Play Fair (The Devil's Share Book 3)(20)

“You ready to play?”

She smirked. “You ready to get your ass handed to you?”

I was pretty sure she was capable of doing just that. The beautiful sexy girl next door with commitment issues and a flighty nature. Yep. The universe was definitely handing me my ass.

She picked up a controller and climbed up on my bed while I loaded the game. We sat side by side, talking trash and laughing. One game turned into two, two turned into three, and three turned into me using all the willpower I possessed to not grab her by the face and stick my tongue down her throat.

I talked to her all the time; we gamed, we laughed, we joked around. And it was all fine. Having her here, sleeping next to her, watching her with Landry…it had f*cked with my brain. You know that super sappy movie, the one where the girl dies? That quote that was on all those previews—I fell in love like you fall asleep at night—that was me. That’s what happened. It snuck up on me. I was perfectly fine last night; I slept next to her for hours without jumping her bones. From friends to falling in two-point-five seconds.

“Hey. You okay?” She cocked her head to the side, studying me.

“Yeah. I’m good. I’m great.” I sounded like a moron. “You want to play another round or you ready for bed?”

She put her hand over her mouth, yawning. “I think I’m ready for bed…” She stood. “Good night?”

Did that mean she was sleeping in her bed? “Uh, yeah, sure. Good night.” Holy shit, get it together, Jacks. My voice was squeaking like my balls were about to drop.

I didn’t want her to go. The thought of her sleeping a whole room away from me actually made my chest hurt. But I didn’t trust myself. I knew I would wind up making a move. And now wasn’t the time. I needed to sort all this out in my head. I needed to not be a spastic mess.

***

I woke a few hours later to the sound of Landry crying. I jolted out of bed and fumbled around trying to pull on some pants before making it across the hall to her room. I stopped short when I realized Bryan was already in there. She had Landry’s head in her lap and she was gently running her fingers through her hair, speaking quietly in a soothing tone. I leaned against the door frame, watching them, watching my girls. Landry’s tears stopped and slowly her eyes began to drift close. Bryan looked up and met my gaze, giving me a sad smile. Landry’s little arms were wrapped around her waist, and you could tell she was holding on tight. I raised an eyebrow at B, silently asking her if she wanted me to take over. She shook her head no, and lay down next to Landry.





Chapter Ten


Bryan


The next morning I was up before the sun, which meant I was up before Jacks and Landry too. I’d ended up falling asleep in Landry’s bed and staying there the rest of the night. I got out of bed carefully, so I wouldn’t wake her, and went across the hall to my room to get dressed. I peeked in on Jacks; he was sleeping at the foot of his bed, his head facing Landry’s room. I knew he was scared he didn’t have the ability to raise Landry, but he was already a good father. Or a good guardian.

I went downstairs and found my sister sitting at the bar, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. “Hey, you.” I kissed her on the cheek before going to the stove and putting hot water in a cup for me.

“Hey.” She took a sip. “I happened to notice you didn’t sleep in Jacks’s bed last night.”

I laughed. “Happened to notice? Or made it a point to check?” She just shrugged. “I actually spent most of the night in Landry’s bed, she had a nightmare.”

“About what?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know, she wouldn’t say. I don’t even want to begin to try to guess. Who knows what that little girl has seen.”

“She needs to talk to someone. Jacks needs to get her into counseling.”

I dropped a mint tea bag into my cup and brought it over to the bar. “I know. I was going to talk to him about it last night, but I didn’t get around to it.”

“You’re good with her, with Landry.”

I smiled. “So is Jacks.”

Dylan nodded thoughtfully. “I heard Jacks come home last night, it was early…”

He had come home early. I hadn’t expected him to come home at all. It was clear to everyone but Landry why he’d left the house with Luke last night. When he’d told me that with us was right where he wanted to be, my heart had done that little flutter thing again. But I was sure he didn’t mean it like I took it. He’d probably just felt guilty. Right? And I was probably just developing a heart condition or something.

“Yeah, he probably just felt bad about leaving Landry here.”

“You sure? Because I think he’s falling for you and it took him being in a bar surrounded by willing and able chicks to realize it.”

I made a face at her. Childish, I know. “I think you’re crazy.”

“Don’t hurt him, Bryan. Don’t do what you always do: flirt and play and make him love you… Don’t do that, not to him.”

I scoffed. “I don’t do that!” On purpose. I leaned my elbows on the cool granite, ready to change the subject. “You know what I really want to talk about? You and your super dreamy boyfriend.” I batted my eyelashes. “What’s it like to be loved and lusted after by one of the world’s hottest rock stars?”