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She frowns. “I’ve known you all my life. You’re nervous.”

Shit. She’s right, and one of the reasons I am nervous is because it’s hard as shit to get anything past Serena. She does know me well, and I don’t want to fuck this up by acting some kinda way in front of her.

I could always tell her; that’s an option. She thinks I’m seeing some woman. Why can’t I let her know I’m seeing a guy instead? Oh, maybe because I’m not really seeing him, I’m fucking him. There’s a difference. “I don’t want him and me being here to take any attention off the game. This is T’s moment.”

She squeezes my thigh. “You’re a good dad, Oak. It’ll be fine.”

And now there goes the guilt. She thinks this is about me being a good dad, when really, I’m trying to keep from them all that I’m bi and fucking Desmond Jackson.

I look up just in time to see Des approach. Of course, he looks fine as hell because Des is always a sexy motherfucker. He’s got on a black hat, wearing it backward, the diamonds in each of his ears glinting in the sun as he moves. He’s wearing shorts and a tank top, tight against his muscular chest.

There’s a patch of sexy black curls between his pecs. It’s covered now, but I know they’re there because I’ve felt them against my skin.

That thought immediately goes to my dick, which is the last fucking thing I need right now.

He’s got a bag in his hand, and that douses the flames of my desire, if only a little bit, because I have a feeling I know what it is.

“Oh, there he is,” Serena says, not noticing I’ve been staring at him the whole time.

He smiles when he reaches us, sliding his sunglasses down his nose and off his face in a way that shouldn’t be as sexy as it is.

“Hey, man. How’s it going?” Des asks. We slap our palms together and go in for the one-armed hug, like I would do with anyone, but I can’t stop myself from inhaling the scent of his cologne and skin, pulling as much Des into my lungs as I can.

“Hey, man,” I say in response.

He immediately pulls back and gives his attention to Serena. The smile he gives her is charming as fuck, which makes an unexpected twist of jealousy land in my gut. I was literally just inside the man yesterday, and now I’m jealous because he’s grinning at the person everyone thinks is my partner. Fuck the effect this man has on me, the one he’s always had on me.

“Hey. I’m Desmond. It’s great to officially meet you.” The two of them have seen each other a few times, but they have never actually met. She doesn’t know about my history with him, and suddenly, the lie of omission feels heavy in my chest.

Des holds his hand out to her, but Serena waves it off. “We hug around here if that’s okay with you.”

“It is.” Des nods, and the two of them embrace before pulling back.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Hunter sings your praises, and my daughter is a fan as well.”

Des beams at her. “She’s a great kid. I’m stoked to see her play. I heard she’s better than this guy.” He points to me.

“Better than you,” I argue.

“So basically she and I both have you beat?” He winks, and damned if my stomach doesn’t feel fluttery. What the fuck is that? The last time I felt that was on the beach with him when… Nope. Not doing that shit. I can’t be thinking about that. “Oh, hi. You must be Sanaa and Evander. It’s nice to meet you both,” Des says to my in-laws. Fuck, I don’t even know if I should still think of them that way, but it’s all I have in me right now. “I brought you all something.”

Des starts pulling Los Angeles Inferno shirts from his bag, handing one each to Ree, Sanaa, and Evander before tugging another out of his bag for me.

“So, bonfire tonight?” I ask. “I think these will burn well.”

“We’re Pulse fans over here, but I appreciate the effort,” Evander jokes with him.

“I’ll win you over. We’re on the come-up,” Des jokes back, fitting right in with them the way he does with everyone.

“The Inferno can be our second-favorite team,” Ree says.

“Traitor,” I tease.

She reaches out and gives me a hug. “You know you’ll always be my favorite.”

My gaze shoots to Des. I suddenly feel like I’m doing something wrong, like Ree isn’t supposed to touch me like this, which is a mindfuck because Des and I aren’t in a relationship and Serena might be my ex, but she’s also my best friend. But because she’s my ex—the one everyone thinks I’m still with—I have a whole lot of loyalty to her too. I’m not supposed to feel like I’m doing something wrong when she hugs me.

This is already getting tangled as fuck.