Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 72362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“You do?”
He nods.
And I can only assume he means when I look at him like a thirsty wench. Which is kind of him to say. Most men would laugh at the drooling. As much as I would like to be a cool girl, it never quite sticks. But he’s already seen me be a sweaty, babbling mess and I’m still here so…
He doesn’t say another word. Just stands there staring down at me and his focus is absolute. Like nothing else in this moment matters.
It takes me a second. Then it apparently takes several more because I’m in quite a haze. “Connor, are you trying to say you want to have sex with me?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“We’ve been exclusive in our fakery, haven’t we?” I ask before he can get a word out. “But it’s okay if you want to call one of your sex friends. I trust you not to get caught.”
“I don’t cheat. That’s not who I am.”
“It wouldn’t be cheating.”
“Yeah, but it would feel like it.”
I don’t know what to say to that.
He gives me a long serious look. Then he says, “Let’s get a drink and sit out front.”
“Wait…”
“I haven’t shown you my stars yet. You’re gonna be impressed.”
“You own them?”
“It’s more of a rental situation.”
“Funny. Connor, hold on a second,” I say, trying to get my head around what the fuck just happened. But he’s on the move, marching through the bedroom and into the kitchen. Turning off lights as he goes. He grabs a fresh t-shirt from the closet on his way and tugs it on over his head. Forget about the heavens. There goes my favorite view. “I do mean it. It’s okay if you call someone and disappear for a while.”
“This is the brand you like, right?” He grabs a bottle of Finnriver cider from out of the fridge. “You want a glass and some ice?”
I pause. “No. Just that’s fine.”
“Here you go.”
“Thanks. Why is this in your fridge?” I stare at the bottle in confusion. “You don’t drink it. I am not even convinced you like sweet things in general.”
“Is this the part where I say I’m sweet enough?” he asks and pops the cap off a beer. And the thing is, he only found out about my penchant for this cider last night at the bar. Which means that sometime between leaving me standing on the sidewalk after breakfast and picking me up to go to the reunion, he went and bought me some. Just in case. I’m not sure if this is important or not. But given recent events, it feels like it might be.
“Before you repeat yourself again, Riley, I’m not calling anyone or disappearing for a while to have sex.”
“Why not? Scared I’ll go through your underwear drawer while you’re out?” The moment the joke leaves my lips, I want to take it back. Shit. Where is Katja to slap her hand over my mouth when I need it?
As for Connor, he flashes me the fakest smile in the whole wide world and heads for the front door with his drink in hand.
Here is the moment of truth. Or rather, there goes the moment of truth. Along with the man I have all these messy emotions for. It feels like the window to sort this out is rapidly diminishing. I could just follow his lead and allow the topic to disappear into the ether. It’s not a bad idea. Sex can kill a friendship. I have seen it happen a time or two. Given how few friends I have in town, can I really afford to lose him?
No. Probably not. Though I really would like to ride him like a pony. Dammit.
Okay. This is fine. We’re going to sit outside and gaze at the heavens. Just the two of us hanging out after a heck of a night. Which sounds nice in theory. But I think I’m having a panic attack just the same. My stomach is sinking, and my heart is pounding and—
“Stop!”
Connor freezes. “What’s wrong?”
“I, um…”
“You look like you’re freaking out.”
“Yeah. I am. This is happening too fast. The moment is slipping away and…I think I’m doing the wrong thing.”
“Okay. Take a breath for me, Blue.”
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly while fanning my face with my hands. Because losing my shit over the possibility of not having sex with him puts me in this state apparently. “That’s better.”
“Good.” He nods. “Now what did you want to say?”
“I wanted to know why you weren’t calling any of your special friends. Because doing so would not really be cheating, you know?” I ask. “But then I made a joke and you didn’t tell me. And I really need to know the answer to that question. Please.”
The smile falls off his face and the line of his throat moves as he swallows. “I’m not calling anyone else because I don’t want anyone else.”