Once he’s recovered, he’s leaving. So maybe messing around with him a few times won’t be the worst thing I’ve ever done…
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“Out,” he says, slipping on his white Nikes. “I’ll be back before the game, don’t worry.” He gives me one of his trademark grins, like that little exchange between us didn’t happen, and then he walks out the door.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Alex
“How’s it going with your new bestie?” Britt asks, reaching for my half-eaten cupcake. I shove it at her, knowing she needs it more than me.
Besides, I need to watch my diet better since I can’t go to the gym and work out because of my damn knee.
“It’s going,” I say.
Sarah squirms in my lap. “I thought I was bestie”
I smile at her. “You are numberonebestie, but don’t tell your sister I said that.” I wink as she grins and giggles, then I give her a tight hug and kiss the top of her head.
“Eat your cupcake,” Britt says to Sarah. “Then what’s wrong?” Britt asks between chewing her cupcake. Sarah bites into hers, dropping crumbs all over my lap.
“And don’t tell me it’s nothing, because I know you, Alex. Better than you know yourself.”
I twist my lips, wondering if I should say something, but what can I say? Britt knows I used to have a crush on Mack, and she’s alluded to her suspicions thatsomethinghappened at the wedding, but I’ve never confirmed or denied it. I just changed the subject, and it was never mentioned again. I’m not ashamed of what happened between Jordan and I—far from it. But he’s made enough threats and proclamations that he doesn’t want anyone to know what happened. I wouldn’t go against that. For better or worse, I’m used to it.
I’m used to being people’s skeleton in their closet.
I can’t stop thinking about his words from the other day. How he basically asked me what I would be willing to give him in the most non-professional, non-friendly way possible. He said it washypothetical,but I know it wasn’t.
If it was hypothetical, he wouldn’t have been rubbing my knee or staring at my fucking mouth.
And his cock wouldn’t have been twitching beneath my ass.
But his actions are always the opposite of his words.
We can’t do this, Alex.
He was so sure then, so resistant. I’d begged him not to leave, and he hadn’t. He stayed because I was a mess. Not because he wanted to. So what’s changed?
“You know I haven’t reallydatedanyone since we broke up, right?” I say carefully.
Brittany gives me a soft smile. “I know. You have been with people, though.” She says the words cautiously, given present company.
“Yeah, but…”
“But what?”
“It’s not like I didn’t want to date people, I just… I don’t know. It seems like people only like me for one thing.”
“Sarah, sweetheart, can you go grab Mommy and Uncle Alex some coloring books?” she says sweetly. “Get a couple. Some markers and crayons too. Don’t come back until you haveeverything.”
“Uh huh,” she says, jumping off my lap and taking off for her room.
Britt smirks.
“That’s because you think that’s all you're good at,” she says solidly.
“Maybe because it is,” I mumble. “I don’t have anything else to offer.”
