Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Thayer’s helping Shayne into the bathroom when we catch up to them, and a second later, I hear the shower turn on. Once we’re in Valen’s room, she plops down on her bed before tearing her shirt off. “It’s really fucking hot in here.”
I kneel in front of her to help her out of her shoes and jeans, leaving her in nothing but the tiniest black thong I’ve ever seen and a matching bra. I leave those on, but apparently, she has other plans. She stands, hooking her thumbs into the sides of her underwear before pulling them down her legs, leaving her bare pussy centimeters from my face. She reaches for her bra next as I hold on to her hips to keep her steady. Once she’s fully, torturously naked, she slides her fingers into my hair, sending goosebumps down my spine as she looks down at me.
Jesus, fuck, she’s going to be the death of me.
I lean forward, pressing a kiss to her hipbone before I stand and walk over to her dresser, pulling out one of her baggy shirts she likes to sleep in. She takes it, giving me a look I can’t decipher as she pulls it over her head.
“I hate it when you’re nice to me,” she grumbles.
I snort out a laugh. “I know.”
“So why do you keep doing it?”
Because I like you and I’m secretly waiting for you to realize that you like me, too.
“Because I’m a masochist.”
Valen
I feel like shit. I didn’t plan on getting drunk last night. Shayne and I usually have strict rules about how much we drink when we’re out, always making sure at least one of us is sober enough to drive and make decisions. But then Thayer and Holden showed up, and we couldn’t pass up the golden opportunity to let our guards down at the same time. It didn’t help that I was already on the verge of spiraling due to the horrifying realization that I might have actual feelings for Holden. Suffice it to say, waking up this morning was rough.
It would have been worse if Holden didn’t make me chug a bottle of water after taking two Ibuprofen. I expected him to stay with me even though I tried to break things off, but annoyingly, he was the perfect gentleman and left after tucking me in. Probably a good thing, considering the fact that both Shayne and Thayer stayed here last night.
“Ready,” I mumble to Shayne, still half-asleep as I grab my keys off the counter and trudge toward the door. It’s too early to be alive, but Shayne always wakes up at the crack of dawn after drinking. Thayer’s still passed out in her bed, so she bribed me with the promise of another breakfast bagel from Nicky’s and an iced coffee in exchange for taking her to pick up her car before the sun has fully risen. We’re both wearing Hadley crewnecks, baggy sweats, unwashed hair thrown up, and oversized sunglasses. All that to say, we look about as good as we feel. At least Shayne is wearing real shoes. I couldn’t be bothered to put on anything other than my fleece-lined slippers.
“God, I don’t even know if my stomach can handle food right now,” Shayne groans, opening the door and stepping out into the hall. I open my mouth to respond, but the door across from ours swings open at the same time, and the words die on my tongue at the sight in front of me.
“Valen!” Quinn chirps, entirely too bright-eyed and enthusiastic for six in the morning, but my attention is locked on to the person behind her. Holden looks at me, bare-chested and eyes wide with panic. Quinn is still in her dress from last night, looking just as perfect as she did before we left. Even her sex hair looks good. I want to hate her, and in this moment, I do a little. But she doesn’t deserve my anger. She did nothing wrong. Technically, neither did he. We’re not together. So why do I have a lump in my throat and an ache in my chest? And why do I have the sudden urge to claw her eyes out? Technically, our arrangement is over. I just didn’t expect Holden to find a replacement so soon.
“Last night was crazy,” she says, filling the awkward silence. When I still don’t speak, she continues. “How’s your ankle, by the way?” I tell myself to say something, but I’m stunned silent. I can feel Shayne looking at me with concern and that’s what snaps me out of my frozen state.
“Feels brand new,” I say, pasting on a counterfeit smile in record time. “If it were up to me, I’d be back already.”
“Oh, good. Hopefully I’ll see you at practice soon. Are you at least coming for media day?”