Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 140742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
“Jesus,” Ella says. “I tried on that exact same dress at Cult Gaia in New York last week, and it did not look like that on me.”
“Maybe you should do more squats.” I look at Josslyn’s biteable ass again.
“True.” Ella snorts out a laugh. “Did you hear she’s single now? That idiot cheated on her.”
“Who was she dating?” Lucas asks.
“Tate Foster.”
My cousin sucks his teeth. “Damn.” He glances at me. “Did you know that?”
I don’t say anything, because it’s irrelevant. I don’t care about her love life. I just need her to tell me what happened at Onyx the night she went with my sister, and I want to fuck her so I can quench this annoying thirst I get whenever I see her. That’s it. Ella answers for me anyway and tells him I knew. While they discuss all things Josslyn, I walk back to the bar and scan the bottles I’ve looked at five times since arriving here. I’m normally not much of a drinker, but being around Josslyn, even if she doesn’t know I’m here, has me on edge.
“Finn, did you hear me?” Ella asks as they walk over to me. “She’s single now.”
“I heard. I just don’t understand why the fuck you think I’d care.” I stare at the amber liquid I’m pouring.
“Because sparks flew when you met.”
“Sparks flew.” I scoff as I set the bottle down and cap it.
She’s talking about the night we were here. I never told a soul about our night in Onyx. I’m not a kiss-and-tell man, but even if I was, that night was different. It left me wanting more. Probably because I didn’t get to fuck her in the traditional sense. At least, that’s what I tell myself when I’m in the shower, with my dick in my hand as I recall her moans, her face, and the taste of her pussy. Fuck. I push those thoughts away quickly.
“You laughed with her. Finn Alexander Barlow laughed at something. In public.”
“Yeah, right,” Lucas scoffs. “I’d pay to see that.”
I lift my middle finger off the glass. “I laugh. It’s not my fault none of you are funny.”
“I heard you approached her,” Hammie says, ignoring what I said.
My eyes flash to his. “Do people have nothing better to talk about?”
“In Fairview?” He lifts an eyebrow. “In our inner circle? No.”
“Whatever.” I look away. “She’s not even my type.”
“No one is your type,” Ella says. “Or maybe I am, and that’s why you take me as your date to all your public events.”
“Please. If you were my type, I would’ve fucked you by now.” I take a sip of bourbon. “I take you because you like going, and I don’t want to give the women I fuck the wrong impression.”
Ella laughs. “Remember when we tried to hook up?”
“Can you not?” Her brother groans.
“Wasn’t that hookup what convinced you that you were a full-fledged lesbian?” Lucas asks.
That makes me bite back a laugh. Fucking assholes.
13
JOSSLYN
After the fourth celebratory shot my teammates make me consume, I decide to take a break. Thankfully, I’m buzzed but not enough that I can’t walk straight, and I don’t have to go far to get to the bathroom. I’m almost there when I see a familiar face that makes my heart drop into the pit of my stomach. He looks like someone I’d save on a Pinterest board, wearing a white button-down with the sleeves rolled up and the two top buttons undone. His hair looks like he’s already run his fingers through it a million times, and even though I can’t see his eyes well in this lighting, I feel them piercing right through me.
One of the people sitting with him—a really attractive guy I’ve never seen before—waves me over, and I comply. Ella Hamilton, who’s sitting right next to Finn, smiles wide as I approach. I’ve never formally met her, but I’ve seen her in endless pictures with Finn. Seeing her sitting close to him now makes a stupid, uncomfortable feeling settle in the pit of my stomach. Ella and the man who waved me over stand up as I reach them.
“Hi, happy birthday! We’ve never met, but I love your content. I’m Ella Hamilton, and that dress looks incredible on you,” Ella says, smiling as she sets her hand out for me to shake.
“Thanks so much.” My smile is genuine as I shake her hand. “I see the resemblance between you and Will,” I say and turn to the man next to her, who’s even more handsome up close.
“Lucas Barlow. I own this place,” he says, as we shake hands. Barlow. My eyes fly to Finn, and the man holding my hand chuckles. “We’re cousins, but I’m much less of an asshole.”
At that, I laugh, my eyes flicking back to Finn, whose glare is set on the hand his cousin is still holding. I try to pull away, but he holds it. There’s a spark in his light brown eyes when his gaze flicks briefly to Finn that tells me he’s doing this on purpose. The idea that it’s to piss off his cousin excites me, so of course, I go along with it.