“Yes. I think so. The girls were cryptic, but there was an implication that she did something shady when they went out.”
“Wow. I’m in shock that Little Miss Perfect would do something naughty.” She waggles her eyebrows when she says the wordnaughty.
“I was, too.”
We step toward the building. “I wish you could have gone with me to the Caribbean. It was so much fun. Lounging at the beach and drinking mixed drinks. The only thing that would have been better would be if….” Her face heats as she averts her eyes. “Never mind.”
She doesn’t have to say the words out loud. I’m the only one who knows she’s been in lust with her stepdad’s brother since the first time they met. But nothing will ever come of it. Her eyes grow dark as the heaviness that’s always there weighs down on her shoulders whenever she thinks about him. “Forget I said anything. The vacation was great.”
“I’m glad you had a good time.” I clasp the door handle and yank it open.
The large metal door squeaks as it opens and closes behind us. A part of me wishes I’d gone with her. I would have loved to miss the shitshow of kissing my family’s ass, but then I wouldn’t have met Alexander.
With each step, my momentum slows, and it’s not because of the backpack’s weight. I want to ask Julia where Alexander lives, but I’d rather chew my arm off than let her know I’m interested in him.
And what does it matter? He’s living in another state, and the wedding was a blip on his radar. A moment where he let off some steam and returned to his normal life…. if it wasn’t a setup where he pocketed some cash for having sex with me.
Because if he wanted to talk to me, he would have found me by now. It’s not like he doesn’t know my last name.
Zoe is two steps in front of me. Her skin glows from the long days on the beach, and I’m still the same milky white I was before she left. Damn it. It’s been over a week, and he hasn’t reached out to me. It’s time to accept that what was phenomenal for me, was a regular Saturday night for him.
She stops, turns, and braces her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.” Heat floods my cheeks.
Her eyes widen. “No way?” Her mouth remains gaped. “You hooked up with someone at the wedding, didn’t you?” She grabs my arm and drags me.
I stumble again and rip my arm from her grasp. “Slow down. I don’t want to end up face first with my nose smashed into the floor.”
“Too bad.” She grabs me again and yanks me until we’re standing next to the window, out of everyone’s way. “Spill. It. Now.”
“Okay.” I shiver as Alexander brands himself into my memory again. “I met a guy. It was one of Wyatt’s cousins. He flew in last minute for the wedding. We were paired up as attendants and decided to skip out on the reception.”
“This is a day of surprises.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “I don’t know which shocks me more. You, making out with someone in the wedding party, or your sister banging someone the weekend before the wedding. I feel like I’m in an alternate universe.”
I gnaw on my bottom lip. “It was more than making out. I might have drunk four Blue Hawaiians and channeled my favorite smutty romance novel heroine.”
“You did what?”
“It was beyond hot.” I convulse and close my eyes. Stop. You’re about to go to calculus. The class you can’t afford to fail. Your whole life depends on this class.
I inhale and open my eyes. “The man is the epitome of a dirty-talking book boyfriend and likes his sex naughty and oh-so good, but it was a one-night fling. After he went to sleep, I snuck out.”
Zoe laughs and hits me with her elbow in the ribs. “You dog. I always knew that social media groups would corrupt you.” I love my reader’s group. It doesn’t matter what kinky subject matter you come up with. They throw out book names to match. “I’m impressed. Remind me to take lessons when I need a good banging like that. Not that I’ll ever get that lucky.” Her face freezes. “Heather, at twelve o’clock.”
Great. I straighten and prepare for her snarky comments. Because there’s no way she can walk by without saying something.
“Are you ready for class?” Heather grins like the cat who ate the canary.
“Yes.” I push off the wall. I’d rather be in calculus than be stuck talking to Heather.
She joins us as we walk to the classroom. “You’d better be. I’m in calculus with you.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Pain shoots through my head. I don’t want to see her every other day.
“It’s your lucky day.” She laughs and brushes past Zoe.
“I can’t believe we’re stuck with her for an entire semester,” Zoe groans and shakes her head.