Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
"No. No sex. We made out in public so Eddie would know I'm moving on."
"Oh…so Travis is your rebound date."
"Revenge date." I correct her, and she blinks in surprise.
"And Elias and Dornan?"
"Revenge dates." I crack open my soda and take a long drink of the sweet, fizzy liquid.
"Revenge sex?"
My cheeks heat before I can reply, and the grin that splits Gabriella's face is enough to tell me it's pointless to deny it. "Revenge sex is hot."
"Jeez, Celine. I mean, Elias, I understand. You've been there already. A repeat of a one-night stand is easy. But Dornan. He's a friend. Wasn't it weird?"
"Strangely no," I admit. "It was…"
She holds her hands out before I can finish. "I'm not sure I want to know. If you tell me something that makes it hard for me to look at him, he'll know we've been discussing his sexual prowess."
I shrug, twisting off a piece of bread and popping it into my mouth. "I can keep it all to myself." I probably should have from the start.
Gab glances at the ceiling like she's searching for celestial intervention. When she's inhaled and exhaled a deep breath, she fixes me with her angelic blue eyes. "It's weird as fuck, but you have to tell me everything."
"We went on a date to Blue Bar, then he showed me a good time."
Gabriella shakes her head. "Do you seriously think you'll get away with giving me that limited summary?"
I tip my head to the side and purse my lips to stop the smile that's threatening. "It was so good. And not weird at all until it was over. Then, there was this moment when I thought he was going to tell me he wants more."
"He didn't?"
I shake my head. "He knows the score. He knows we're just messing around playing games to show Eddie how easily I'm getting over his ass."
Gab's mouth tightens, and she looks around at the other occupied tables surrounding us. Leaning in closer, she lowers her voice. "I heard Eddie's dating already."
My heart makes a weird squeezing pulse in my chest. "The one he cheated on me with?"
"Abbey Swanson."
"Abbey?" What the fuck? He didn't cheat on me with her, or maybe he did. Maybe he was dicking three of us around at the same time.
"Yeah. I overheard one of his jock buddies commiserating over the fact that Abbey's now off the market. Apparently, Eddie's taking her to that fancy new restaurant, Eclet, the day after tomorrow."
"Nice." My face feels hot, and the back of my neck is cold.
So much for showing Eddie. He's already replaced me with someone most guys at this university would regard as a ten.
I lower what's left of my sandwich to the plate, my hunger replaced by a wave of nausea.
"Hey." Gab places her hand on my arm. "Eddie's the king of the douches, Celine. A fleck of dick cheese. Just forget about him. Focus on the good things in your life."
That's easy for her to say. She's got three men who love her. What have I got? Two men who can fuck like gods, and one who told me I was trying to bandage my wounds with sex. I've got some sexy photos on Instagram and some hot memories. None of it keeps me warm at night or makes this terrible sinking feeling disappear.
But I know what will. Turning up at Eclet with three of the sexiest men in this town and showing Eddie that I've beat him three times over.
Elias will come, and Dornan. Travis's parting words were that he's there for me if I need him. Well, I need him now.
"You're plotting something." Gab narrows her kohl-rimmed eyes at me, tucking her hair behind her ear and leaning closer. "Tell me."
"What do you think about me turning up at Eclet with Elias, Dornan, and Travis?"
"I think it's unnecessary."
Leaning back in my chair, I focus on my plate. "It feels necessary to me."
"Well, then you should do it…if they agree." When I meet her gaze, it's filled with concern. "I'm just worried about you, sweetie. You're not acting like yourself. Half the time you were with Eddie, you were moaning about him and trying to find ways to escape the relationship."
"Exactly. But that's what I wanted when it was on my terms. None of what's happened has been on my terms."
"So, you don't want him back?"
I screw up my nose in disgust. "No. Ewww."
"You just want to prove that you're unaffected by what he's done?"
"Moving on to bigger and better things."
"And do you have feelings for Elias or Dornan…or Travis?" It's her turn to wrinkle her nose at her brother's name.
I think about how it felt to be in Elias's and Dornan's arms and the soft way Travis spoke to me about not wanting to hurt me. None of it could be labeled as feelings, but I'm not dead inside. They're gorgeous men who are caring enough to bother wanting to help me out. I enjoyed my time with them, even when Travis was trying to do what he thought was the right thing. He challenged me, and I like that.