Knock, knock.“Em, are you awake?”
I bolt to my ensuite bath, bag in hand, and close the door behind me just as I hear my bedroom door open.
“You in the bathroom?” he calls.
“Yea…” I clear my throat. “Yep.”
“Okay.” There’s silence for a moment, and I wonder if he’s left. “I’m gonna shower real quick, then we should talk.”
“Sure thing.” I pull a face at my overenthusiastic expression in the mirror, then scoop my makeup into the bag.
I wait until my bedroom door opens and closes before I sneak back into my room.
Grabbing a pair of heels and a little black dress from the back of my closet, I tiptoe to my door and slowly open it.
The muffled sound of water pounding against tiles tells me he’s already in the shower.
Time to make my escape.
I dart for the kitchen to grab my purse but halt at the counter. Beer, frozen pizza, and a collection of action and thriller movies sit on the counter. It’s our breakup routine—well, mine because Liam never lets himself get close enough to someone to break up with them.
I smile at the sweet gesture even though I don’t need it. Liam is trying to be a friend… and I tried to screw up our friendship by coming on to him.
Ugh.
I am an idiot. He’s my favorite person; I can’t lose him over a cock-crazed vagina.
Maybe I should stay. I’m an adult. I can handle a conversation and a couple of movies without trying to climb all over him. My gaze darts to the living area, and I realize I’m in the same spot Liam was when he watched me.
Did he touch himself last night, thinking about me?
“That’s why you can’t stay.” Friends don’t want friends touching themselves while thinking about them.
I grab a piece of paper and pen and scribble,“Plans with Ally. Talk tomorrow,”then dart out the front door.
Ally insisted I wear another pair of sexy underwear again—black this time. Immediately, I wondered what Liam would think...
This is why I’m getting blisters on my toes and an itchy ass from these ridiculous panties instead of curling up in comfy sweats eating pizza and watching movies.
Liam: Where are you?
I ignore Liam’s text and follow Ally down the sidewalk to whatever bar she’s chosen for the evening. I’m a coward, but maybe I’ll feel braver once I find someone else to go home with tonight.
My phone buzzes again; Liam’s name appears as an incoming call this time. He’s persistent. My body flutters in all the most inappropriate places.
“Did you two have a fight or something?” Ally asks, glancing at the screen. “It’s not like you to ignore him.”
“He thinks I’m heartbroken over Kyle and acting irrationally,” I say. It’s not a total lie, but admitting the truth would be admitting feelings I’m trying to smother.
“Fucking Kyle out of your system is the most rational thought you’ve had in twelve months.” She winks at me and sashays her hips. “Someone’s getting cock tonight.”
Wolf whistles and clapping come from a group congregating around the door of a bar.
Pink warms my cheeks. “Announce it to everyone, why don’t you?”
Ally blows kisses to her fans, then turns to me, her eyes softening. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Tonight is about saying fuck you to the cheating ass.”
I shake my head. “I don’t care about Kyle. You’re right—he was a mistake. I should have broken up with him months ago. Tonight is about me and…”finding someone to help me put Liam back in the friend zone, “…getting what I need.”
