Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Ethan steals one last kiss, a quick peck that leaves me wanting more. I have to push him away, so I don’t have the urge to kiss him again. He’s too tempting, intoxicating, an illness that has no cure.
As he walks away from me, I admire his perfect backside and muscles that define every inch of his back and shoulders. My heart beats hard against my chest, the longing and desire still burning my skin.
Damn you, Will.
With my eyes on Ethan, I allow myself one last look as I slip my skirt over my hips and slide my panties up my thighs. I skip the bra, hiding it in one of the cabinets, and throw my shirt over my head on my way to the door. I give myself a once over in the mirror on the wall and smooth a hand down the front of my shirt and skirt. This is as good as it’s going to get.
The second I unlatch the lock, Will stumbles inside, reeking of sex and alcohol. Or maybe I’m the one who smells of sex. It’s hard to tell.
“About damn time,” Will hisses as he steps inside. “I was about to get an Uber.”
I lock the door and spin around to watch him stagger into the living room. “Where would you have gone? Your apartment is trashed.”
With his back to me, he shrugs. “A hotel. What difference does it make?”
“I thought you were staying with those girls.”
“Nah. They’re boring.” Before he hits the couch, he changes his course of direction. “I’m hungry. Got any leftovers from dinner?”
I follow behind Will and into the kitchen. He opens the fridge and peeks inside. The light casts a shadow in the darkness, drawing my attention to the condom wrapper Ethan left on the countertop.
Shit.
In full-on stealth mode, I slide the foil package off the counter. Will removes an extra plate of veal parmesan and spaghetti from the top shelf in the fridge, too busy contemplating his next meal to notice. Or so I think.
He narrows his eyes at me. “What are you doing? You’re acting weird.”
“Nothing.”
Will tilts his head to the side. “What’s in your hand?”
Fuck. How do I explain this? Oh, it’s no big deal, Will. I open condoms all the time for no reason. No, I don’t think so.
I tuck the condom into the back of my skirt and hold up my hands. “I told you. Nothing.”
“Meh.” He offers me the plate of food. “Want some? There’s enough for both of us.”
Dodged that bullet.
I shake my head. “Nope, I think I’m gonna get some sleep. Ethan took the guest bedroom, so that leaves you with the couch.”
Will pops the plate into the microwave and hits a few buttons. “Whatever. I’m cool with the couch. I told E we can take turns sleeping in the bed.”
I glance up at the clock on the wall and frown at the time. “I have to get to bed. Try not to make too much noise out here. My shift starts in three hours, and I need at least a nap to function properly.”
“Sounds good.” Will turns around with his back against the counter and folds his arms over his chest, waiting for the pasta to cook. “Night-night, baby sis.”
I suck in a deep breath, thankful Will didn’t catch me with Ethan or the condom. Awkward.
“Night, big bro. Tomorrow, remind me to have a key made for you. I won’t be home until around eight o’clock. Go ahead and eat dinner without me.”
“You shouldn’t work so much,” he shoots back. “Some of the shit you do is dangerous. I’d feel better if you knew how to protect yourself.”
“I have to work hard if I want to make a name for myself. If anyone should understand that, it should be you. Your life is anything but conventional.”
He nods. “I get it. Remember to have some fun every once in a while. Don’t work yourself to death. Be careful.”
I force a smile. “Always.”
He calls me all the time to check up on me. With Will living in my apartment, he’s seeing for himself how dysfunctional I am. I prioritize work above everything else. That’s why tonight was so important. One night of fun with Ethan was all I’d wanted. Too bad it went to shit before anything between us could even begin.
The microwave dings, the obnoxious sound echoing throughout the apartment. Will retrieves the hot plate and makes a hissing sound when the ceramic burns his fingers. He steps back, almost dropping his food on the floor, but he recovers nicely. He sets the plate on the table and pulls out a chair.
“Enjoy your food.” I turn my back to Will and walk out of the kitchen. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
He mumbles something with a full mouth. I have no idea what he said nor do I care.