My pulse quickened when she got closer. I didn’t know what to expect. We had never been that close before, and I wasn’t prepared for whatever she was about to say or do.
She was quiet for several moments and the air felt thick. “Thank you… for doing this. I know it’s not what either of us really want to be doing, but I appreciate it.”
I swallowed. “Yeah… sure.” I turned to walk away but paused when I heard her speak again.
“Also… that color looks good on you.”
I looked down at my forest-green sweater dress. I didn’t think about turning around to let her see my heated face. I left the bookstore for the second time that week, feeling the need to cool down.
Chapter Eight
Drea
I was fifty-six days into my sexual shutdown, and I was starting to lose it.Why on earth did I compliment Blair Sterling of all people?That color looks good on you? What was that? I must really be on something if I’m starting to find her attractive.
Still, I couldn’t get that first meeting out of my head. Of course it didn’t start off great; they never do.
But the way she looked, the past year had been very kind to her. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I wanted to take her on my desk and use my double-sided dildo while ripping that sweater dress wide open.
Which was ridiculous, because I had absolutely no feelings for Blair. But the way that dress hugged her ass, I could pretend to like her, just a little.
I could pretend to like the way her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip when she was anxious, or the way she looked like she owned every room she walked into wearing those infuriating fuck-me black heels.God, I’m really losing it!
I rubbed my face and fought the urge to lock my door and do something about my desperate need to fuck something, anything.
Then, as if the universe had read my thoughts, my dad called, immediately extinguishing the roaring fire building between my thighs.
“Hello, Father,” I answered with a peppy voice.
“Hello, darling. How are you? How’s Skylar?” I sighed, forgetting that I still hadn’t told my parents about the breakup, even though it had been two years. I was over it by now, but it had just never come up.
“I’m fine. Skylar and I broke up a while ago. She moved to New York.”
I could finally talk about it without spiraling into a drinking and fucking frenzy. Banning sex was one of the hardest challenges I’d ever had to endure. I had to admit, it had been keeping my mind clear and sharp, for the most part. I could still drink, though, and thank fuck for that.
“Oh, I do apologize. But I know you aren’t broken up about it, are you? You were never the settling down type, not like your sisters.”
I groaned. My sisters were the epitome of the all American dream. They were only a few years younger than me, but they had always wanted marriage, with kids and white-picket fences.
They were too young to understand what was happening when our parents divorced. I wasn’t as fortunate. I had just started high school when my parents sat me down and told me the news of my father’s adultery. After so many years of marriage and four kids, even my parents couldn’t commit to each other. What chance did I have?
“How are you, Father?” I needed to turn the topic somewhere else.
“I’m splendid, dear. I just saw your sisters, and now I’m headed to Brighton for a few weeks to visit family.”
My father had been in the military, and we’d moved out of England when I was ten. He got stationed in Portland until he retired, and had been there ever since. I’d been wanting to go and visit him, but with the bookstore, and dealing with Skylar leaving, I just didn’t have the time to take off.
“That’s good. Well, I have to run. I’m meeting Fallon for her cake tasting in a few minutes.” We were meeting at our favorite bakery, Sugarleaf, which was only a short drive from the bookstore.
“Okay, dear. Please be safe, and come visit soon. I miss you.”
I smiled into my phone. I really did need to plan a visit to see him soon. “I will. Love you, Dad.”
After my phone call, I was looking forward to taking my mind off things and spending time with my best friend.
I waved at Kaia as I headed out the door and down the street. It was a gorgeous day, soI thought the walk would be good for me and would clear my head.
Mackenzie was right, it was going to be a full house just to eat cake. When I got there, Fallon and Mackenzie were already sitting with Penelope, and Harper, Mackenzie’s sister. Mackenzie’s two best friends were arriving any minute as well.
