Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
22
Sebastian
It’s only been a few days since I moved Elyse into the room across the hall, but I’m still suffering the consequences of that choice. Sleep? What is that? I find it harder to sleep now than I did before, and I was barely sleeping before. Every little sound makes me climb out of bed and check the hall, my eyes gravitating to the door across the hall. I haven’t checked to see if she’s locking her door at night like I instructed her.
It’s disturbing how much I care about her, her safety, and my lack of self-control.
I’m rudely pulled from my thoughts when something hits me in the back of the head. I glance down to see an orange land on the floor beside me with a thwack. What the hell?
I swivel around on the stool where I'm eating at the kitchen counter and spot Lee and Aries standing on the other side near the patio doors. I already don’t like where this is headed, and neither of them has opened their mouths yet.
“I guess we don’t use the front door anymore?”
“Why use the front door when there’s a perfectly good entrance right here?” Aries asks.
“Honestly, I prefer to enter through the back door, but I’m not going to lie, it's not usually this easy to get into. Most of the time, there’s a lot more prep work…”
“Are we talking about the same thing?” Aries interrupts Lee before he can finish what he was going to say. Sometimes I wonder how I became friends with these fuckers.
I rub at the back of my head. “Can’t you two be annoying elsewhere? Some of us have adult stuff to do.”
Lee raises one imperious eyebrow. “And have you miss out on the fun? Nope.”
“Oh yes, because it’s so fun being annoyed by you.” I roll my eyes.
“Why are you so grumpy?” Lee questions.
“I’m not.”
Lee exchanges a look with Aries. “He is, though, is he not?”
Aries nods. “He is.”
I wasn’t grumpy before, not really, but now that they’ve accused me I might as well be.
“You both can fuck all the way off. I know you have other shit you could be doing right now. Shit that doesn’t involve annoying me.”
“Of course we have other things we could be doing…people, as well.” Lee winks and continues, “Speaking of people…where is that little maid of yours?”
I blink slowly, trying my best to regulate my breathing and not react. I’ve known Lee for years, and his favorite pastime is annoying the shit out of everyone. If he can piss you off or get a reaction out of you, then you’ve already lost the game. Good thing I already know his antics and can spot them a mile away, which is why I don’t fall into that trap.
“The maid is busy cleaning and not making my blood boil like you two.”
“When are you going to admit you like that little brunette?” Lee ignores what I’ve said and carries on like he didn’t hear me at all.
“Never, because I don’t like her.” Do I like her? I wouldn’t call it like. It feels closer to obsession, with a dash of need to protect what’s mine.
“Could’ve fooled me. I swear my cock gets hard when you start your foreplay banter.”
I shake my head and sigh. “Please, stop. I don’t want to hear about your hard cock.”
Aries shrugs. “Everyone wants to hear about my cock.”
Lee snorts. “Sure. Everyone but you know who…”
“Shut up!” Aries shoves him, and Lee bursts into a fit of laughter.
I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic over having them in the kitchen berating one another. It reminds me of a time not too long ago when we were all on the same page, without so many secrets separating us.
“Anyway, even if it’s funner than fuck to bust Ari’s balls, we didn’t come here for that. We’re here on official Mill business.”
“Okay…and why couldn’t you do this on the phone?”
Lee tugs out his cell phone, and his fingers fly over the screen with agility.
What the hell is he doing? I hear the faint ringing of my own phone from inside my pocket. This asshole thinks he’s funny, doesn’t he? I tug it out and set it on the counter, hitting the red decline button. Fuck off.
“Holy shit. It’s a miracle. It really works.”
My lip twitches up at the side, but I don’t smile. “Why the hell wouldn’t it work?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because you never fucking answer it when we call or text you.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Lies. You haven’t been active in the group chat for almost a month,” Lee postures.
“It’s time to face the music, Seb. You’re being a shitty friend.” Aries crosses his arms over his chest, staring me down like I’m a child who disobeyed their parents.
“I’m not being a shitty friend.” Lies. I’m being a terrible friend.