“Let’s talk about Skip,” Sunny suggests, grinning. “If your heart’s gonna race, let’s at least give it a good reason.”
Lila laughs as she hands her little girl her sandwich.
“That man is something else,” she says. “Biggest flirt I’ve ever seen. And that’s saying something, considering who my best friend is.”
I refuse to acknowledge the jealousy burning through my veins.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Riley says, shaking her head as she rinses a plate. “Skip can bring almost anyone to their knees with his smooth talking.”
“And that’s exactly where he wants them,” one of the guards calls from the door. “On their knees, ass in the air. Pussy or ass…he never cares.”
“Oh, hush it, Mike,” Riley snaps. “There are children in the other room.”
“They can’t hear me.” Mike shrugs, completely unbothered. He has medium-length brown hair, broad shoulders, and looks like the definition of a smug asshole. “And it’s not like I’m lying. Skip will fuck anything with two legs. He bangs them out of his system and sends them on their way.”
My pulse spikes so fast I feel the blood rush to my ears.
Is that…Is that what he wants to do with me?
Get me out of his system? Send me on my way?
I’m such an idiot. A chubby little nobody with a faulty body and a crush on a man built by gods.
“I mean, remember that one time?” Mikey nudges the guy beside him. “We walked into his room thinking he was being attacked. Nope. Naked with three people. Skip’s wild as hell. Knows how to have fun, though.”
I…am…so…stupid.
I slept on that bed.
The voices fade away as I close my eyes and start counting to ten. Slowly. Four times.
My heart’s pounding too fast, too loud, too sharp.
Abby’s voice is the first one to cut through the fog.
“Shut the heck up, Mike.”
“Damn girl,” Mike laughs. “When’d you grow a backbone? And why should I shut up? Nothing I said was a lie. Skip would proudly tell us the details if we asked.”
“This is Skip’s boyfriend,” Lila says firmly.
My eyes snap open, and I can’t even shake my head in denial.
My body’s stuck. Frozen.
“Him?” Mike barks a laugh. “Come on now. I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but he’s way below Skip’s usual level of attractiveness.”
Okay body…Nowwould be a great time to take me out.
Just drop me.
Turn the lights off.
Cue the faint.
Abby squats down and rubs at my cheek gently, her fingers coming away wet.
Oh. I’m crying. Great.
