Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“I knew it!” Devon exclaims, slamming his hand on the counter. “Pay up, Noles. I called it ages ago.”
“Hey, why didn’t I get in on this wager?” Jude pipes up.
“Duh, because she’s your sister. Do you think we’d want you weighing in on this? Listen,” Devon says, turning to us, “Personally, I like the two of you together. Cute couple, you know? But, Kyler, Thea’s the best roommate we’ve ever had—”
“Hey!” the others protest indignantly, but Devon holds his hand up to silence them and continues.
“—and swear to God, if you fuck this up, then you’ll have not only Jude but me and Nolan to deal with.”
“Oh my God, are you kidding me?” I burst out laughing, “Are you seriously giving Kyler ‘The Talk’?” Looking over at Ky, I can see his hand is gripping the back of his neck as he looks at the floor, a small smile on his face. But I can tell by the redness on the tips of his ears he’s finding this conversation hard to deal with.
“We’re giving both of you the talk,” Nolan tells us, “because we love you guys, and you’re good together. And I gotta say, it’s a damn relief to have this in the open because you both suck at sneaking around.”
“Thanks, it means a lot, guys,” Kyler says, but he’s looking at me as he does so, the smile on his face growing bigger as he continues. It’s clear his next words are directed at me. “Because I really like us two together. And I’m not going to hurt you, I swear.”
“I really like us together too,” I repeat his words as I walk over to him and reach up to kiss him.
“Aw, I can’t deal with the cuteness,” Nolan swoons beside us, and we both laugh. “But Thea, you should know, you’re gonna have to endure the wrath of Millie because she is pissed she didn’t know about the two of you.”
Ah, crap. I knew I’d have to face Millie sooner rather than later. I guess I’ll need to find my big girl’s pants and soon.
“Are we done here?” Jude asks. “Because I need a run. And I evidently need to buy some earplugs.” Everyone laughs which causes my brother to flip us off as he leaves the kitchen. I quickly run after him because even though the house meeting turned out to be light-hearted, I still need to check whether he’s okay with Kyler and me being together.
“Jude, wait up!” I call out after him.
“Yeah?”
“You sure you’re okay with this? Me and Kyler?”
Jude pauses. “Are you happy?”
“Yes. I am,” I reassure him.
“And he treats you good?”
“He does.”
“Then that’s all that matters, T. I want you to be happy, and if you are, then I’m happy too.”
Jude leans in and gives me a hug which I return. Relief washes over me not only because I have his approval but also because Kyler and I no longer have to sneak around. Jude lets go and is about to open the front door when it bursts open, and we turn to find Millie standing there, with her hands on her hips, one foot tapping the floor vigorously.
“Thea Annabel Jenson, have you been holding out on me?”
“Good luck!” Jude whispers as he passes Millie, leaving me to deal with her.
A few hours later, I’m lying in my bed, trying to get a head start on my homework in preparation for Monday’s class. It turns out Millie was equally as happy as the others were about mine and Kyler’s relationship status and was just putting on an act by pretending she was annoyed. Apparently, the four of them concocted this morning’s little charade together, but as Millie so eloquently told me, the consensus is, thank fuck they don’t have to put up with the sexual tension between us anymore. I happen to agree with them. It may feel like a small thing but having my closest friends and my brother’s approval means the world to me. Of course, it also means we no longer have to sneak around, because apparently, we weren’t doing a very good job of it, by all accounts.
A soft knock sounds on the door, and I look up just as Kyler walks in, still wearing his sexy-as-fuck sweatpants. He lies down beside me, and I close my textbook and turn on my side to face him.
“You and Millie okay?” he asks, picking up a lock of my hair and playing with it. The leather band I gave him at Christmas is tied around his wrist. He admitted a few days ago he doesn’t take it off and it’s the most meaningful gift he’s ever received which, in turn, made my heart bloom.
“Yeah, we’re good. She’s happy for us.”
“I’m happy for us too. They took it pretty well, huh?”
“Honestly? I’m surprised at Jude’s reaction. I’d have thought he’d have more to say.” Kyler sits up a little, and I guess he knows more than he’s letting on.