Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“You know I’m right,” Monroe says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“He’s so damn confusing. He’s never been like this with me before.” I don’t elaborate because Monroe already knows what I’m referring to.
“He’s always watched you, Em. When he thinks no one is paying attention, he can’t take his eyes off you. I’ve been trying to tell you that for a while now.”
“I know, but you’re my best friend. I thought you were just supporting my crush and trying to make me feel good.”
A hearty, carefree laugh trickles down the line. That is everything that encompasses my best friend. “I’m your best friend, which means I will always be honest with you, even when the truth hurts. He’s into you.”
“Forrest is his best friend. All five of them have been thick as thieves since they were little. There is no way he will risk his friendship with my brother. And we both know me dating a man ten years my senior, brother’s best friend or not, Forrest will blow a damn gasket.”
“We need to find him a woman to keep him distracted.” She snickers.
“No, this is crazy talk. He was probably seconds away from warning me to never breathe a word to my brother or anyone about what happened that night, but Forrest came in before he could.”
“I want it to go on the official best friend record that I’m team Roman and Emerson, and when that team unites, I get to say I told you so.”
I laugh because there is a huge part of me that hopes that she’s right. “Love you, Roe.”
“Love you too, Em. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Night.” I end the call and turn off the light, making my way back to my bed in the dark. I lie awake for hours, despite my exhaustion, trying to make sense of what’s happening. I don’t come up with a good explanation before sleep claims me.
Chapter
Three
Roman
* * *
My heart feels like a bass drum beating in my chest. What the fuck am I doing? I can’t have her, no matter how bad I wish I could. Forrest was seconds away from catching us doing— Fuck me. I don’t know how far I would have let it go.
I grip my fists at my sides, my hands still warm from the touch of her soft skin.
Emerson has dominated my mind since that night. The one that I try not to think about but fail every damn day. It’s a constant loop that I can’t seem to turn off. What’s worse is that I don’t really want to turn it off. The way her skin flushed, the way her fingers worked her pretty pink pussy. Fuck me, I never want to forget that night, but for my sanity, I know that I need to.
Forrest is one of my best friends.
The two of them didn’t have the best home life, and he’s been her pseudo-parent for as long as I can remember. I’m ten years her senior, and I don’t do relationships. I never have, and he knows that. So, for him to find out that I did what I did, yeah, he’d kick my ass, and I’d have to let him.
“Thanks for meeting her, man,” Forrest says. He walks to the fridge and pulls out a beer. He offers me one, and I wave him off. I definitely don’t need to be drinking right now. I’m already making questionable decisions sober.
The last time I drank around her… yeah, it’s best I stay sober. “No problem,” I say, my voice gruff. I clear my throat. “Not that I needed to. You were literally right behind me.” I’m annoyed, but I try to keep it out of my voice. I’m not frustrated that he asked me. I’m irritated that he showed up when he did. His timing saved me from crossing yet another line where Emerson is concerned, but I’m still pissed that he did.
I really wanted to cross that fucking line.
It wasn’t a problem. In fact, I’d been wracking my brain trying to think of a reason to stop by here tonight just to get a glimpse of her. As soon as I found out she was coming home today, seeing her was all I could think about.
Who am I kidding? I’ve been thinking about her far longer than just after our little tryst when she was home for spring break. That was just the first time I acted on what I’ve been feeling. I didn’t know how she would react, and I knew it was wrong, but I was still jonesing for a fix of Emerson, and the alcohol dulled my decision-making skills. Let’s go with that.
Thankfully, the client Forrest was working on was a pussy. He insisted he was man enough for a full sleeve on his first round of ink ever. Forrest tried like hell to talk him out of it, but the big man insisted he could handle it.