Assured (Soul Serenade #2)(28)

“Shh!” I hear Logan hiss.

I slowly open my eyes and blink away the sleep. Shit! We fell asleep last night. I squeeze my eyes closed, wishing Logan and whoever it is she’s hissing at would be quiet so I would have slept a little longer. To make matters worse, Cole is starting to wake up, and he’s drawing circles on my lower back. I want to yell at them to go back to bed so I can enjoy this rare moment of sweet Cole. Instead, I try to move his hand, but he’s not having it.

“Stop, baby,” he mumbles.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Baby?” Kacen says, loud enough that we’re both opening our eyes.

I quickly sit up, as does Cole. He blinks a few times and roughly runs his hands over his face.

“What the hell is going on here?” Kacen demands.

“Babe, calm down,” Logan tries to soothe him.

“Fucking hell, Kace. We fell asleep watching a movie,” Cole bites back.

“You called her ‘baby,’” he retorts.

Cole shrugs. “And your point is? I was f*cking comfortable.”

“I f*cking told you, Cole.”

“Chill the f*ck out, man. I know I heard you the tenth f*cking time you lectured me. We fell asleep, end of story.” Cole stands and makes his way to the bathroom.

“Kacen.” My voice is low. “He’s telling you the truth. I read for a little while and then we watched the rest of Speed. We fell asleep.” I hate that he’s so angry about this. I’m beginning to wonder if I made the wrong decision.

“You all ‘just fell asleep’ at the house too,” he says, with less anger in his voice.

“Kacen Michael, you need to stay out of it. Who cares if they fell asleep? Who cares if they slept together? They are both adults and can make their own decisions. Who are you to tell them what they can and cannot do?” Logan lays into him.

“She’s your best friend.”

“And he’s yours. They are also two consenting adults who do not want or need your permission to do whatever the hell it is they want to do.”

“I don’t want it to cause problems.” His voice is softer now that he’s talking to his wife.

“You’re going to, acting the way you are. Stay out of it.”

Cole comes back into the room and sits on the couch beside me. “It’s not a secret that I want her. Nothing you say can keep that from happening.”

WOW!

“She’s not a groupie,” Kacen says through his teeth.

“You think I don’t know that?”

“Stop! Nothing happened. We fell asleep. Kacen, I appreciate your concern, but regardless of what, if anything, happens between Cole and me, or hell, me and Gavin or Tristan . . .” I pause when Cole growls beside me. “It will not be any of your concern. I promise you that it will not change my relationship with Logan, and it would take more than a one-night stand to keep me from this amazing opportunity you’ve given me.”

Tristan and Gavin must have heard the commotion as they are now both awake and sitting at the table. Of course, they arrived just in time to hear my little tirade.

“Stacy, you tell me when and where.” Tristan winks at me.

“Ditto.” Gavin grins cheekily.

“Fuck you both,” Cole seethes. “Hands off.”

“I’m flattered,” I tell them. “But it’s not happening. With any of you.” I make a point to look at all three of them. Gavin and Tristan are wearing matching sleepy grins. Cole looks . . . sad, with a mix of anger evident. I don’t even take the time to figure out what that means.

“Right, you all have to be at the radio station in an hour. It’s a fifteen-minute commute, so get moving. Breakfast casserole is on the stove,” Logan says.

And just like that, the discussion is over. The four of them grumble their thanks and love of Logan’s cooking while filling their plates. She takes a seat next to me on the couch and pats my leg.

“Sorry about all of that,” she whispers.

I shake my head, letting her know she doesn’t need to apologize.

“So, did you finish that book?” she asks.

“Yes, it was so good.”

“Did you cry?”

“Like a baby.” I grin. I love that we have the same taste in books.

“I was worried at first,” Cole says between bites from his seat at the table.

From the look on her face, Logan is thrilled that Cole seemed to care.

“What is it you call it, babe? ‘Ugly girl cry’?” Kacen winks at her.

“Yes, and I’m not ashamed,” Logan says, head held high.

“Most of the time, they break you, but put you back together again,” I tell him.

“I don’t like to see my wife cry,” Kacen grumbles.

I chance a look at Cole to find him already looking at me. Something passes between us, Kacen’s words almost exactly what he said to me last night. This unspoken connection confuses me. It’s nothing I would have expected from Cole.

Logan clears her throat, pulling my attention away from Cole.

Busted.

She winks at me. Logan doesn’t miss a thing.

“Later,” I mouth to her. I know my best friend, and she’s going to want details.