OAKLYN


    I can’t help it, Camden. You make me smile-that’s all. I didn’t realize it was stered all over my face until she called me out tonight. Trust me, I did everything I could to throw her off.


    ME


    What were you thinking about?


    OAKLYNN?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    The other night.


    “I think we just got our answer,” Den said.


    My eyes slowly lifted from my phone. “Your answer to what?”


    “Why you need all the goddamn drinks,” Macon replied and nodded toward my cell. “I’m assuming that’s your girlfriend?”


    “My girlfriend?” Iughed. “I know you’re not talking to me.” I nced at Den, and he was gazing at me too, grinning like a fucking fool.


    “Oh, I’m fucking talking to you all right,” Macon replied. “I could tell by your face when you were looking at your phone that it was a message from her.”


    I set my phone on the table, turning it over so they couldn’t see the screen, and busied my hands with my tumbler of vodka. “First off, she’s not my girlfriend. Second of all, I’m not talking to you about Oaklyn after the stunt you pulled the other night at the bar.”


    Macon leaned his arms on the small table, the buttons at his wrists banging against the wooden top, the sound repeating as he linked his fingers together. “I think we need to address that so-called stunt.”


    “For what reason?” I barked back.


    “Because it worked.”


    I looked at Den just as he said, “See, I fucking told you so.”


    “Jesus Christ.” I ran my hand across the top of my hair, forgetting that it was gelled. But that didn’t stop me. I even did it again.


    “When we first spoke about Oaklyn, it was obvious she meant something to you,” Macon voiced.


    I took a sip, and once I swallowed, I casually asked, “And why would you think that?”


    “Because it was a talk, Camden, and you wouldn’t fucking talk about her. I couldn’t get anything out of you, and that’s not like you. But what I did hear and gather was that your head was all over the ce and you didn’t know how to process your feelings, so I came up with a little n.”


    “I don’t want to hear it,” I hissed.


    Thest thing I needed was my friends helping me out when it came to women.


    Oaklyn and I were moving at just the right speed. I didn’t need these two motherfuckers scheming behind my back like I was incapable of making a decision.


    I was a grown-ass man.


    “But you’re going to hear it,” Den demanded.


    And to ensure I was listening, Macon even clutched my shoulder before he said, “My n was to see if you got jealous when I gave your girl a little attention. Once I saw you walk into the bar, Iid it on thick, and I made sure you heard me ask her out. You should have seen your fucking face.”


    “I thought you were going to reach across the table and strangle your best friend,” Den said to me, chuckling.


    I nced between the two, finally admitting, “I wanted to.”


    “Like I said, it worked,” Macon dered. “You just needed a kick in the ass to realize what and whom you wanted, and I was happy to do the hardbor.” He squeezed before releasing me. “Not that flirting with Oaklyn was hard on me. That girl isn’t just easy on the eyes; she’s-”


    “Watch it, you fuck.”


    My best friendughed at me. “Just testing you again-and you passed.”


    My head shook back and forth, and I sighed. “What you were saying before, why do you think your little n worked?”


    Macon adjusted his position, leaning back in the seat and crossing his arms. “Oaklyn left to use the restroom, and you suddenly disappeared too. Around twenty minutester, the two of you returned, seconds apart, but she came from one side of the bar, and you came from the other, trying to be sly, which any sober person would have figured out.”


    “I know you want to keep it a secret for now, so you’re lucky the only two sober ones were me and Macon,” Den added. “A few less sses of wine, and your sister would have been all over that.”


    Macon eyed me down. “Are you going to tell me that was a coincidence?” He grinned. “I hope you do. That’ll be a fun fight for me to win.”


    I emptied the rest of the booze in my ss, scanning the bar for our waiter, who was supposed to be returning with more tequ.


    “And I’m also going to give you some shit about wanting to strangle me. I get that my idea worked and all, but you’d better not think I would ever pull that shit for any other reason. You know I would never fuck with a friend’s girl-whether you’re in a rtionship or not. I do some wild stuff, but that’s a territory I won’t enter.”


    I remembered the rage that had boiled through me.


    The red I’d seen, clouding my vision.


    “He was a goddamn mess about it,” Den told him, like I wasn’t sitting at the table. “He missed every clue, brother. I had to tell him your real intention.” He paused. “And I think that only reaffirms that our boy has some strong feelings for Oaklyn.”


    I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You know I’m right here, don’t you? Fuck.”


    I needed a break from these bastards, so I lifted my phone and turned the screen toward me.


    “Look at this motherfucker, getting on his phone like we’re not in the middle of a conversation,” Macon said about me. “Avoiding telling us what happened between him and Oaklyn at the bar that night, refusing toment about how angry he was with me.”


    “He’s running like he’s being chased by the police,” Den said.


    “I believe, in your world, you call that guilty as charged,” Macon continued.


    The two of themughed while I rolled my eyes and typed.


    ME


    What about the other night?


    OAKLYN


    The way you got all growly when you thought I wanted your best friend. How you pulled me outside, into the darkest alley, and went all alpha on me.


    How you kissed me.


    How you took what you wanted from me.


    How you ordered me onto my knees.


    My dick was already getting hard.


    Fuck me.


    ME


    Do you know what I can’t stop thinking about?


    OAKLYN


    I’m pretty positive I can guess … my mouth.