Before the Sunset (Cottonwood Cove, #4)(24)

Again.





nine





Finn





“For fuck’s sake, dude. You need to chill,” Cage said as he carried our empty beer bottles to the kitchen. “She said she’s on her way home. Isn’t she your fake girlfriend? Wasn’t the plan for her to win Dr. Douchesack back?”

“It’s Dr. Limpdick now. It’s more fitting. And yes, that was the plan, but I don’t like the guy.”

“Agreed. He’s an asshole.” Cage dropped the bottles into the recycling bin.

“You two fuckers are being a little dramatic. Carl is not that bad of a guy. Reese wouldn’t want to marry him if he was as awful as you’re making him out to be. Yeah, he’s a little arrogant, but you just hate him because he’s dating your best friend,” Hugh said, pointing at me before turning his attention to Cage. “And you never got over the fact that he said you weren’t a real doctor.”

“I’m offended both for my best friend and my brother,” I said, throwing my hands in the air.

“That’s a bit of a stretch,” Cage said. “You laughed when I told you he said that. I think you’re actually jealous of him being with Reese.”

I gasped and made all sorts of sounds to let him know how appalled I was at the suggestion that I could be jealous of a dude like Carl.

“Not a fucking chance. He doesn’t deserve her. He never has. But after the way he treated her for chasing her own fucking dreams, I don’t know why she’s even trying to get him back.”

“Yet you agreed to go along with the plan. Interesting.” Cage had a smug look on his face.

“It’s not that interesting. I’m protective. Plus, I’m supposed to be dating her. So what kind of fucking loser boyfriend would be okay with her being out with her ex this late?”

“A guy who’s pretending to be her boyfriend,” Hugh said over his laughter. “You seem to be getting really worked up. Didn’t she say she was on her way home and she wanted to go to Garrity’s with you?”

“Yeah. Thirty minutes ago. The asshole lives five minutes away,” I said, looking down at my smartwatch. “I’m not going to let Carl treat me like I’m his little bitch. This is too much.” I stormed to the window and gasped when I realized his car was parked in my driveway.

That bastard thought he could try something with my girl in my driveway?

Not a fucking chance.

“Damn straight. You tell him, brother!” Hugh shouted. My brothers both laughed hysterically as I reached for my coat and whipped the door open.

Carl had fucked with the wrong guy.

I stormed toward his I’m-an-insecure-prick red sports car and saw them facing one another as I approached. I banged my fist against the passenger window, and Reese jumped in her seat.

Her eyes widened as she turned to look at me before putting the window down.

“Hello, Lover. Did you miss me?”

Was she drunk?

Reese was a goofy drunk, and I’d always loved when she got a little tipsy because she was a lightweight, and all she did was laugh when she was intoxicated. But Carl was looking at her like she was his next meal, and I was fucking livid.

Did I have a right to be this mad?

Hell yeah, I did. What kind of actor would I be if I allowed shit to go on under my nose?

“I don’t know what the fuck is going on here, but I suggest you take your ass home and meet up with your own woman,” I growled.

Reese unbuckled herself, and I tugged the door open. When she stepped out, I wrapped an arm around her neck and covered her mouth with mine. Her lips parted immediately, inviting me in. My tongue tangled with hers, and she molded her tight little body against mine.

I pulled back and stroked her bottom lip with my thumb. “Better?”

“Yeah,” she said, her voice breathy.

I slammed the car door, leaned down to look at him through the window, and flipped Carl the bird before leading her inside. He sped out of the driveway as I pushed the front door open.

“Chewy! You really are the best actor. That was brilliant!” Reese squealed once we were inside. She hurried over to hug my brothers before sitting on the couch beside Hugh. “You guys should have seen him. He acted all pissed off and possessive. I thought Carl was going to wet himself when you pounded on that window.”

“I won’t be disrespected in my own home,” I said as I took the seat beside her and tried to tone down my anger.

“How was dinner?” Hugh asked.

“He took me to his place and ordered takeout, poured me a few glasses of wine, and lit some candles. It was all very romantic.” She waggled her brows.

I pushed to my feet and ran a hand through my hair. “That was not the deal, Miney. I don’t appreciate some dude that you used to date making you romantic dinners when we’re supposed to be together.”

She fell back in a fit of laughter. “Right? It was a ballsy move. He said he really misses me. I’ll tell you the rest on our walk to Garrity’s. Let me go put on my jean skirt. I’ll be right back. Are you guys coming with us?” she asked my brothers.

“Nope,” they both said at the same time and then followed it up by saying that they had to get home.

She hugged them goodbye and jogged toward my bedroom to change her clothes.