Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
She shrugged. “Girl code. He’s hot, so I had to know if he was still off the market.”
Hot wasn’t exactly the word I’d use to describe him, but I got where she was coming from. Still, this could have been clarified by anyone else.
Olivia jumped in with a playful glint in her eyes. “You know if those two broke up, everyone and their mama would know. And a certain sexy little quarterback would be first in line to tap in.”
Cloe burst into laughter at the incredulous look on my face. I could feel my annoyance bubbling up, and I was this close to tossing her over the nearest balcony.
“Ashton and I are good,” I lied with practiced ease, trying to deflect any further probing. “So you don’t have to worry about any of that.”
Olivia smirked. “Hey, I’m just saying. If you ever end up single, you know who’s waiting in the wings.”
I wasn’t going to entertain that claim. With how things were between us right now, the last thing I needed was to add public speculation. Ryder and I always had a certain chemistry, an undeniable dynamic. That didn’t mean everyone needed to start connecting the dots I was desperately trying to ignore.
“You know he’s my best friend, right? I love him too death, but we’ve never been anything more.”
“Exactly why everyone’s waiting for it,” Olivia pointed out. “Best-friends-to-lovers. That trope never gets old.”
“Uh, what about Brooke?” I tossed in, trying to keep us grounded.
Meghan scoffed. “Brooke Stanton, right? How did that even happen? Ryder barely let me su—.”
She cut herself off, but I’d already caught the implication. My jaw dropped. Cloe reached over, gently pushing it shut. I lightly slapped her hand, laughing, though my brain was spinning.
“He never told you? “Meghan asked, more intrigued than embarrassed.
“No. I don’t get a play-by-play on every girl Ryder’s slept with.”
Why did I feel like I’d just had this same conversation?
Meghan grinned. “Oh, we didn’t actually sleep together. I went down on him for like five seconds before…” She leaned closer, conspiratorial. “He passed me off to his brother.”
Cloe laughed. “I had no idea they got down like that, but who am I to yuck a yum?”
“Do you mean pass off as in, like a hot-potato handoff?” I asked, stunned and a bit disgusted. Not at her, but the fact that they shared someone, because like Cloe, I had no idea they shared on such a level.
Meghan shrugged. “Hey, Cade’s a great backup.”
I didn’t like the way she worded that. “I wouldn’t call him a backup. He’s his own person and more than second to Ryder.”
Cade was undeniably gorgeous, but picturing him the way I did his brother was a no-go. He and Ryder shared their dad’s good looks for sure. I’d told them once how fine he was, their mom too. Neither had been impressed with the observation.
“She’s right. I can’t stand them being compared like show dogs,” Cloe stated flatly.
“Yeah, that was wrong.” Meghan agreed, then sighed dreamily. “Too bad Cade’s strictly a one-night stand guy. Nobody’s come close to being that skilled since. And his… well, his dick is huge. Thick and girthy.” She made a wide gesture with her hands.
Cloe visibly cringed. “Today, on things I never needed to know. Ever.”
“Same here,” I mumbled. “Those two are like brothers to me.”
Olivia’s grin returned immediately.
“Ooooh, that changes everything. Siblings-to-lovers? I love me a dirty a taboo novel.”
“Oh my God, please stop.”
I briefly considered yeeting myself over the balcony. There’d be a quick splat, a few traumatized gasps, and poof: all my problems solved. No awkward chats, no spiraling over Ryder, no faking things that weren’t fine. I wouldn’t have to worry about some masked creep following me around. Can’t overthink if you’re dead, right? I sighed, rubbing my face. “Man, I really need a nap.”
Cloe shot me a look. "Should I start booking your counseling sessions in my office?"
"I'm fine, just pondering the sweet relief of concrete."
"Ah. So, a typical Tuesday?" she replied, deadpan.
I adored her even more in moments like these.
I spotted Ashton posted up near the bottom of the stairwell. His posture was casual, but his eyes were calculating, trying to figure out if it was safe to approach or if he was about to get metaphorically smacked. I wasn’t mad at him. Not really. Things were far from perfect between us, but I didn’t have the energy to hold onto any animosity from this morning.
"Hey," I said, approaching him with a genuine smile.
His shoulders visibly relaxed. A familiar grin appeared, giving him a boyish look. "Hey," he replied warmly, his eyes focused solely on me, briefly shifting to Olivia and Meghan. "What's up?"
"Hi!" Meghan chirped.
I had to have imagined her upbeat tone.
"Don't do that," Cloe warned, her words as precise and sharp as a scalpel. "That's not very ‘girl code’ of you."