Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 78(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 52(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 78(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 52(@300wpm)
In the dream, the lighting was dim, the way it was in the back of the bar in that room under construction. I kept expecting for someone to walk in on us--I think I could hear voices--but nobody did. And there was nobody else moaning in the dream. It was just the two of us, and Bennet seemed as absorbed with me as I was with him.
It felt so vivid, like it wasn't just a dream. Almost like we'd been dropped into another life and found each other there. Even in my dream-life, I guess my main priority is to make out with him in a darkened room.
In my dream life, he was an amazing kisser… just like he is in real life.
I flip my pillow to the cool side and stretch, but it doesn't do anything to get rid of the electric sensation of needing more.
Smiling into the pillow, it’s almost embarrassing how much I want him. I still can’t believe I kissed him. I almost did it out there in front of everyone. A quick peck and then run off. But I wanted to make sure I wasn’t making it up in my head and that he really wanted me.
I squeal into my pillow, reliving that memory from last night.
It's been a long time since I felt this needy over a man. I might've felt this way back in school, but I don't think I had the words--or the courage to kiss him, to be honest.
Now I do.
Now I've done it, and it feels like my entire life is starting. A promotion. Bennet back in town. I know my life has technically been happening all along--I've worked hard for it--but something about this morning feels fresh and new and a little headachey.
I had a bit too much to drink last night.
How much did I have to drink last night?
My phone buzzes on the table next to my bed, and I pick it up lazily and hold it in front of my face.
There are tons of messages.
Another one comes in as I'm scrolling through them. It's from Gemma, sent to our group chat. My heart speeds up as the words sink in.
Did you two hook up last night?? Bree, answer us!
One from Marlena pops up just below that.
If they did hook up, he's a five-minute kind of guy.
There's no way, Gemma answers.
I hold shaking fingers over the screen and type out my own message. This isn't a dream, that's for sure. It's real sunlight streaming in through my bedroom window and real messages pouring onto my cell phone's screen. I glance at the clock reading nearly 9 am as my fingers fly across my phone and I type out a response.
Wait--did he tell people we hooked up?? I'm just now seeing all these, I slept in!!
Gemma sends five winking emojis, and then she's typing something else. I hold my breath and wait for the message to arrive.
He said you kissed but nothing else.
Good, I write back, adrenaline surging through my body. I just woke up. There hasn't been time for me to tell anybody anything, and now Bennet's put out a press release about the kiss we shared? I don't know whether to be embarrassed or excited or both.
There’s nothing like living in a small town. The gossip has a way of bringing things to life that never should have existed. As if a small kiss between the two of us could ever be a scandal.
Good why? Marlena writes.
Because that's what happened
I leave it at that, fresh warmth spreading all over my face.
Gemma sends another text: You made out with Bennet last night?!?!
My front door opens downstairs, and this is it--this is when I talk about Bennet with my best friend in the entire world. If that doesn't make last night real and life-changing, I don't know what does.
"Aubrey Lynn Peters," yells Lauren.
It feels like the entire world has crowded into my bedroom. I know it's just my friends, but part of me thought that last night had been...subtle. That maybe nobody had noticed. That Bennet and I had been in our own little world.
That couldn't be farther from the truth. They all noticed. And then he went and told people, and I don't know what that means. Is he trying to play it off like it was no big deal, or is he telling people out of the same kind of excitement that I feel?
My face goes hot, and I burrow into my sheets and blankets as footsteps climb the stairs. A few seconds later, my bedroom door creaks as it opens wide.
"I know you're in here," Lauren scolds. "I can see you under the covers. Oh my God, Bree!"
I peek out from the blankets and find her smiling, her eyes wide and shocked at the same time. I've spent the last few years throwing myself into work and not spending nearly enough time with my friends, and now, on our first night out, I kissed a guy in the back room of the bar. No wonder she finds it surprising.