Breathe Out (Just Breathe, #2)(147)

“Awwww,” Jared sings.

I glower at the two of them. Joe reaches to comfort me, but I swat his hand away. He moves the wine glass closer to Jared.

“I’m good, man,” Jared replies. “I just wanted to mess with her.”

Joe nods and takes a sip of the wine before handing it to me. I get a large mouthful before Joe takes it back, finishing it.

“So, how long have you two been going on?” Jared searches.

“There is no us two,” I rebut.

“Yes, there is,” Jared replies.

“No,” I counter.

“When did it happen?” Jared presses.

“Why?” I ask.

“Want to know if I’m right,” he explains. “Nathan and I had a bet going on about when it all started, and if I’m right, he owes me.”

“You sure you want him to owe you right now?” I explore. “Given the current state of things?”

“No,” Jared’s voice shakes. “Maybe . . . .”

“Since the wedding,” Joe offers.

“Joseph,” I yell. My fist projects into Joe’s shoulder, but he doesn’t flinch.

“That’s . . .” Jared pauses to think. “That’s six months, Kitten. Holy shit!”

The three of us exchange a few silent glances for a moment.

“You know,” Jared starts. “I actually thought you guys had sex sooner than the wedding.”


“What?” I question, regretting it as soon as the word leaves my mouth.

“The sex must be good,” Jared muses.

“This is no longer on the table for discussion,” I disclose.

“Why?” Jared inquires.

“Because,” I start. “You came here to talk about Nathan.”

“I don’t want to talk about him,” Jared returns. “Thinking and talking about him makes me sad. And, I don’t want to be sad. I want to be happy. And, talking about you two makes me happy.”

“There is no us two,” I repeat. “And, we aren’t talking about it.”

“Six months means there’s a relationship,” Jared continues.

“Enough,” I return. “We aren’t talking about it.”

“There’s that we,” Jared challenges with a snicker.

“Not funny,” I press.

Joe moves closer, trying to comfort me. I swat his hand away.

“So, tell me more,” Jared coaxes.

“I said we aren’t talking about it,” I demand.

“I say we put it up for a vote,” Jared returns.

“There is no vote,” I reply. “It’s not on the table.”

“Maybe Joe wants to talk about it,” Jared challenges.

“No, he doesn’t,” I command. “End of discussion.”

“You know I’m here, right?” Joe checks.

“Clearly it needs to be talked about,” Jared mentions.

“No, it doesn’t,” I reiterate. “End of discussion!”

“Talking about it will be good . . . for all of us,” Jared suggestions.

“No,” I refute.

“Besides, I bet Joe wants to talk about it,” Jared declares.

“No, he doesn’t,” I counter.

“Guys, I’m right here,” Joe comments.

“Joe gets a vote. He’s a part of what you two are,” Jared comments.

“No. There’s no voting,” I repeat. “It’s not up for discussion. There’s no part of anything to vote on.”

“Have you even asked Joe if he wants to talk about it,” Jared stipulates.

“It doesn’t matter,” I reply. “There’s no vote.”

“I get a vote, beautiful,” Joe challenges. “If it’s about us, I get a vote.”

“There’s no us and there’s no vote,” I return.

Joe moves closer. I try to get away, but he corners me. “I want to talk about it.”

“What?” I gulp.

“Sadie gets a vote,” Joe adds.

“No, she doesn’t,” I counter.

“Yes, she does,” Jared supports.

“No, she doesn’t,” I repeat.

“She’s gotten a vote ever since Oregon,” Joe comments.

“What happened in Oregon?” Jared inquires.

“Nothing,” I answer, staring Joe down.

Joe takes his phone out of his pocket and I watch him thumb through his videos.

“What are you doing?” I inquire.

“You’ll see,” he answers with a devious look.

My eyes fall upon a still frame of Joe, Sadie and me on a bed. “How did you get that?” my voice questions an octave higher.

Joe gives me a wicked grin. He sets the phone on the counter, pressing play for Jared to watch. I do my best to stop it, but Joe blocks me. My eyes stay fixed on the video as it plays.

“You are in so much trouble,” I declare, squinting at Joe.

“Looking forward to it,” Joe says with a seductive grin, pulling me closer. One of his hands grips my ass while the other holds my face still so he can kiss me.

Jared’s laughing catches our attention. “You’re a kinky mother f*cker, aren’t you? It’s always the quiet ones.”