Love or Lust - Rachael Brownell Page 0,1

partially true.

So this week is all about cozying up.

I’m calling it our Netflix and Chill week.

Each of the guys is supposed to pick out a movie for us to watch. Something that sets the mood for the evening. The girls are responsible for providing the snacks.

With there only being three nights dedicated to dating each other, we also have two group activities. A pool party and another game night. The final day is a free day. We’re allowed to do whatever we want as long as we don’t leave the ranch.

And that includes stealing horses and riding to the creek.

Yeah, they included that clause in this week’s packet.

I’m surprised they didn’t put a gold star and our names next to it.

Jace thought it was hilarious as we read through everything this afternoon. I didn’t find the humor in it. I don’t like being called out publicly. I certainly don’t appreciate the backhanded slap across the face it felt like I was getting when I read the agreement.

It stung, more than I care to admit. Even to Jace. I felt like a child being punished.

“What kind of movie do you want to watch on date night?” Jace asks as he pulls me into his arms, kissing me on the top of my head.

I’ve been trying to kick him out for twenty minutes, and he keeps finding excuses to stay. Starting conversations. Kissing me. Pretending to search for his shoes when he knew exactly where they were.

Under the bed.

I saw him kick them under there when he was pulling his pants on.

“You get to pick, remember? I can’t tell you what kind of movie to choose. That would be cheating.”

“Not really. I don’t plan on watching the movie anyway.” His lips turn upward against my cheek as he confesses his plans for our evening.

I push him away. “Then you better pick a movie I’ve seen before.”

“I’ll figure something out between now and then. Promise me one thing, though.”

“What’s that?” Resting my hands on my hips, I stare up into Jace’s gorgeous green eyes.

“Don’t wear that yellow bikini to the pool party tomorrow. I don’t want to get in a fight with Milo or Lennon for looking at you. You know, now that the world knows your mine.” He wiggles his eyebrows as he slowly backs out the door, blowing me a kiss before closing it behind him.

Searching my cupboards for snacks, I come up empty and rush across the way to Bella’s villa. She answers after the first knock, looking as panicked as I feel.

“I need snacks.”

“Me too,” she counters, pressing her lips together in frustration. “Are we allowed to raid the pantry in the main house? They have to have food in there.”

Her question reminds me of the last time I had movie night with Lennon.

“Follow me,” I state firmly, rushing down the path toward the outdoor kitchen. “You start in here. Grab everything you can think of that will be good for movie night. Get enough for the entire week. I’m going to go see what’s in the game room cupboards. Lennon and I watched a movie in there once, and he had snacks. I guarantee he didn’t bring them with him.”

Bella nods and starts searching. I head inside the game room and do the same. By the time we meet back up, Bella’s arms are overflowing with all the ingredients for homemade pizza. Mine, on the other hand, have the good stuff. Candy, chips, popcorn, and soda. I even found a few leftover grocery bags to carry everything in.

We divvy up our score back at my place. We have enough for all three movie nights with plenty left over. Realizing we can’t put it back, we load it up into one of the grocery bags and do what we know is right.

“What do you want?” Teegan snaps when she sees me standing on her step.

Don’t be a bitch, Presley. You’re the bigger person.

“Bella and I raided the kitchens for movie snacks. We thought you might want some.” My voice is flat, void of emotion. I rehearsed what I was going to say on the short walk over knowing just seeing Teegan was going to grate on my nerves.

When her mouth drops open in shock is when I feel myself slip. My smile makes an appearance. Not because I’m happy she was shocked but because she’s utterly speechless.

She can’t be a bitch if she’s not talking.

And since Courtney is gone, she’s all alone.

Bella is too nice to not talk to