Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 101736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
I had to get him out of here. “So, listen, I’m actually kind of tired.”
He gazed up at me like I’d just said I wanted to live with my dad and Cassidy forever. “You’re what?” He scrutinized me. “How hard were you jerking off in here?”
“Hilarious,” I said flatly.
He glanced over at my clock. “It’s not even nine.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t sleep all that great last night.” This at least wasn’t a lie—I’d stayed up late texting with Sydney after she got off work, and then I’d stayed up even later wondering if she was using the toy I’d bought her at the same time I was jerking off.
Colin looked disappointed, and I got that. Once we’d become business partners, hanging out and being friends had taken a back seat to everything else.
“Okay, fine. Just a few matches,” he said as a compromise.
My gaze flicked to the closet door. I didn’t want him to get suspicious, and this seemed like the most efficient way. Maybe I could throw a few games and get us killed right away.
Hopefully she’d understand, and not think I was abandoning her.
“Yeah.” I held in the sigh I wanted to make. “One match.”
EIGHTEEN
Sydney
It felt like I was stuck in the closet for hours, and Preston had completely forgotten about me. After their voices went quiet and I was sure they’d left the room, I pulled on my clothes as slowly and silently as humanly possible.
When that was done, and a lot more time had ticked by, I worked up the courage to crack open the door and peer out into the room. The door to his bedroom was shut, and I could hear simulated gunfire and explosions coming from the large TV in the main living area of the basement.
I spied my phone on the side table, but it might as well have been a mile away. I didn’t know if Colin would come back into Preston’s room when they finished, so I had no choice but to stay put. I pulled the closet door shut and went back to the spot I’d cleared on the floor, sitting on the carpet and leaning against the wall.
I thought about menu combinations to pass the time. I catalogued different entrees, making a list of the ones I’d like to try preparing in the future, doing everything I could to distract myself.
But as time dragged on, my irritation grew.
What happened to just one match? I didn’t know how long they usually lasted, but this seemed too long. Didn’t he remember I was trapped in here?
Finally, the sounds of the video game ceased. It was quiet for another minute, and when someone opened the door to the bedroom, I held my breath. Had Colin followed Preston in?
The closet door swung open, light poured into the space, and I rapidly blinked against it before my eyes zeroed in on Preston. At least he had the decency to look concerned.
“Shit, I’m so sorry.” He offered a hand to help me to my feet.
I tried my best to keep my tone even. “Is he gone?”
“Yeah, he just left.” He raked a hand through his hair as he backed up, giving me space to step out of the darkness and into the room. “Fuck. That was close.”
“Yeah.” There was a hint of bitterness in my mouth, flavoring my words. “What happened? Did you forget about me in here?”
“No, of course not.” His expression was serious. “How could I forget about you?” He said it under his breath, annoyed. “I think about you all the damn time.”
His confession made the room go off-kilter.
But when I glanced at the clock and saw it after ten p.m., irritation helped me find my footing. “Then why was I stuck in there so long?”
His shoulders sagged. “Time got away from me. I didn’t want him to get suspicious, and we hadn’t hung out in a while.” He scratched his forehead and sighed. “I feel fucking guilty about going behind his back.”
My anger subsided a bit. He’d confessed earlier tonight he was trying to be a better person. Plus, I shared the same guilt he did. Lying to my brother was about as enjoyable as the hour I’d spent hiding in the closet.
“We could tell him,” I said.
“Tell him what?” Preston’s gaze turned hard. “That I fucked you when he told me to keep my hands off you?”
I bristled.
Most of the time his filthy mouth turned me on, but his statement cheapened what we’d done. What I had meant was we could tell Colin we were dating, but—then again, Preston had been clear we weren’t. He was my teacher, and we were just friends.
Ones who texted every day, had been on multiple dates, and were exclusive. Not to mention, we’d slept together. But he wasn’t my boyfriend.
He didn’t want that label.