Page 69 of Released from the Sin Bin

“I don’t get it.” She looks up at the ceiling as I sit next to her. “He’ll sleep with anyone willing, but he barely looks my way, no matter how hard I flirt with him.”

“Wait.” I stop to think it over and figure out what she’s saying. “Do you like Carter?” How did I not know?

She never told me this. This is something a best friend should know, isn’t it?

We are definitely not hooking up anymore.

“I thought it was obvious.” She shakes her head. The long caramel blonde strands twist in her hand as she pulls them back. “I’m constantly flirting with him, but he hasn’t gotten the hint. I was thinking of asking him out. Do you think he’ll go for that?”

“Jocelyn.” I should just tell her. Rip the band aid off and tell her. It’s not my fault, I didn’t know. This is the first I’m hearing that my best friend has a crush on the guy I’ve slept with. If I’d known, I would’ve never asked him to do that. Dammit. “He sleeps around a lot.” That isn’t a lie. She needs to be warned first. “He uses those women. He doesn’t care about them.”

“If he’s such a bad guy, why are you hanging out with him?” She got me there.

“I am friends with him, but I’m not trying to date him. And he’s not that bad of a guy. He’s very misunderstood.” Defending him is not helping. I don’t want him to treat Jocelyn like those other girls.

“But maybe he’ll like me, right?” She laughs and rubs a hand down her face. “I’m crazy. I know, but I really, really like him.”

Oh god, I think I’m going to be sick.

“How ‘bout this?” This is the worst idea ever, but I can’t, not try. “I’ll talk to him. We can try to set up a date or I’ll feel him out and hype you up. You can hang out with us too!”

Such a bad, bad idea. But what if she’s right? What if Jocelyn is the girl for him to change his evil ways? Who am I to get in the middle of that?

“Really?” She jumps out of her chair with a huge grin and wraps me up in a tight hug. “Thanks Willa! You’re the best.”

We’ll see about that. He better not hurt her or I will kick his ass. But then again, me kicking his ass will only turn him on.

How did I get myself into this mess?

Chapter 16

Carter

Mom: Everything is fine here.

Fine.

Nothing is ever really fine, but if I go there to find out, it’ll just make it worse. She begged me not to go home today, but I hate that she won’t tell me if he hurts her. She’ll hide it and sweep it under the rug with all the other dirty family secrets.

Gentry flies down the steps of our basement, and tosses his bag down, then plummets face first into his bed.

I’m lying on my bed next to his, tossing the stress ball I stole from Hines up toward the ceiling. Whistling a tune I had stuck in my head since earlier. The guys are setting up for a party, and it sounds like a stampede running through the kitchen above us.

“Why are you in such a good mood?” Gentry peeks out from his pillow to look at me.

“I’m not.” I wasn’t in the best mood, but oddly, getting a taste of Willa and then jerking off took away a lot of that stress I was holding onto. It was either that or talking to her about it. Getting it off my chest, and her giving me support, would make me feel better.

Nah, it was definitely her pussy.

“Whatever.” Gentry rolls onto his back. “Romy still won’t talk to me.”

It’s been on and off with his ex, Romy, since his first year here.

“Probably because you fucked someone else and got caught with your pants down,” I state.

Gentry lifts and quickly throws a ball from his nightstand, knocking mine out midair.

“Fuck you, I didn’t fuck that girl.” He sits up with his head in his hands. “I know I didn’t.”

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