Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“You’re a good son,” I said when we pulled away. “No one is perfect, but if anyone is close, it’s you.” He grinned again, and I swatted his ass. “Now go get your paperwork before you’re late again. Plus, I have an encore I need to do here. My adoring fans are waiting.”
Clark rolled his eyes playfully. “You’re a dork.”
“I’m a rock star.”
He got his paperwork, and we said goodbye. I finished my cleaning concert, worked on sewing a bit, made Clark’s bed, and generally kept myself busy until he got home from work. We had dinner together, and he told me about his day in this way I used to see on TV when I was a kid—only it was always a man and a woman and they were in love. We weren’t. When I was young, there had been a time when I’d wondered why my mom didn’t have that. Why I didn’t have a dad who ate dinner with us as my parents talked about their day.
“What?” Clark asked. “You’re frowning.”
“Nothing. Just don’t feel like going to work tonight,” I hedged. I wasn’t sure he believed me, but he didn’t call me on it. The thing was, it wasn’t totally a lie. I wasn’t in the mood to go dance all night for men to stuff money in my underwear.
We hung out until I had to get ready for work. I put on light makeup for tonight, and when I came out, Clark was at the kitchen table, working on his laptop.
“Have a good night,” he told me.
I hesitated, thought about kissing him, but that was too domestic. Today had already been unsettling enough. “I will,” I replied. “And maybe I’ll find a naked man in bed when I get home.”
Clark blushed.
God, he was fun. I winked and left.
When I got to the Playground, Jesse was in the back room, getting something out of his bag. I didn’t plan it, just opened my mouth and said, “I’m messing around with Clark.” Fuck. Why in the hell had I said that?
Jesse’s grin grew into a full-fledged smile. “Sky is in love with Clark, Sky is in love with Clark,” he started to sing, skipping around the room.
My heart dropped. “I’m not in love with him, and why are you five?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought for the first time ever in your life, you told me about a guy you’re sleeping with like it’s a big deal, when it’s never been a big deal before.”
“That doesn’t mean I love him. It’s because he’s a friend.”
“Okay.” Jesse shrugged. “Whatever you say.”
Why was I friends with him again?
28
Clark
“So you’re moving back to your place next week?” Gretchen asked from across the dining table, where the four of us—Gretchen, Hope, Skylar, and I—were all sitting, having dinner.
It was early Saturday night, and though Skylar had to work in a couple of hours, I whipped up some chicken Alfredo and invited my neighbors over to share it with us. During our Zumba class on Thursday, Gretchen had been telling me how excited she was that Hope would be home for a longer stretch, and how we were overdue for a night together.
“Yep,” Skylar said, then bit into his garlic bread and chewed thoughtfully. “The repairs took longer than expected, but they finally got it done, so everyone’s allowed to move back in.”
The idea made my stomach tilt uncomfortably. We’d had a week of blowjobs, grinding, kissing, and sleeping naked together. I’d been working up to asking if I could fuck him, but so far, I’d chickened out. I’d only done it once before and it had been a disaster, mostly because I knew my boyfriend at the time wasn’t really into it. But, maybe it was best we didn’t go there, since he was leaving and I had no clue what would become of this—us—afterward.
Skylar added, “I bet Clark will be glad to have his apartment back.”
My gut churned, and I wanted to protest. Instead, I made light of it. “I’m just really sad that I won’t have to pick up your socks anymore.”
“How dare you! I don’t leave socks around!” he scoffed, and I laughed because it was really cute when he acted outraged. It made me want to kiss him square on the lips, but I restrained myself.
“You sound like an old married couple,” Gretchen said, and my eyes flashed to hers.
Why did I like the sound of that? Abort! No stray thoughts allowed.
I noticed how Skylar’s cheeks colored pink even as he deflected. “Hey, who are you calling old?”
“You are a few months older than me,” I pointed out, then hopped up to grab more parmesan cheese.
Thankfully, the subject changed by the time I returned to my seat. Skylar must’ve asked Hope about the places she’d traveled for business, and she’d launched into an elaborate explanation, breaking it down by countries—and providing a welcome reprieve.