Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
“I think people ask because everyone loves a good friends-to-lovers story,” I replied.
“Yes, but we’d kill each other.” Marcus wasn’t wrong. “And we’re not in love.”
“Marcus is my person, but no, we don’t have feelings for each other any more than Dec and Park did. Some relationships go deeper than romantic love and I feel like that’s us,” Corbin replied. “All of us.” Why was Corbin the sweetest ever?
“Agreed,” Marcus added, but Corbin clearly wasn’t done.
“You’re my ride or dies. My brothers from other mothers. My…someone help me. I can’t think of anything else.”
“Shut up, Corbin,” Declan, Marcus, and I all said in unison.
“I don’t know why you’re all so mean to me.” Corbin fake pouted.
We still had another forty or so minutes of the show left, so we continued on, mercilessly teased each other, and had a session of “Mimosas and Man-Talk,” which was where we discussed current events, pop culture, and I raved about Taylor Swift. Yes, I was that guy. Sue me.
As soon as we ended the session, three sets of eyes zeroed in on me, but it was Declan who asked, “How’s it really going? And Jesus, I can’t believe you met his family yesterday and didn’t tell us. What was that like?”
It had been hard to keep it to myself. When Dec had met me at Beach Buns that morning, I’d almost told him, but for whatever reason, I hadn’t.
“It was… Hell, it was actually perfect in every way other than the fact that it’s not real. I feel horrible that they think we’re in love.”
“Babe…it’s not your fault.” Declan wrapped an arm around my shoulder and kissed my temple.
“Yes, it is. I’m the one who messaged Elliott to hang out that night. I’m the one who started getting drunk first. I was there when we got married and when we agreed to lie to everyone about it.”
“But you’re not lying. You’re married to him,” Marcus said. “Did you tell them you were in love with him?”
“No.”
“Then you’re not lying. You’re married, and the two of you are dealing with it the best way you know how.”
Corbin said, “Except for the part where they lied about dating and all that—ouch!” He jerked away when Marcus thumped him on the forehead. “What? I’m keeping it real. Aren’t you the realist?” He rubbed the spot while looking at me. “Sorry, Park.”
“You don’t have to apologize. It’s true.” Aaaaand, I wasn’t going to get a better lead-in to dating than I had right now, so I just went with it. “I kissed Elliott last night, and then we frotted on the couch until we came all over each other, and then he asked me to date him. I’m hungry. I got up early and baked an incredible cappuccino cake but couldn’t eat it. Do you have anything?”
I stood and went for the studio door, followed by the sound of three chairs sliding out and three people rushing after me.
“Excuse me, what?” Declan asked.
“Is he a good kisser?” Corbin added.
“What the fuck, Corb?” Marcus cursed, and the two of them began arguing.
When we got to the kitchen, I said, “The plan wasn’t to tell you about the sex, but it just came out because oh my Goooood, we didn’t even do much, but it was really fucking good.”
“I thought you weren’t going to fuck around with him?” Declan watched me while I opened the fridge, making myself at home in Marcus’s house.
“I wasn’t going to…but he’s hot and I was horny and got all wrapped up in the day.”
“Sex is one thing,” Marcus said, “but did you miss the part where Elliott asked Parker to date him?”
Corbin laughed. “I love you, Park, but only you would get married to someone you don’t like and then start dating him afterward.”
“Thanks for that. I love you too.”
Corbin tapped his chest, then kissed his hand before pointing at me. “I got’chu.”
“I’m confused about the dating thing,” Dec said.
“Well…we had fun in Vegas…and then we went to the pier the other night and had a good time. After the sex-couch incident, he said he’s intrigued by me and thinks we should enjoy this marriage scheme and date, which I guess makes sense in some ways. He’s been trying to get into my pants for a year. We’re horny and live together and can’t fuck anyone else. This isn’t like dating someone where I think there’s a possibility we’re going to fall in love. This is orgasms between married people before we divorce.”
“But he didn’t just say he wanted to fuck you; he said he wanted to date you.” Marcus crossed his arms, the white tank top he wore stretching across the expanse of his darker skin.
I waved that off. “I know he just wants to have sex with me.”
“How?”
“Umm…what’s with you and all the questions today? Are you feeling okay?”