Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
I snorted. Trust me, I had noticed.
“So, what do we do?” I asked her. “Because short of locking them together in a room, I don’t know what to do.”
A mischievous smile twisted Desiree’s lips. I arched an eyebrow at her. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do.” She looked at her smartwatch, her smile widening. “In fact, in three . . . two . . . one—yep. Axel and Joey just locked Vincent and Julian in the locker room together. Even the coach is behind it because he’s tired of two of his best players being on the outs.”
“Oh, God,” I groaned. This might end horribly for both me and Vincent. Hopefully, Julian didn’t do something stupid while locked in there with him.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out, cringing at the text message on my screen from Julian.
* * *
You better be running when I get out of this fucking locker room, Meghan. Your ass is mine.
* * *
“Judging by the look on your face, Julian is pissed,” Desiree noted.
“Mhm,” I mumbled. “He’s beyond pissed,” I told her, my stomach churning with nausea.
* * *
I’m sorry, but it needed to happen. You can’t let me come between your friendship. Please work things out with him.
* * *
I pocketed my phone and looked up at Desiree. “I’m heading to my dorm,” I told her. “I doubt Julian will want to see me tonight.”
She stood up and hugged me. “He’ll understand why you did this eventually,” she assured me. I wasn’t so sure about that, and it made my stomach hurt. “He loves you too much to have you away from him for too long. Call me if you need me.”
* * *
✶ ✶ ✶
* * *
“Thanks for letting me know she was here,” I heard Julian whisper near the door of my dorm room.
“She’s been pretty sick,” my roommate told him quietly. She and Desiree had switched back after I found out my rapist was no longer an issue I needed to worry about. “I didn’t know how to help her.”
I slowly opened my eyes to see Julian kneeling in front of me, his concerned, blue eyes running over my tired, pale features. “Fuck, baby, why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling good?” he asked me softly as he reached out to push my hair back from my face.
“I thought you were mad at me,” I mumbled.
He quietly sighed. “What do I always tell you, woman?” he asked. “I’m struggling with you. I don’t give a fuck what we’re fighting about. You need me, I’m there.”
I closed my eyes, too tired to fight with him about it. “You and Vincent?” I asked him.
He blew out a harsh breath. “We’re fine. We talked shit out. I think he’s finally come around to the fact that you’re it for me, and that I’m not leaving you behind, nor am I abandoning you.”
A small smile tilted my lips. “Good,” I said quietly. I just hoped Vincent continued to stay on that page. I didn’t know what it was, but he’d been moody and different since Julian and I had gotten together.
He sighed. “Come on, baby girl. I’m taking you back to the frat house.”
A whine left my lips. “If I move, I’ll vomit everywhere,” I told him honestly. “Please don’t make me move,” I pleaded.
He drew in a deep breath before he shrugged and kicked his shoes off and pulled his shirt over his head. I glowered at my roommate when she gasped at the sight of Julian’s sculpted, tattooed body. Julian snickered as he placed a hand on either side of me and leaned down to kiss me. “Missed you,” he murmured.
I smiled up at him. “I always miss you,” I admitted. His grin widened at my words, his eyes lighting up with complete happiness.
He moved over me and got behind me, placing himself under the blankets with me. After wrapping his strong arms around my waist, he gently tugged me back against him. “I love you,” he whispered against my hair.
I relaxed back into him, unintentionally wiggling my ass against his dick as I did so. He rumbled low in his throat as he tightened his arms around me, thrusting his hips against my ass. I bit back a moan. “Easy, baby,” he rasped.
I blushed and shut my eyes, allowing myself to fall back asleep in the comfort and safety of his arms.
15
I placed my hands on my hips as I dragged some much-needed air into my lungs. My stomach was churning, but I kept shoving the urge to vomit back down. I was determined to perfect this dance, and I wouldn’t stop until I did.
Julian stepped out onto the patio with a bottle of water in his hands. I watched as he walked over to my phone and paused my music. I scowled at him, but he only turned those gorgeous blue eyes to me, a single eyebrow arched in a dare.