Mark was the first to break the stunned silence. A slow, mischievous smirk spread across his face, the tension from earlier temporarily vanishing under a wave of pure, unfiltered disbelief.
"Well, damn," Mark barked out, throwing his head back with a rough laugh. He set his phone down on the green felt of the pool table and crossed his arms over his broad chest. "The great Miles Vance, brought down by a girl in combat boots. That’s incredible. So... did you sleep with her yet?"
The question was pure guy-talk, delivered with a casual nudge, but a sudden, dark surge of protectiveness flared in my chest. I didn't laugh. I didn't smirk.
I looked Mark straight in the eyes, my gaze cold and dead serious.
"No," I replied, my voice dropping into a low, quiet rasp that immediately cut through M
