Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82543 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82543 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“It’s not a relationship,” Brady says. “It’s nothing. That’s why I haven’t said anything. It’s got nothing to do with … there being more than one of them.”
I get the impression he was going to say something else but stopped himself.
“How are you going to survive in New York?” Felix asks. “I’ve heard it’s a city of bottoms, and we all know you like to be thrown around.”
“For fuck’s sake, Felix. Stop talking.” Brady runs a hand over his light brown hair. “Do I need to remind you who Levi’s dating?”
And as much as I want to correct him, I’m too damn relieved that he still thinks Peyton and I are still fooling around. Technically, we are, but I know deep down that we’re not. Just because Peyton hasn’t said the words “You’ll never see my dick again,” that doesn’t make them not true.
We make it to Shenanigans, and Marshall holds the door open for us all.
“What are we drinking? Brady’s treat,” Felix says.
“Is that so?” Brady asks.
“Hey, I bought you drinks last week.”
“When there were only the two of us. How convenient.”
“I’ll get the drinks,” I say. “What do you all want?”
They give me their drink orders, and Brady says he’ll help me carry them over while Felix and Marshall go find us a table.
At the bar, the blonde girl I saw Peyton flirting with that one time approaches us with a warm smile toward Brady.
“You want your usual?” she asks.
“Yep. Two, thanks. Plus, a vodka and Sprite and a—” He turns to me.
“Whatever IPA you have on tap.” It’s still too soon since Thanksgiving to be drinking anything heavier.
Past me hates myself for drinking that much.
She makes our drinks and takes my credit card for payment, but when she hands it back, she only addresses Brady. “I haven’t seen your brother around lately.”
Brady sips his beer. “He’s been really busy. You know, football.”
“The season ends soon, doesn’t it? Can you tell him I said hi? Midterms are kicking my ass. He’ll know what I mean.”
“Yeah, everyone in a thirty-foot radius knows what you mean.” Oops, did that come out loud?
“I’ll let him know.” Brady grabs Felix’s vodka and nods to me to follow him with Marshall’s drink. When we’re away from her, Brady leans in. “No need to be jealous of Casey. She and Peyton are just friends.”
“Mm, friends with benefits. I’m sensing a theme with him.” I don’t mean it to sound so bitter because I knew what we were going in, but the idea that I had Peyton’s cock in my mouth earlier today and he’ll be inside her later or tomorrow …
“Peyton might not do serious relationships, but he doesn’t fuck around on people he’s seeing. I guarantee you, when I tell him Casey wants to fall into old patterns, he either won’t call at all, or he will to let her down gently.”
I wish I could believe him, but I don’t. It’s not a matter of gender or that I think she can give him something I can’t, because I’ve never bought into the bullshit stigma that bisexual people can’t make up their minds, but there is the fact that he’s a college student, on the brink of the rest of his life, and we haven’t established rules between us.
And after today, I’m anticipating being ghosted.
He has to focus on football, not exploring his bisexual side with his high school hookup.
He’s free to do what he wants.
I just wish what he wanted was me.
Maybe I should have gotten something stronger than an IPA after all.
We get back to the table, where Felix and Marshall are leaning into each other and laughing. They’re a cute couple.
Damn it.
Past me needs a serious slap in the damn face.
Felix rambles while we drink, and his bubbly personality is infectious, but after only one drink, Felix and Marshall make eyes at each other, and I already know what they’re going to say before they say it.
Felix stands. “We’re out.”
“This is the real reason you invited Levi out, isn’t it?” Brady asks. “Because you knew you’d be cutting out early to go have sex with your boyfriend.”
Marshall’s cheeks turn a tinge of pink, but Felix is shameless.
“Yep.” He grabs his boyfriend’s hand, and they both say their goodbyes as they leave.
Brady and I are both silent as soon as it happens. I sip my drink, and then he mirrors the action.
“And it’s back to being awkward. That’s fun,” I say.
“I can’t help it. You have the power to make my life hell.”
“How?”
“You know things about me that only Felix knows. Well, and Marshall by association, but Marshall isn’t part of my circle, so it’s not a big deal.”
The struggle in Brady’s eyes is evident, and without thought, I put my hand on top of his to comfort him. He stares at our hands and then at me, but I need him to trust me when I say, “I wasn’t lying when I said I won’t tell your brother anything. Who you’re with isn’t my place to say. You’ll come out to him when you’re ready.”