrow. “Do you?”
“Of course. It was a good idea to take her to the studio. I just wish I thought of it first.”
“Aww.” I clap him on the shoulder as he steps aside for me. “You’ll think of something. Don’t worry. You’re still her favorite, anyway.”
It’s true. Liam and April have a connection that I can’t describe. It’s little things, like when Liam takes her hand to comfort her. He senses her anxiety quicker than I can.
And though Liam deserves it—he’s the nicest motherfucker I know—I can’t help but be a bit jealous.
“I’m not her favorite,” he mumbles, even though there’s a shit-eating grin on his face.
I scoff. “Yeah, you are. Don’t gloat, dick.”
“Also, before you leave…what happened downstairs with Donovan?”
I stop in the hallway and turn to Liam. “Honestly? I think he’s fucking falling harder than we have, and he can’t handle it.”
Liam’s smile fades and his lips form into a thin line. “That sounds about right.”
“Maybe you can talk some sense into him. I don’t want him to fuck this up for us, but every time I bring it up, he uses the contract as an excuse.”
Liam scoffs. “Yeah, he can be a real fucking idiot,” he grumbles.