Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 48146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 160(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 160(@300wpm)
“I think that’s because it’s all new for him.”
Christ, his kisses alone were enough to make me melt.
“Has it happened more than once?”
“Yeah.” I bit my lip and looked away. “But I helped him set up Grindr so he could figure it out.”
I could feel Lark staring at me. “Do you like being with him?”
“Sure, it’s hot.” Smoking hot. “And he can be sweet.”
Even romantic, which he didn’t seem to realize. That was why I called bullshit. He’d be mortified if he knew how he sounded sometimes.
“I can’t believe we’re actually talking about the same person.”
I chuckled as I shut my locker. “Right?”
“But thinking back on it, there’s been sexual tension between you for a while—all that competitiveness and banter last year.”
“No way. I never even thought about him like that until recently.”
“So you do like being with him!”
“I’ve enjoyed the hookups, nothing else. No way would Bones be a guy you’d get serious about.” At least…it felt better telling myself that. “Besides, I’m not looking for anything more than casual.”
“Why not?” He zipped up his bag.
“He literally has never dated anyone before. And I don’t have the time.”
“There’s always a first.”
“Yeah, and I’m sure the future guy or girl he ends up with will reap the benefits.” I rolled my eyes, but my stomach felt uncomfortable even thinking about it.
“Whatever you say. Catch you later.”
After band practice, Jonah and I ate dinner, and then I headed to my room, where I nearly collided with Bones, who was going out the door in his best jeans and smelling good. Had he bought new cologne?
“Where are you off to?”
He fidgeted. “I took your advice. I’m meeting someone I found on the app.”
My stomach dropped, but I plastered on a smile anyway. “Good for you! Don’t worry, I won’t stalk and cock-block you like you did me.”
“I’d probably deserve it.” He backed out of the room and shut the door.
I stood there momentarily dazed, asking myself why I was feeling woozy. Was I only being overprotective, like he’d been that night? Or was it something else?
I convinced myself this was good, especially since it would give him variety and a chance to figure out what he wanted and liked.
I pulled out my laptop to finish homework but could barely concentrate. I couldn’t help thinking about what he was doing with some random guy.
God, I was losing it. It wasn’t like we were dating. In fact, I had explicitly made our boundaries clear.
I finally got settled listening to music on my headphones, and about an hour later, I heard the key in the door.
“Honey, I’m home,” Bones said as he swept inside. He hadn’t brought the guy back here with him, had he?
But no, he was alone. “You dork!”
I watched as he slipped out of his shoes, wondering if it had been a record-breaking hookup. “You good?”
“Yeah, of course. Did you think you’d have to organize a search party to find my body?”
I huffed out a laugh. “I…I’m glad it went well for you.”
“It actually didn’t.” He sat on his bed. “If I’m being honest, I just couldn’t do it.”
“Hey, you didn’t have to do anything.” I set my computer aside, feeling guilty that I’d urged him to meet people. “You could’ve just talked.”
“We did talk, and I…kept drumming up more questions to throw at him so we didn’t have to…” He blew out a breath. “I didn’t even want to kiss him.”
“That’s okay. Not all guys are kissable.”
“But see, that’s the problem. Kissing has always felt like a means to an end—to get off and have fun in the process.” He threaded his fingers through his hair. “I’ve never had this issue with the women I’ve hooked up with. I mean, not really.”
“What issue?”
“It seems that I only feel comfortable…” He angled his head toward the ceiling and shut his eyes. “I only feel like kissing you.”
The butterflies in my stomach began furiously flapping their wings. “Ugh, what am I gonna do with you?”
His features went soft and sort of shy as he met my gaze. “Kiss me back?”
He looked so earnest. How could I resist?
“Come here.” I held out my hand.
He came willingly as our fingers knotted together. “Don’t worry, I’m well aware this is only a hookup.”
“A kissing hookup?” I joked.
“Uh-huh.”
Christ, why was he so sweet?
We got comfortable against my pillows, turned toward each other, and as soon as his lips met mine, I just melted into him. God, his lips were addicting. He was so gentle and eager, and I had no idea how long we stayed that way with our lips joined and our hands in each other’s hair. But my lips were swollen and my tongue felt bruised when we finally came up for air.
“Wanna watch our show and then make out some more?” he asked.
“Sounds good, but only if we can add facials to the mix.”