Love, Utley (Love Letters #1)

Maddox shifts me to his other side, so I’m between him and the last man.

This one is younger than the rest, not much over twenty, with hair and eyes that can only belong to a Lovelace.

“You must be Max. I’ve heard lots of good things,” I tell Maddox’s little brother.

“Same. Maddox doesn’t shut up about you.” He smiles, not moving to stand or shake my hand, just holding his hand up in greeting.

I wave back, feeling a little more at ease.

Maddox pulls out the chair next to Max and gestures for me to take it.

I had to bring my bulky purse, the only one that can fit a giant Tupperware inside it, so I shove the bag under my chair.

Maddox sits next to me, putting me between the Lovelace brothers. Tony and Waller grin at us from the other side.

The round table means it’s easier to see everyone, but it also feels like everyone is staring at me.

NINETY-FIVE

NATE WALLER

Maddox lounges back, putting his arm around the top of Hannah’s chair.

In the times we’ve talked since I first found out she was working for him, he’s been nothing shy of infatuated. But since I know the history, I was skeptical.

Maddox was the one who spent fucking years talking about her— the girl who disappeared after his night in the library. So it’s not my fault for not readily believing they were suddenly a happy couple.

But ten minutes of being at the same table and I can tell it’s not fake.

His fingers skim across her shoulder.

Her hand reaches out of sight, probably settling on his thigh.

They’re cute together.

And cute only in the sense that they look good sitting next to each other. Because the kiss Tony and I witnessed when we were walking up to the restaurant was anything but cute. They didn’t even notice us crossing the street a dozen paces away.

I’m not gonna try to steal her, but I had to shake my leg as we entered the restaurant, jostling things back into place.

“So.” Tony drums his fingers on the table after the server leaves with our orders. “Waller told me you two met in college.”

Hannah blushes.

Maddox answers. “She spotted me across the quad and obviously became obsessed.”

Hannah shakes her head, biting her lower lip. “Not exactly. But”— her gaze moves over to meet mine— “I think you were there. That first time I saw Maddox.”

I sit up straighter. “Me?”

She nods. “I’m pretty sure it was you trying to jump on his back.”

“Sounds about right,” Maddox huffs, looking at me. “You’re probably the reason my lower back always fucking hurts.”

“Yeah, it was definitely me. And not you constantly bashing your big ass into other guys every week.”

Tony snorts. “Fucking athletes.”

Hannah turns to Tony. “I take it you didn’t play with these guys.”