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)
“Wanna make out?” she asked Bones, loud enough for everyone around them to hear. My stomach sloshed as I watched their interaction, vaguely wondering if I should call off the bet and find out who she came with.
Little did I expect my roommate to have similar thoughts. Bones placed his hands on her shoulders to ward off her advances. “I think you’ve had too much to drink. We should find your friends.”
My gaze met his over her shoulder, and his eyes turned a stormy, turbulent gray, heavy as steel. I couldn’t seem to tear my gaze from his, trying to read whatever was in his eyes—a mix of surprise and confusion?
When Deanna’s hands slid up the front of his shirt, he sidestepped her, and she nearly fell over. His arm curled around her waist as he helped her to the sliding glass door that led to the bonfire outside. “Let’s get you some fresh air.”
“She might want some water,” I said, springing into action.
I grabbed a plastic cup and went to the sink, grappling with the fact that I suddenly saw Bones in a different light. He actually cared and was doing something kind instead of treating her like a means to an end.
I felt like a bit of a hypocrite because I’d probably believed every rumor I’d heard about him being a player just because he liked to be out and have a good time. Maybe he deserved the benefit of the doubt now that I knew him better. Maybe there was more to him than football, beer, and so much false bravado you could choke on it—and the latter was somehow tied to his brother. I just knew it.
I found Bones and Deanna outside, on a bench near the fire.
“Here you go.” She clumsily gripped the cup and downed the water.
“I think I’m gonna be sick.” She stumbled toward the bushes and puked her guts out. Luckily, the friends she’d come with finally appeared, and Bones explained the situation.
“Let’s get you back to the dorm,” one of them said, helping her across the lawn to the front yard.
“Thank you,” another friend said over her shoulder.
We stood there quietly, watching them go.
“That was cool of you,” I said.
“What do you mean?” His eyebrows drew together. “She was drunk. You didn’t honestly think I’d try to follow through with—”
“No, no, of course not,” I said, though I’d initially had reservations. I was glad they hadn’t panned out. Not that I’d thought he would take advantage of her, just that I hadn’t expected him to be so…compassionate. “I’m just sorry it didn’t work out for you.”
“Don’t worry, the night is young.” He glanced toward the sliding glass door that led to the kitchen. “I won’t leave my other fans waiting.”
“Careful, you might trip over your own enormous head.”
This felt better, this normal banter between us. The moment before had felt too heavy, too real.
“Shouldn’t you be with your friends?” he mocked.
I gripped my chest. “I’m hurt. I thought you were my friend too.”
He poked my shoulder. “Ha, you finally admit it.”
“Admit what?” I took a step back.
“That you like me.”
I tried to hide my grin. “I’ll never admit it.”
“You normally hate your friends?” he teased.
“Shut it.” I huffed out a laugh. “Later, dork.”
I grinned all the way back inside the house, where I found my friends dancing in the living room. I couldn’t help moving my hips as I joined them. It just came naturally to us.
Into the second song, I caught Bones watching from the corner where he stood with Flash, Spencer, and A-Train. I could feel him scrutinizing me, his piercing gaze roaming my bare legs, up my gyrating hips, to the top of my head. There was a brief smirk when he zeroed in on my flamingo shirt, and I hammed it up for him, unwilling to admit that his curiosity was making my skin prickle with a strange awareness. I had no idea what was happening between us except for the fact that he was my straight roommate and friend. Wasn’t he?
When Melanie approached him, the same girl he’d hooked up with a couple of times last year, I knew it was time for me to get serious and win this bet.
I took a break while Leah stayed with other dance friends who’d shown up and Justin and Jessilyn moved to a quiet corner of the room to make out.
Bones was talking animatedly to Flash and Melanie while Spencer was pulled onto the dance floor by a pretty girl with red hair.
“You don’t dance?” I asked as I passed by them.
“Hell no.”
“All you gotta do is move your feet side to side.” I showed him for effect. Maybe that was why he’d been staring so intently earlier.
“Still a no.”
When Flash and A-Train started howling and motioning to a video they pulled up on one of their phones, we got jostled against the wall.