“Oh, Lana! You have that man wrapped so tightly around your finger…” I laughed when she glared at me. “He likes you. And I can see that he cares about you. Give the guy a break. He doesn’t know about how you grew up. He doesn’t understand your mentality when it comes to things like this. But I told him you aren’t like most girls. When he calls, talk to him. Tell him why you don’t like gifts, baby.”

Her amber eyes closed and she dropped back on the bed again. “I’m not ready to talk about the past. He either accepts that I don’t want him buying me things or he doesn’t.” She turned on her side, away from me. “Problem solved.”

I blew out a long sigh. “It isn’t always that easy, Lana, but you handle this the way you think you should. Until then, I’m borrowing these kick ass boots to wear tonight.”

“You can have it all. I don’t want any of it.”

Chapter 10

Jesse

Emmie woke me around two. I wasn’t expecting the glass of cold water, but I guess I should have. It was the easiest way to wake my ass up. I slept hard and enjoyed every second of it, but try to wake me up and you had a good thirty minute workout unless you tried to drown me.

I sat up in bed, water dripping down my face. “What?” I cried. “What’s wrong?”

She stood over my bed in a bikini top and wrap around skirt, her belly sticking out in a cute way that made me want to rub it. The grin on her face told me that she was in a good mood, and it scared the shit out of me. “What are you up to?” I demanded, wiping water off my chest with my damp sheet.

“Nothing.” She sat the glass down on the table beside of my bed.

“Nothing, my ass.” I tossed back the covers and stood. I was naked, but she didn’t bother to turn around. She didn’t bat an eye as she watched me pull out a pair of boxers from my dresser and pull them on. “Where’s Nik?”

“Around.” She was still grinning and it only made me nervous.

“Around,” I repeated, reaching for a pair of jeans from my closet. “Around where?”

“He might be tied up down by the pool with his own shirt.” She shrugged as if it wasn’t that big of a deal. “But it’s his own fault. He invited fucking Axton and the bitch troll over tonight.”

I grimaced, pitying my dumb ass friend, and yet I couldn’t help but be amused. Nik was going to pay big time, if he hadn’t already. Emmie and Gabriella Moreitti got along about as well as a king cobra and a mongoose, meaning not at all. I hadn’t figured out which was the snake and which was the mongoose, but I was leaning toward Emmie being the mongoose. She could kick Gabriella’s ass if she had to.

I wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of Gabriella. Maybe it was because she didn’t get along with Emmie and I was overprotective. Maybe it was because she had filled Emmie’s head with lies about herself and Nik. Or maybe it was because she tended to act like she was better than Emmie. Either way I couldn’t have cared less about the bitch. If it weren’t for Axton, who was cool to party with, I wouldn’t put up with her…even if she could rock hard.

“So are they here? Is that why you woke me up?” I glanced at the clock. It was just past two thirty, and I still had several hours before my date with Layla.

“Not yet.” She dropped down on the edge of my bed. “I wanted company. I called Layla, but she’s enjoying some time to herself. Shane left hours ago for only Gods know where. Probably an orgy or something even more fucked up. And with Nik all tied up…” She snickered at that. “Which left you.”

I grinned. “What about Drake? Couldn’t you have woke him up and gotten him to keep you company?”

Her green eyes sparkled with joy. “He went out. Took the SUV. It surprised the hell out of me, but he was up before I was. He left me a note saying he was taking Lana and Lucy out shopping and would be back later this evening.” She clapped her hands together in glee. It was such an un-Emmie thing to do that it made me laugh. “I’m so happy for him.”

That Drake was up early was a surprise in and of itself. That he was out shopping with two girls, a miracle. The man didn’t buy things… Ever. I doubt he had even touched any of the money we had made over the last ten years. Emmie bought him clothes when she thought he had worn out the ones he had; bought his personal items, even down to his condoms. I was glad for Drake, really, and thrilled that he seemed so happy with Lana around. But…

“Em, is this really okay?” I couldn’t help but ask. “Could Drake be in over his head here? She’s only seventeen. And while I trust him wholeheartedly with the girl, I’m worried that he’s feeling way too much, way too soon.”

“I always knew that when Drake found the right girl, it would change everything.” She sighed, gently rubbing a hand over that basketball stomach of hers. “I will admit that I wasn’t expecting her to be so young. But I’m not going to look this gift horse in the mouth, Jesse. Besides, it’s in its early stages. We don’t even know if she’s what he needs. Right now, I’m just happy that he’s happy.”

I rubbed a hand over my face, feeling the stubble that needed to be shaved before I picked up Layla. “Em…About Layla…” I needed her approval. It was weird, really. I shouldn’t need anyone’s opinion on who I dated, but Emmie’s opinion was the only one that mattered to me. If I didn’t get it, I didn’t think that would stop me from going after Layla, not with how strongly I felt towards her. But it would make the whole thing feel wrong in a way.

Another sigh left her. “I really like her, Jess. Please, don’t hurt her. Okay? I mean, I can see that there is something between you two. And if I had to choose, you know you will always be the own I pick, but she’s become my friend, and I don’t want to lose that. Just be careful.”

I nodded. “I promise, Em.” I pressed a kiss to her cheek and then stood. “Come on. I bet Nik is going apeshit down there. You really are a twisted little bitch, you know that?”

She laughed. “Yeah, I know.”

I found Nik laying on a lounger with nothing on but a pair of swimming trunks. His arms were tied around the lounger with his shirt while he glared up at me. “I’m going to spank her. I should have done it years ago. You just wait. As soon as I’m free, she’s going to get my hand print on that sweet ass of hers.”