Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Something unfamiliar washed over his face then. I couldn’t read it, and just as I was about to ask if he was okay, the look changed. “Baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” Kellan winked.
A growl started in my chest and made its way past my lips. “What are you doing today?”
“Grocery shopping. Duh.”
I rolled my eyes. “What are you doing afterward?”
“I’m hanging out at Josh’s place tonight.”
Well, shit. That hadn’t been the answer I was hoping to hear. The unfamiliar burn of jealousy lit inside me again.
“We’ll plan something soon, okay? Call me. And if you need to talk, about your dad or anything else, you can always call me for that too.” Then he pressed a quick kiss to my lips, jumped out of the truck, and ran in the rain toward Grant’s.
I was left there trying to figure out what just happened and wanting him back already.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Kellan
I had to get out of the truck before I said or did something I’d regret. I was going to kill him? He didn’t stand a chance? It was definitely the other way around, and it had been on the tip of my tongue to tell him right then and there that I’d been in love with him all my life and this might literally kill me. But if I had, I knew I wouldn’t be able to have him, and I wanted him so much, I was willing to risk getting my heart trampled on.
It was moments like these that I understood why Griff thought I made dumb decisions. I knew what I was doing would hurt me, but I didn’t have it in me to stop. I wanted Chase. If he wanted me, I was going to have him.
But for now…for now I had to try and go back to that adulting thing. I didn’t really have plans with Josh tonight, but I would make them now. See? I was attempting to make smart decisions. How easy would it have been to jump right into bed with Chase today? I could have not given myself time to think and prepare, but I wasn’t doing that. I was giving us a little bit of space to make sure we didn’t change our minds. Maybe I could handle this.
I was wet, miserable, half-hard, and uncomfortable, but I still did my grocery shopping. Back in the car, I texted Josh to invite myself over later that evening. Luckily for me, he loved me and was fine with it, then said he’d call Natalie over too.
Once I was back at home, I put the groceries away, then took my second shower of the day. I had my face mask on, when there was a knock on my bedroom door.
“I don’t know why you put that goop on your face,” Griff said when he came in.
“So I don’t ever look old like you?” I teased, and he flipped me off. “Don’t get mad at me because I know how to take care of my skin. I can give you some pointers. It might not be too late for you.” Griff was all rugged gruff—oh, hey, Griff the Gruff. That was cute.
“You’re a funny guy,” Griff replied, only I wasn’t joking. Still, I let it go because I was pretty sure my brother was a lost cause. “You seem happier than you were this morning.”
Because I kissed your best friend and we’re going to start a friends-with-benefits relationship even though I love him and it might kill me. Don’t hate us, ’kay?
Of course, I didn’t let loose the truth running around inside my brain. Instead, I said, “It was the hangover. I feel better now.”
“Are you going out tonight?”
“Is it any of your business?”
I could see he realized he overstepped. It wasn’t that it mattered if Griff knew when I was going out—well, minus the Chase thing—but I knew his dad voice when I heard it, and that’s exactly what he’d used to speak to me.
“You’re right. Fine. I’m going to go hang out with Chase for a bit, take advantage of a day off.”
Automatically I turned away, pretending it was to check my mask, which was already cracking because I couldn’t shut my mouth. “Good for you. You deserve to go have fun with your friend.”
“Yeah, it’s good to have him back. He’s more like a brother to me than a friend, which obviously you know since he’s like one to you too. I missed the dumbass.”
If by brother, he meant dude I wanted to fuck, then yes, that was what Chase was to me, but I didn’t think Griff meant that, and ew, on thoughts of fucking and brothers in the same sentence. “I know you did.” I wet a washcloth and began taking off the mask, without letting myself look at Griffin.
Guilt tumbled around in my chest. I hated lying to Griff. A lie by omission was still a lie, but Chase and I were grown-ass men. We were allowed to fuck around if we wanted to, but Griffin would never understand it. He would worry about me and get angry with Chase. It would come between them, which I’d known, but thinking it made the guilt turn thicker and heavier. This was a bad idea. Why did this have to be such a bad idea?