Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 65429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“They aren’t excuses. Ethan’s about to launch his new app, and he needed—”
“I don’t give a fuck what he needed! You’re my girlfriend, not his! Or do I need to remind you who you belong to?”
I jerked back, remembering Ethan saying those same words to me that morning after Thanksgiving at our waterhole.
“I… I…”
“You need to decide who comes first, Liv. If it’s not going to be me, then I refuse to play second fiddle to that asshole.”
I gasped. “He’s not an asshole!”
“That’s what you decide to focus on? You’re truly unbelievable. Ethan is an asshole. You think I don’t notice his snarky remarks to me or the way he looks at you blatantly in front of me? You say nothing happened between you two, but your close friendship screams otherwise.”
I never told Beau about what I now called “The Summer.” He didn’t need to know. Nobody did. Besides, it was none of his business. The last thing I needed was for him to lose his shit more than he was lately in reference to Ethan.
“We’re just best friends,” I stated for what felt like the millionth time.
“You think I’m that stupid? You think I can’t tell he’s been inside you?”
“Beau—”
“I’d even go as far as to say that you two probably lost your virginity to each other, right? He was probably your first kiss too?”
“You need to calm down.”
“You’re not answering me, and you think that’s going to make me calm down?”
“What kind of question is that? It sounds more like a threat than anything else.”
“It’s a simple question, don’t you think?”
“I’m going to ask this one last time and please, please, be honest with me. Do you love me, Liv?”
I stepped in front of him, grabbing his face. “You know I do.”
“Actually, I don’t.” With that, he jerked his head away from my grasp. “I need a break.”
“What?” I snapped, narrowing my eyes at him.
“This can’t come as a surprise to you.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I need some space. Don’t call me. Don’t come to my place. Just leave me alone until you figure out where I come in your life.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do. I’ve never meant anything more in my life.”
Before I could reply, he turned and left, slamming the door behind him.
Was he right? Did I put Ethan before him?
I spent the rest of the night going stir-crazy, trying to figure out if what he accused me of was true. I did love him. I wouldn’t be with him this long if I didn’t. I hated that he didn’t trust me. For the next few days, I moved in autopilot until I couldn’t resist.
I needed my best friend, so I ended up at his front door. I didn’t tell him I was coming, booking a last-minute flight late at night. It was past three in the morning when I stood there. Instead of knocking, I decided to surprise him.
Using the key he gave me a long time ago, I quietly made my way inside, tiptoeing through his place. Once I was at his bedroom door, I was just going to sneak into his bed with him. Except my timing was shit. As soon as I stepped inside, the full moon cascaded along his body, and I could see him and the naked woman in bed with him.
“Fuck,” I breathed out. Backing away, I felt my heart in my throat.
I’d never seen him with anyone prior to this. I knew he dated, but he never brought them around. I guess I thought…
I don’t know what I thought.
Question after question tore through my mind.
Is that his girlfriend? Does he love her? How long have they been sleeping together? Does he always let women spend the night?
The last question didn’t end before the next one began, and God chose that second to make a mockery out of me. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was stepping, quickly trying to get out of his room. In my rush, I tripped over what felt like his shoes.
In a loud, hard thud, I fell on my ass and immediately woke them up. Ethan jumped out of bed, making me realize he was butt-ass naked too. My wide gaze flew from his shocked expression to seeing me there to his big dick that wasn’t even hard, dangling between his legs.
“Fuck,” I repeated, covering my eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“Livvy,” he uttered in a husky yet sleepy tone.
“I… I…”
“Ethan,” the chick announced, sitting up. “What’s going on?”
“Uh… I’m so sorry. I didn’t know he was with someone. I… I… shit…” I jumped up, and my best friend still hadn’t covered himself.
Stop staring at his dick, Livvy.
“I’m going to go.” I spun, hauling ass out of there.
“Livvy!” Ethan called out after me, but it was no use.
I was already opening the front door when he gripped my arm, turning me to face him. Thank God, he at least threw on his gym shorts. However, him being shirtless wasn’t helping my disposition either. I hadn’t seen him since spring break when he spent the week at my apartment with me, and that was almost six months ago.