Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
“Lexi, stop trying to avoid the subject. I’m your best friend, and I know something is up, so talk to me.”
I pull to the side of the road and put my car in park. I can’t have this conversation and drive at the same time. “Okay, listen, I really am busy with school but—”
Tara starts to interrupt me, and I stop her. “But! There was a guy I was interested in, and I thought he was interested too, but...” I wince, thinking back on that day at the tattoo shop and him telling me he wasn’t interested in breaking in a virgin. “Well, come to find out, I’m not his type.”
Tara blows out a breath. “It’s Ben, right? Cruz was right when he said there was something going on between you two.”
I sit up in my seat. “Wait. What? My brother? How does Cruz know anything… I didn’t even tell you.”
“At my sister’s wedding, Ben asked me about you, and Cruz sort of figured it out. I told him there’s no way you were interested in Ben, but I didn’t know. Why didn’t you tell me?”
I start to laugh. “What was I going to tell you? That I liked your ex boyfriend’s brother? You had enough crap you were dealing with. Plus, nothing happened, so…”
I let my voice trail off. It’s crazy to think that I’m this torn up about things when I’ve never even kissed the man in question.
“Something happened!” Tara insists.
I huff out a breath, not wanting to get into it but knowing Tara is not going to give up until I tell her. “Fine. Yes, I thought we hit it off that night I went out with you and Grant. I made a fool out of myself and showed up at Heat & Ink to talk to Ben, and he said he wasn’t interested. It’s nothing, and I’m over it.”
Tara starts to stutter. “How? But? Really? Not interested? What an asshole.” She pauses. “But wait… he asked about you at the wedding and was looking for you. I saw you two together… are you sure there’s not something else going on?”
I clench my eyes shut and open them. “Yeah, I’ve seen him a few times. I mean, like just ran into him, not like dating him or anything.”
She’s quiet for a full five seconds, and I know she’s trying to piece it all together. “How do you ‘run’ into someone from a motorcycle club?”
Damn it. “Tara, look, it’s no big deal, and I’ll be honest with you, I’m glad you’re dating my brother. I’ve never seen either one of you as happy as you are now, but this is weird for me. I know you tell him things, and I’m really not wanting my brother to put his two cents in.”
She shrieks, and it seems even louder through the car speakers. “Lexi! You’re my best friend… you can tell me anything, you know that.”
Oh God, I hate this. “I know I can, but I need to figure this out on my own.”
“Lexi—” she starts.
“Ugh, Tara, I promise, I’m fine.” The sound of a motorcycle has me sitting up in my seat and looking out the window. It’s Ben, and he pulls over, stopping several feet in front of me, causing my stomach to drop and my heart to race. What now? “Look, I gotta go. I’ll call you when I get back to the dorm. Promise.”
I end the call and then turn off my car.
Ben—or Boss, I guess—gets off his bike and starts walking toward me. I get out and walk around to the front of my car and wait for him with my hands on my hips. “Are you following me?”
He frowns and doesn’t stop until he’s inches from me. “What’s wrong? Why are you parked on the side of the road?”
Instead of answering him, I shake my head. “You better be careful, Boss. You keep showing up like this, I'm going to think you like me or something.”
He walks past me and sits on the hood of my car. “Something wrong with your car?”
I turn around, and he’s positioned himself so I’m standing between his knees. “No, it’s fine. I was talking on the phone and pulled over to do it.”
He puts his hands on my car and leans back. “You talking to Mr. Khaki?”
He knows exactly what he’s doing. My eyes travel down the length of his body and back again. I cross my arms over my chest because I can already feel my body reacting to him. “Are you jealous?”
His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t answer me. The way he looks at me with such intensity is making me crazy. I wonder what he’d do if I climbed up on his lap. He’d probably push me to the gravel and tell me again he’s not attracted to me. Frustrated, I throw a hand up. “What are you doing here?”