With a Twist (Last Call #4)(58)

"Yup," I say.

She releases Andrea's hand and shoves her hands in the pockets of her shorts. "I don't understand …  when did you go out to visit her?"

Slipping an arm around Andrea's waist, I pull her in close to me. "I didn't. Luckily, she had balls big enough for the both of us and took it upon herself to come visit me. Showed up on my porch step day before yesterday."

Understanding dawns bright on Gabby's face …  the light bulb has clicked on. "Okay, now I understand."

"Glad you get it," I say as I release Andrea and reach out to take Gabby by the arm. Tugging her, I start leading her back to the front door. "And now …  if you don't mind, you're ruining our breakfast plans."

Gabby turns on her heel, easily pulling out of my grasp, and heads back toward Andrea. Taking ahold of her elbow, she leads her over to the counter and pours her a cup of coffee. "So, Andrea …  this is awesome you came to see Wyatt. What made you do it? Were you stuck on him the way he was-?"

"Oh-kay," I drawl as I stalk toward Gabby and take her by the elbow, this time latching onto her hard. Turning her toward the door, I hear Andrea let out a giggle. "That's it. I'm throwing you out. It was nice seeing you and all, but I'd like some time alone with Andrea. I'll see you and Hunter next week after she's gone, and we'll get all caught up."



       
         
       
        

Just as I succeed in practically dragging her to the front door, she digs her heels into the carpet and pulls away again. Not as easily this time, but she still slips free.

Turning to glare at me with her hands at her hips, she says, "Yeah …  that's not going to work. You both are coming to Last Call tonight, and you are going to hang out with your friends. It's long overdue and besides …  we want to get to know Andrea."

"Sorry …  no can do," I say with an apologetic shrug to my shoulders but with finality in my voice. "Andrea and I already have plans."

It's not that I am ashamed of Andrea, and it's not that I don't think we'd have fun hanging out with them, but I sure as hell am not sharing her when my time is limited. If this works out …  and she comes back to visit, then sure …  she'll slip right into my crowd of friends as if she always belonged there. But I'm feeling too proprietary toward her right now.

Rather than capitulate, Gabby takes a step nearer to me and rises on tiptoes. "Tough shit. Cancel your plans. You're hanging out with your friends tonight."

"I am not-" I start to say, but she runs right over me.

"We missed you, haven't seen you in months."

"I get that but-"

"And on top of that," she says while poking me in the chest, "Gavin and Savannah are leaving day after next to spend a few weeks in England visiting his parents. This is the only time they can go out."

I take in a breath to argue with her, but then I feel Andrea's hand press into my back. She takes a step around me, and Gabby's gaze goes over to her.

"We'd love to come," Andrea says. Then turning to look at me, she gives me a steely look …  daring me to argue with her. "Wouldn't we?"

Grimacing, I huff out an offended breath and lean down until I'm nose to nose with Andrea.

"You're not as cute as I used to think you were," I grumble, but she just smirks at me before turning back toward Gabby.

"What time should we be there?" she asks.

"Around 9 PM," Gabby says and then leans over and spontaneously hugs Andrea. "Yay. This is going to be so much fun."

"Not so much," I mutter, but Gabby pays me no mind.

"See you two later," she calls out as she opens my door, and then she's gone.

Andrea and I stand side by side for a moment, silently staring at the door. I faintly hear Gabby's car start up outside.

Slowly turning my head toward Andrea, I growl at her. "You are in so much trouble."

Her own head turns toward me, and her eyes widen in surprise. Our gazes lock …  bodies tense. 

I lunge at her, dropping my shoulder down low and catching her right below her sternum. She half-shrieks, half-laughs as my arms wrap around the backs of her legs and I haul her up and over my shoulder.

"Put me down," she cries out as her hands slap at my lower back.

"Quiet," I bark at her as I walk back toward my bedroom. I raise a palm up and bring it down with a sharp crack on her naked ass-because my shirt has fortuitously bunched up nicely around her waist.