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)
Dornan tears his attention away from his dad and waves. "See you there."
Marie is home, and Lonie is asleep in the car seat. I help my sister lift Lonie out and take the bag into the house. "How was your day?"
She nods with an expression of serenity that hadn't been present this morning. The miracles of a spa day. "The game?"
"They won."
"That's great."
"I'm going out for celebration pizza," I say.
"Followed by celebration group sex?"
"What?" Aiden sticks his head around the living room door into the hallway.
"Nothing." Marie waves him off, then presses her fingers over her lips. "Shit. Sorry."
"It's okay." I kiss Lonie's sweet forehead, but she nuzzles into her momma's neck, no longer interested in me now that her best buddy has returned.
I say my goodbyes and drive to the pizza place Dornan suggested, finding Dornan, Elias, and Travis waiting at a table. They must have gotten hungry because the table is already dominated by three tire-sized pizzas, already missing a few slices.
"Hey, Celine. Dig in."
Sliding next to Travis, I don't waste any time. The first bite is a slice of heaven and pepperoni. "Oh my god," I moan around my mouthful. "This is like the best kind of sex."
"I like pizza, but I could never compare it to sex." Travis shakes his head. "Especially not the kind of sex we've had."
"Ahh…" I rest my hand on his arm, flattered, even though it's a strange compliment.
"Eddie wasn't happy." Elias wipes his mouth on a serviette and tosses it onto the table.
"I don't give a fuck about Eddie."
His eyebrows rise with disbelief. "Really. Then what are we all still doing here?"
"It's called hanging out for a beer. You know, socializing with friends."
"Friends?"
Elias doesn't say, 'you're not my friends', but his comment comes out that way. I don't rise to it, though, because the truth is that he wouldn't be here if he didn't want to be. He likes this as much as the rest of us.
"You did good today, Elias. That play was insane."
He studies me, and I see the flicker of uncertainty in his expression. He was expecting me to bite back, but instead, I gave him a compliment. He's trying to work out if it's genuine. I get the feeling he isn't used to positive affirmations.
"I did what any other player would do."
"She's right." Dornan drops his half-chewed crust and picks up another loaded slice. "The drills you've been working on with Coach paid off."
"I wish I'd been able to watch," Travis says. "Sounds like a great game."
"It really was," I tell him. "It really was."
For the rest of the evening, we eat and talk, and Elias goes from being a grumpy bear to sharing our laughter. Travis tells us funny stories about his time at college and even funnier ones about his antics with his neighbor's best friends—Gabriella's boyfriends—and their mission to tease Gabriella mercilessly.
Dornan shares many embarrassing tales from high school when he was a geeky, skinny dude who had to struggle to grow into his Adam's apple. I can't imagine it, but there you go.
I show them one of my high school pictures, and they laugh their heads off at my crazy, frizzy orange halo hair and weird heart-embroidered jeans.
Elias laughs and jokes, but it's not until I'm home and in bed that I realize he never told us a thing about himself.
17
ELIAS
It's seven pm, and I'm stretched out on my bed in my boxers, catching up with game highlights when my phone rings. Celine's name flashes on my screen.
"Whatup?"
She snorts. "Is that your way of saying hello?"
"Are you calling to bust my balls, or do you want something?"
"Nice." The accompanying huffing sound makes me smile. "I need your help."
"This is becoming a habit, Celine. Have you forgotten I'm not your boyfriend?"
"Ugh. Elias. Seriously. You are not boyfriend material. But you are my fuck buddy, and as far as I can tell, you enjoy our little games, so maybe you should listen instead of being snarky."
"Fuck buddy?"
"Friend with benefits? Booty call? What would you call it?"
"Pussy," I say, knowing it's going to piss her off. I like Celine when she's riled up. Plus, her snideness about my boyfriend abilities pisses me off.
"Fuck you."
"I'm nearly naked, Celine. If that's what you want, you know where I am."
Her frustrated growl amuses me so much I bring my fist to my mouth and bite down. After a few seconds of pause and a few audible deep breaths, she changes tack.
"Please, Elias, can you help me with my class? My test is tomorrow."
"Come over, but I'm warning you now. I'm not putting on any clothes." I cup my dick which has stirred and stiffened at the words pussy and naked. It’s so easily aroused.
"I can't. I'm at my sister's babysitting again. Aiden's mom is in the hospital, so they've both visited."