Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Drew: What about you?
Tess: Um, nothing as philosophical—I was thinking about whether or not I actually want to take a shower or if I just want to put my pajamas on right away. A shower feels like too much work.
Drew: Are you admitting to me that you don’t like showering?
Tess: That’s literally not what I meant at all. I SHOWER! I’m just lazy… plus I still smell good.
Drew: You do smell good.
Tess: LOL how would you know?
Drew: 1. You just told me and 2. I remember
Tess: Is the memory burned in your brain?
Drew: Yes. A lot of things are burned in my brain.
Tess: Mm, like what else?
She’s fishing for compliments, and I don’t mind at all. I’m willing to humor her. What’s the harm?
I like her.
She’s cute, she’s funny, she’s smart.
She’s long-distance.
Drew: Like…the way your voice goes up an octave when you’re pretending to be excited when you’re not. And your laugh. And how soft your hands are.
Her hands are soft and gentle, running up my chest, finger trailing up my sternum. I remember it making me shiver, and the tingles shooting to my cock.
Tess: Wow, that…
Tess: I wasn’t expecting you to say all that.
Shit. She wasn’t?
Drew: Sorry
Tess: Drew, don’t apologize! It’s nice. It’s…you know, been a while. When we were talking about flirting the other day, I realized I don’t know how to do it either, despite my best efforts.
Drew: You tried flirting with me?
Tess: Um, yeah—at the Boot Scoot Boogie, I decided I was going to get drunk and flirt with you, but it turns out I wound up doing neither. If you don’t count me dragging you onto the dance floor.
Drew: I think it counts?
Tess: Good. Because A: I wanted to dance and B: I was trying to flirt
Drew: Mission accomplished…
Drew: I don’t want to make shit awkward but…
Tess: Oh god. What? Just say it.
Drew: How long exactly have you had the hots for me?
Tess: The HOTS for you?! Oh brother, you’re starting to sound like Drake.
Drew: I mean, we are identical.
Tess: Ha.
Tess: And. I don’t know. I had a tiny crush on you in middle school.
Tess: And high school. But it was harmless.
Drew: I’m sorry, I had no idea.
Tess: Why would you be sorry? You were busy, and you barely even looked at girls.
Drew: That’s true. I don’t think I went on an actual date until I came to college, and you see how well that’s working out for me.
Tess: I think people expect you to be a certain way, and you’re just not, so girls have these expectations, and if you don’t meet that, that is NOT your problem. It’s their problem.
Drew: What do you mean, expectations…?
Tess: You’re this big, good-looking dude who’s in the spotlight (for lack of a better term, right?), and they expect you to be cocky (like your brother) and self-assured, but in reality, you’re a bit shy and a bit reserved and not in everyone’s face, and you certainly don’t put the moves on everyone.
Tess: Like MY brother. Who even did he go home with the other night??
Drew: No idea. Some redhead…
Tess: Chelsea something or other, I think that’s her name, but she’s friends of the bride. There are so many bridesmaids I can’t keep them straight.
Drew: Ahh. That would explain why she didn’t look familiar…
Tess: You’ve been gone a while.
Drew: Yeah. Sometimes I wonder if that was a good idea or not
Tess: What do you mean?
Drew: Sometimes I think maybe I should have gone to a state school and played ball for fun—like D2 or D3—and just had fucking fun instead of a place where I feel all this pressure. I might have been able to sustain a relationship and done more normal shit…
Tess: You don’t think you do normal shit?
Drew: Eh, not really. I mean, yes—but being part of the Colter Duo doesn’t make us inconspicuous. Even people who don’t watch football and aren’t fans know who we are. I can’t even run into Walgreens without someone saying something or looking into my basket.
Tess: At your rash cream?
Drew: Exactly.
Tess: So sexy.
Drew: You think so?
Tess: Ha ha, yes. I think everything you do is sexy, Drew Colter…
CHAPTER 30
TESS
THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM, I KNEW I WAS GOING TO GIVE HIM THE WRONG PHONE NUMBER…
Tess: I have a crazy idea.
It’s late, I know, but I’m not tired—not in the least. And I haven’t seen Drew’s face since he left and wouldn’t it be nice to talk, face-to-face.
Drew: What’s your crazy idea?
Tess: Want to video chat?
With bated breath, I wait for him to reply, not sure if he’s going to jump at the chance to see me in person.
I mean, is it weird that I…miss him?
Nah, I don’t miss him. That’s not what this is.
Is it?
Can’t be.
I’m totally not the type of girl who assigns physical intimacy as actual intimacy or thinks that having sex with a guy makes us closer. And I’m certainly not foolish enough to think Drew might feel connected to me because we screwed.