Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
I was so humiliated as I walked toward them, knowing it was unavoidable for me to be around Devon right now, even though that was the last thing I wanted. I wanted to hide my head in the sand, lock myself away, and hope the mortification faded. Which I had a strong feeling it wouldn’t. Ever.
When I stepped into the foyer, Braxton and Devon both looked at me, the conversation suddenly ceasing, the air thickening, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Devon cleared his throat and shifted on his feet, but he let his gaze lock on me. Braxton gave me a warm smile, one showing he had absolutely no idea what the hell actually happened last night.
“Damn, you look just as bad as Devon here. Long night, huh?” Braxton was all laughs this morning, it seemed.
Devin cleared his throat and shifted on his feet a little bit, and I glanced over at him to see this tight expression on his face. I probably looked the same way. And even though he seemed uncomfortable, he was looking at me as if he couldn’t take his focus from my face.
He lifted his hand and rubbed the back of his neck, and I looked at that scruff on his cheeks and jaw, remembering how it felt on the side of my face, along my throat as he trailed kisses down the sensitive skin. And more importantly right between my thighs. And as those thoughts crossed my mind, conjuring up memories, causing my inner muscles to clench, I felt warm down there, my body heating, the flesh on my inner thighs so sensitive as I felt the slight abrasion from his five o’clock shadow.
God, I was getting worked up, when that was the last thing I should be feeling.
“Okay, well, are you guys ready to go?” Braxton asked.
I was quick to act, walking over to where my shoes and purse were. I didn’t even remember seeing them down there. But I sure as hell remembered everything after that.
Once we were in Braxton’s car, I took the backseat, and Devon thankfully took the front. Right now, I needed some distance between us. I was embarrassed, things were weird, and I just needed to wrap my head around everything. But I didn’t miss how he kept glancing at me. I didn’t miss that it was very clear by the way he looked at me he wouldn’t let this go, that he wanted to talk about it.
That was the last thing I wanted.
He’d been my best friend for years, and although I did care for him, the truth was I was in love with him. He didn’t know that, and us having sex last night wasn’t exactly like a giant neon sign had been flashed about it.
It had been two consenting adults enjoying the pleasure of each other. Right? Only that.
But I kept thinking about us actually sitting down and talking, him telling me how it had been a mistake. And that’s what I didn’t want to hear; that’s what I was so afraid of. Devon telling me it had been a horrible mistake, when it had felt so right and so good to me.
Before too long, we were pulling into the parking lot at the bar. I told Braxton thanks and got out quickly, just wanting to get home and shower, maybe try to sleep off this hangover. Maybe after that, I’d feel more refreshed, clearheaded. Or maybe I’d feel even worse. Maybe once my hangover subsided, I’d really feel like shit over the whole sleeping with my best friend thing.
I didn’t look back as I heard the car door open and close, presumably Devon getting out. I was hauling ass to my car, digging in my purse for my keys, and praying that I could just get out of here before a confrontation happened. And I knew that was going to happen.
“Leila?” Devon called out from behind me. I heard Braxton’s car departing, the sound of his vehicle leaving becoming more distant. “Hey, Leila?” Devon called out again, and I was right beside my door now.
I closed my eyes, breathing out roughly, my car keys still in my hand. I didn’t want to leave like this, being a bitch and ignoring him, but what else was I supposed to do? How else was I supposed to react?
I forced myself to turn around and face him, swallowing a thick lump in my throat. He had this pained expression on his face, and it cut me deep, tore out my heart so there was this hollowness, this dark pit that took its place.
“Hey,” he said and stopped a few feet from me. “Were you just gonna leave without saying goodbye?” He shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans, and this silence descended on us.