Whitney shrieked when her feed connected. “Ohmy god.Youneed to go to bed.Orshower.”
“Who has time for showers?”Willowsaid manically. “Iwant the gossip and thenIwant to sleep for a year when this book is done.”
Whitney sipped primly from a mug that sported theAnnie’sPieslogo. “So. . .”
I dropped my head into my hands. “Iscrewed up.”
Willow snickered. “Soundslike you just got screwed—the fun kind.”
Whitney settled in. “Firstthing.Areyou okay?Dowe need to put our years of body disposal research to good use?”
“No,”Igroaned. “Itwas fucking awesome.Which, honestly, pisses me off that much more.Hefucks like a book boyfriend.”
Willow sucked in a gasp that could have suffocated half ofCalifornia. “Youtake that back.Bookboyfriends don’t exist.”
Whitney had a coy smile on her lips. “Minedoes.”
“Miles is the exception,”Willowsnapped. “Idon’t know how the hell you found a bodyguard who also fixes your hair.”
“I’m just saying!”Whitneysing-songed. “Theyexist!”
“So does rare sea life,”Willowcountered. “Butyou have to go to the bottom of theMarianaTrenchto find them.It’snot worth the effort.”
“Jaded romance author, party of one,”Imumbled under my breath.
Willow flipped me the bird.
“Tell us everything,”Whitneysaid.
I started from the momentJackcame over after sleeping off his shift and didn’t stop untilIhad covered the details of my daring escape from his bed this morning.Ikept the shenanigans to aCliff’sNotesversion, but the orgasm count was public knowledge.
“Six?”Willowshouted. “I’msorry.SIX?!”
Whitney snickered. “Whatwas that about book boyfriends not existing?”
Willow was flabbergasted. “Imean,Iknow you said he fucked like aNorsegod, butSIX?!Yougreedy, spoiled woman!That’sit.”Sheslammed her notebook shut. “I’mhopping on a plane and coming back.Doeshe have a brother?Thefriend from the fire station was cute.I’llsettle for him if he knows how to dosix.”
The mention ofJack’sbrother made my stomach sour.Jackdidn’t fall in love or get attached because he was afraid of losing people he cared about.Icouldn’t forget that.Hehad accepted the temporary nature of our fling, but in the heat of our first kiss, he said that he wanted more.
Jack was just as confused asIwas.Wewere identical magnets, repelling but still feeling the energy pulsing between us.
I couldn’t lead him on.Icouldn’t give him hope that this could be something.Jackhad the words, but he didn’t have the music.Iwould hurt him ifIsaidI’dstay whenIknewIwasn’t going to.He’dhurt me by loving me when every word and act was laced with fear.Itwould eat him alive.
“Well, well, well.Ifit isn’t my favorite wordsmiths.”Miles,Whitney’shusband, appeared behind her wearing hot pink gym shorts and nothing else.Itlooked like he had just gotten back from working out.Thetattoos that covered his entire body were coated in sweat.Hekissed the top ofWhitney’shead. “Heysuperstar.Hopeyour morning’s been as pretty as you are.”Helooked at the camera. “WittyWillowandWhimsicalWander.You’relooking lovely as ever.Maythe word counts come fast and the edits be easy.”
Whitney laughed. “Areyou going to take a shower?”
He tipped her chin up and pecked her lips. “Yep.Thenit’s coffee and off to the office.I’mthinking it’s a ducky shorts and necktie kind of day.Businesson top, party on the ass.Ihaven’t seen that vein inKeller’sforehead enough lately.”
“Your button-ups are hanging up by your swim trunks.”Shepointed to the closet behind her, then turned back to us asMilesdisappeared out of frame. “Sorry.Morningsare a little chaotic around here.Healways goes for a run, then comes back for coffee before he goes to headquarters.”
I choked on my tongue. “I’msorry—he hasn’t had coffee yet?”
Whitney shook her head. “Nope.That’shim being exhausted.Wewere up late.”
Willow huffed. “Don’ttell me you’re getting laid, too.”
“I’m married,”Whitneysaid. “OfcourseI’mgetting laid.”
