Snake Eyes (The Masks Series Book 3) Read Free Page B

big deal?”
    “Maybe it’s the fact they went ahead and did it without even discussing it with you.”
    I nodded. That was totally what it was. They hadn’t counted me into the decision. My opinion was worthless. Yet again, it made me feel like the invisible alien of the family.
    “I guess I am always the after-thought.” I sighed.
    Eric let go of my hand, his fingers moving to my neck and tenderly kneading the muscles. “Toby’s a jerk. He shouldn’t have said that.”
    “He’s just thoughtless; he always has been.”
    His massaging fingers shifted, making way for his soft lips; they nuzzled and tickled the sweet patch in the crook of my neck until I couldn’t help a smile. Eric sat back and grinned at me, running his fingers lightly behind my ear. “You may be his after-thought, but you’re always the first thought on my mind.”
    My smile grew and I leaned forward to peck him on the lips.
    Pulling back, I rested my hand on his face and drank him in. “Not to get way somber on this already melancholy conversation, but...” I bit the corner of my mouth. “I seriously feel like you’re the only person on this planet who couldn’t live without me.”
    “I couldn’t.” His look was so earnest I didn’t need to peel away anything. There was no mask, just genuine honesty. Eric loved me, more than anything else.
    “I couldn’t live without you either.” I smiled. “Never break up with me, okay?”
    “I’m not planning on it.”
    “Good.” I breathed in through my nose, my eyes once again stinging with unshed tears.
    “You’re my girl forever.” He grinned before kissing me soundly and murmuring, “My sexy girl-next-door.”
    “My Hercules.” I chuckled against his lips, swinging my leg over his thighs. He pulled me onto his lap, running his hands up my back and pressing me against him. I sighed into his mouth, grabbing two handfuls of his luscious locks and diving into another magical kiss.
    “Want to go back to your place again?” I panted. “There’s this view I really want to admire.”
    He pulled back with a laugh, running his eyes down my body and squeezing my hips. “I just need to go check on Mom first. I’ll be back in about half an hour and then we can get out of here, okay?”
    “Do you want me to come with you?”
    “You’re already having a challenging day. I won’t unleash my mother on you as well.”
    I grinned, about to say it was no trouble, but then his mask slipped and I could tell he wanted to go on his own.
    “You want to check that the mechanic’s still treating her good?”
    He nodded.
    “And you don’t want me to be a distraction.”
    He nodded again, his cheeks heating with a blush.
    “Okay.” I reluctantly shuffled off his lap and pulled my shirt straight. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
    “You should; my mother adores you. I won’t get anything but gushy sentiment out of her if I take you over there.” He stood from the bed and winked at me.
    We stepped out the door, threading our fingers together as we made our way down the long hallway and into the living area.
    The ladies were congregated in the lounge, huddled on the couches chatting. I noticed Holly’s hand on her stomach and guessed the conversation was all about babies. I cringed.
    “Back soon.” Eric kissed my forehead and called out to everyone that he was popping next door.
    The front door clicked shut and I crossed my arms, slowly turning to survey the room.
    “Way to skip clean-up duty, sis.” I rolled my eyes at Toby who was pulling out a chair at the dining table. He slapped a deck of cards down as Dad opened the black box of chips. Max and Seth handed him a twenty-dollar bill each and he started counting out chips.
    I glanced back into the lounge then listened carefully and heard the strains of a Disney movie coming from the den. Weighing my options with a wrinkled nose, I finally headed for the table.
    Leaning against one of the free chairs, I watched Toby shuffle the