Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 50801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
I don’t push her for clarity, my mind coming up with plenty of scenarios why a guy like him would drop the fake nice-guy act he adopted.
“Fuck him,” I say.
Monroe’s laugh is loud and raw and sinks beneath my skin in a way that makes my entire chest fill with pride. I love making her laugh like that.
She covers her mouth as if that will hide the boisterous sound.
“Right, fuck him,” she says through her laughter. “I love you,” she continues.
“Love you too.” The phrase is natural between us, even if the meaning behind it is totally different for me than it is for her, but I’m okay with that. I accept it.
And I’ll keep accepting it.
Because not only is she my best friend, the one person I never want to lose…
She needs this. Needs the safe space my home offers in order to breathe.
And while it may be hard to live with her and keep my feelings a secret, her happiness is way more important than any of that.
I’ll just have to do a better job at hiding it.
The Queen’s Rum is a little slow tonight, and my friends and I are occupying a few tables near the miniature golf setup. There’s a comforting sort of quiet hum in the place that only adds to the lazy night we’re enjoying, and I can’t help but breathe out a sigh of relief at the easier pace.
During the season these get-togethers are always squeezed in between practices and games and workout sessions, the downtime a forced situation to help keep up morale. But in the off-season? There isn’t a rush. Sure, we’re all still staying in shape, Baylor more than any of us because he practically lives in the gym, but there aren’t as many restrictions as during the season.
Plus, watching Monroe laugh with Blakely, Reese, and Hadley where they lean against the bar definitely adds to the vibe. Fuck, she’s gorgeous, her black sparkly one-piece shorts and T-shirt thing showing off her long legs and smooth skin. Her smile is the real show-stopper, enough to have my breath catching. I’m just glad she’s having a good time after everything she’s been through, but she’s resilient, something I’ve always admired about her.
“So,” Nash says from where he sits to my left. “Are you really okay?”
I furrow my brow, tearing my eyes away from Monroe across the bar, glancing at my friends. Nash, Lawson, and Baylor are looking at me with raised brows.
“What do you mean?” I ask, utterly confused.
Nash rolls his eyes, glancing at Lawson.
“With Monroe living with you?” Lawson clarifies.
“Yeah,” Baylor adds. “Isn’t that hard since you’re like in lov—”
“She’s just my—”
“Friend,” the three say in unison, cutting over me.
“We know,” Nash says. “Doesn’t mean we aren’t going to check in with you.”
“Awww,” I say dramatically. “You guys.” I roll my eyes, laughing with the rest of them at my mocking.
“Seriously though,” Lawson presses. “Isn’t it torture? If Blakely had needed to move in with me for any reason when we were ‘just friends’ I would’ve been in fucking agony.”
“I’m not you,” I say, even though I’m certain they can see through my bullshit. But what do they want me to say? It’s not like I’m going to sit here and wax poetic about something that can never happen. If I keep the truth locked up tight, I’m the only one who has to deal with the pain it causes. And I want to keep it that way, for both our sakes.
“All right,” Nash says, taking a sip of his beer before glancing at the bar where Reese is saying something to Monroe. “I have about five minutes left in me, then I’m going to break up that girls party if they’ll let me.”
Lawson laughs. “Five? I’m drifting toward two.”
“Fuck it,” Nash says, setting down his drink. “Let’s just go now and see if we can steal them away.”
“You two are ridiculous,” Baylor says, shaking his head. “But I respect it.”
Lawson and Nash scoot back from the table, and Nash claps a hand on Baylor’s shoulder. “Just you wait,” he says. “You’ll look just as desperate whenever you fall for someone.”
“Becoming totally wrapped up in someone else isn’t on my agenda,” Baylor says, laughing as he takes a drink of his soda water.
“What have I missed?” Hadley, Nash’s little sister, asks as she heads over to our table, looking more refreshed than usual. Before she graduated a month ago, she’d always been exhausted, busting her ass in college to graduate early, while we’d been busy busting it on the ice. It’s nice to see her getting a break.
“Half the night, kid,” Nash says, giving his sister a quick hug. “You staying for a while?”
“Yeah,” she says, claiming the seat next to Baylor that Nash just vacated. “I’m starving, and I don’t have research papers or essays taking up all my time anymore. I’m free.”