“Pickleball?” I questioned.
“Semi-professional league. Dad’s missed like four weeks or something, they’ll be desperate. Sorted then. Be ready at eleven thirty, and we’ll go.”
“I’m going to bed.” Ed rose from the chair, pushing it almost into the wall behind him. “Let me sleep.”
“Slut,” Calvin hissed.
“Says the guy who did not ask that chick for a threesome,” Ed hissed back.
“Fuck off.”
The ceiling creaked.
I had to laugh, because? What the almighty fuck?
“I’m not going to pickleball.” Peter crossed his arms.
I picked up my cup and took a sip.
I was good here. I honestly was.
Then I smiled. Because. Yeah. Whatever.
Chapter 21
Peter
“Afternoon!”
I felt like I’d been run over by a truck, lying here stiff as a board on the edge of the bed. Now trying to roll myself backwards to where Oliver was fidgeting around, sat cross-legged on the bed. Tray on the side. Reaching out for me with a cup of tea in his hand.
“I used to be a coffee person, and now I suddenly can’t get enough of this tea stuff. Terrible really. You’re turning me into some old person before my time.”
“Tea is comforting,” I said, trying to sit myself up.
If I had felt weird last night? Overwhelmed this morning? Now I felt positively naked, sat here topless, trying not to notice how he stared at me. His gaze following my shoulder. My chest… I tried to cover up, taking an awkward sip of the tea.
Good tea. A pang of warmth in my chest. Then back to feeling my face flame as he leant forward. Took a tentative crawl towards me.
“So…we kiss now?” he whispered. Like it was something wedid.
I stared at him blankly.
“It’s my turn,” he declared with a cheeky grin on his face.
He took the teacup out of my hand. Placed it on the bedside table amongst all the crap still littering the surface.
Fear. So much…anticipation. And more fear. What were we doing here? What was I supposed to…
His hand was on my cheek, positioning my face to where he wanted it. Adjusting the way he was leaning over me, now one hand on either side of my head. Leaning on top of me.
“Is this okay?” he asked, like he expected me to protest.
I wanted to. But didn’t.Oh my almighty God.
If I felt naked before? Now I felt stripped bare. Like my skin was on fire and my mind laid out for everyone to see.
And there it was. His mouth pressed softly to mine. A kiss.Really Peter?
