Congratulations. Your official super-nerd badge is in the mail.

I should have mixed something stronger than Coke floats.

Give me a minute to get dressed."

"You're not dressed?"

I smiled in spite of myself at the lighthearted quility of his jest. Until my broken door began to move. "Jace!" I shouted, trying to keep from laughing as I vaulted off the bed and scrambled to stop him. He wasn't seriously trying to sneak a peek; if he had been, he wouldn't have made any noise. But if I let him get away with a joke today, he'd try it for real tomorrow.

Jace yelped as I ripped the door from his grasp and leaned it against the frame. Then he sulked, his eyes roaming just far enough south to see my tank top and shorts. "Liar!" he accused, the smile in his eyes ruining his pout. "You're not naked."

"I meant I wanted to change."

He grinned. "So, go ahead."

"Nice try.

No, you should stay right where you are, or my estranged brother and I will settle our difference by seeing who can break more of your bones."

Tod glanced at him, brows raised. "You want to settle our differences?"

Nash frowned. "No, I want to break every bone in his body, and I didn't think you'd let me do it alone."

Tod nodded. "Good call.

You know, honey, Natalie's expecting her second."
I arched my eyebrows at my mother, not following the change of subject. "Second what? Mortgage? Conviction? Chance at life?"
"Baby of course. Her second baby. The doctor says this one's a girl."
I laughed, genuinely amused that my mother thought it should have been so obvious. "Yeah. Well, I bet Natalie can't drop a Stray with a Powerhouse Right Hook.

I had no desire to hear another woman tell my boyfriend how hot he was. If I wanted him to know, I'd damn well tell him myself.