Page 51 of A Sky Full Of Stars

I need to get out of here.

Grabbing a bottle of whiskey from my old teammate Nate’s hiding place under the sink, I storm out the front door, leaving behind all my belongings, my sure thing of a threesome, and the past.

Fuck this, fuck Dylan, and fuck fake Lainey. I’m out.

Lainey steps closer, her breath warming my skin as she runs the tips of her fingers over my bare chest. My muscles jump under her light touch, and it takes all of my power not to reachfor her. Clenching my fists at my side, my throat bobs as I watch her glide her hand lower until she reaches my jeans, her fingers disappearing under the waistband.

I stifle a groan as my cock twitches, desperate for her to take me in her hand but also knowing I shouldn’t let her.

“Lainey, I—”

A loud noise wakes me, and a pain radiates through my head, intensely throbbing to a beat.

It takes a second for me to open my eyes, but when I do, I groan. I have no idea where I am, and there’s a random blonde next to me. Her curly hair tickles my arm, and even though I’m fully clothed, I feel nauseous. In fact…

Fuck.

I run to the bathroom just in time to expel the contents of my stomach, and when I stand again, I almost fall as my head spins.

After a quick shower, I redress and stare at myself in the mirror, hating the reflection staring back at me. A gift pack of toiletries draws my attention, and I release a slow breath when I recognize the name of the hotel on the label. Forest Falls Hotel, Heartwood.At least I’m close to my family home.Grabbing the hotel marked toothbrush, I brush my teeth before walking back into the main room, rudely opening the curtain to wake up my guest. Or am I her guest?God, I have no clue.

Either way, she doesn’t stir.

“Hey,” I call out from the foot of the bed, shaking the sheet to rouse her.Still nothing.“Wake the fuck up!” I’m so loud that she startles and falls off the bed. Also fully clothed. And the relief hits me. Even more so when the woman turns around and I recognize her as one of the Heartwood U cheerleaders.Not that I remember talking to her at all last night. “Bethany, I didn’t realize it was you.”

Anger flashes across her face as she stands. “Are you kidding me, Thomas?” she seethes. “Why’d you have to yell?”

“You wouldn’t wake up. What was I supposed to do?”

“Leave.”

My brow furrows as she gives me pause.Why didn’t I think of that?

“Good point. I’m off. You’re welcome to go back to sleep. Do I need to pay for the room?”

Bethany huffs out a laugh. “I knew you wouldn’t remember; you were a mess last night. You already paid. For two nights, so if you’re not staying here, I am.”

I look around the room and shiver. Even when I wasn’t earning good money, I wouldn’t have stayed here. “It’s all yours. Enjoy.” After grabbing my jacket, wallet, and phone, I walk to the door, only stopping when I’m halfway out. “Did we?” I gesture between the two of us, the thought nauseating me once more.

“Nope. You—”

“Good to know.”

When I get downstairs, I find my truck in the parking lot and hope to God that it was Bethany that drove it, grateful it’s here in one piece. Only, I have a problem… no keys. I pat my pockets and check my tires in case I stupidly hid them there like I did when I was younger, but again nothing. I’m just about to head back inside when they land at my feet, and when I look up, I catch Bethany rolling her eyes as she leans out the window.

“I should have kept them. Nice truck.”

I almost tell her she can have it. She obviously did me a solid by helping me out last night, but at the same time, I need transport and I love this truck.

“Thanks, Bethany, I owe you one.”

“Just introduce me to Ryker one day.”

Ryker. Typical. He’s one of our tight ends and an underwear model. You know those ads where they may as well be naked because you can seeeverything. Yeah, that’s him.

“Come to our next San Francisco game. I’ll see what I can do.”

I don’t bother waiting for her response, but I hear her excited shriek as I jump in my truck, and the sound stays with me as I drive away, echoing through my head.

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