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)
Marcus flipped me off.
“He said you intrigue him?” Corbin asked.
“Yes, though I’m sure that’s just because I wouldn’t hook up or go out with him for the past year. The novelty will wear off.”
“What about the emotional stuff?” Declan grabbed lunch meat, cheese, and mayo from the fridge I’d left open and began making me a sandwich.
“There is no emotional stuff. I don’t like him that way. Sure, we’re friends now, but I don’t want to fall for him. He’s still weird about love, and if he were to fall, it wouldn’t be for me.”
“Did that motherfucker say that?” Marcus growled.
“What? No. I did.”
The corners of his lips turned down in a frown.
“Why wouldn’t he fall for you? He’d be lucky to have you,” Corbin said.
“All I’m saying is that it won’t happen. Anyway, we said we’ll have to be honest and talk to each other, blah, blah, blah.” I shrugged. “I think I’m gonna do it.”
“Date him or fuck him?” Dec handed my food over.
“Both. Besides, it’s not really dating. It’s like…sex with a side of friendship and social gatherings.”
“While telling the world you’re married,” Dec summed up.
“Technically, we are married.” I held up my hand, reminding him.
Marcus said, “I think you should go for it. You’re clearly interested, and you’re a grown-ass man who can handle his thoughts and feelings.”
“Thanks, Marcus.” I smiled. “But I’m not interested.”
“Yeah, sure. Okay,” Marcus replied.
“I think you should go for it too,” Corbin added.
“Because he’s hot?”
“No. Contrary to what you three believe, I don’t only care about sex and looks.” The thing was, I knew he really didn’t. I thought maybe Corbin had the lowest self-esteem of us all. “But also because of that, yes.” He grinned, hugging me. “I love you, and you deserve to have fun. If you think fucking and dating this guy will be fun, then you should do it.”
“I love you too.” I kissed his cheek, then gave my attention to Declan.
He groaned, rubbing a hand over his forehead.
“Dec…” I said sweetly, knowing he couldn’t deny me. “You know I can’t do this without your support.”
“Yeah, come on, Dec.” Corbin wrapped an arm around him.
Declan sighed. “I’m going on record saying I think this is a bad idea, but I love you, and if you want to date your husband, you should.”
I laughed. “This is so weird.”
Declan ignored that. “We should officially meet him if you’re dating.”
“No!” I shook my head. “That makes it more real. This is just another part of our temporary, six-month agreement.”
Declan sighed again but didn’t argue. He wrapped me in a tight hug, and I burrowed into his chest. Corbin loved hugs, so I wasn’t surprised when he joined. He hug-tugged us to Marcus, pulling him into the group, despite his grumbling, “Why does everything end in a hug?”
“You love it,” I told him.
“Lies.”
“But you do love us,” Corbin added.
He couldn’t deny that.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Elliott
I should leave the house. There was no reason to sit around at home all day, but I did. Not because of Parker, though. It was my day off. Relaxing was a good thing. Why did I need to leave when I had everything I needed at home? Sitting around and waiting for a guy wasn’t how I worked, and again, it wasn’t what I was doing now.
When I heard the doorknob twist, I didn’t look up from my laptop, which sat on the table in front of me.
“Oh, you’re cooking dinner?” Parker asked when he came inside. Did he live with the podcast guys on Sundays? He’d been there practically all day.
“Yep. You forgot to say Hi, honey, I’m home.” I let my gaze wander over to him.
“I didn’t mean for me. I meant cooking in general. Smells good!”
I laughed, and Parker gave me a scowl I was pretty sure was supposed to be angry but just adorably squished up his baby face. “I’m cooking for you too, beautiful. I was giving you shit. It just sounded very husbandly when you came in.” I leaned back in my chair, watched as he set a box from Beach Buns on the counter. “Go into work after the podcast?” Before and after? My baker was a workaholic.
“Yeah, I went with Declan. It’s been a bit hectic today. Paparazzi have been camping outside Driftwood lately, which is frustrating for him. That’s his bar. I’m not sure if I told you that. And Corbin was forcing Marcus to go to the indoor driving range with him, but the last time we all tried that, I almost hit Marcus with my golf stick.” He grabbed a glass from the cabinet and got himself some ice water.
“Club.”
“Am I supposed to care?” He scrunched his face again, and I snickered.
“Nope.”
Had he thought about my proposition from last night? I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I’d gone to my room, wondering what the fuck I’d been thinking, why I’d asked to date my husband, but then I decided I didn’t fucking care. That’s what I was trying to get him to do, right? Let go and have fun? I wasn’t doing the same thing if I obsessed about the why of it all.