Page 72 of Hart Breaker

I yawn and do a cat stretch as I roll to my side, then cozy up, hugging the pillow, inhaling the linen covering it to see if I can still smell him.

I can.

When my bed dips, I open my eyes and see Lauren grinning at me.

“So, how did it go?”

“Started awkwardly and ended that way, too.”

“Bullshit,” she says, pointing at me. “You have a hickey on your neck.”

What the hell? I cup my neck. “I didn’t say the time in-between was.”

“So, let me guess, you were pissy when he showed up, he calmed you with his charms—and by charms, I mean penis—and then he tried to big spoon you, and you pushed him away?” she asks as she lays on what is basically her side, looking at me like it’s story time.

Fine, I think, I’ll cave.

“No big spoon. He asked me to go to Jersey with him and Boone to some party his sister is throwing tomorrow night.”

“Why is that weird?” She pulls the covers over her and hunkers down.

“I have a job. I have to work.”

“Is it just for the weekend?” she asks. “Because we have plenty of people on.”

“He’s leaving here at five in the morning and said they’d be back by the time the Cowboys and Philly play. Not worth it.” I yawn.

“You’re an idiot if you don’t go. And before you start arguing, I’m going to want time to do things like that, too, and if you feel bad about leaving for a night or two, then I will. Don’t do that shit to me.” She pushes off the bed and heads to my closet. “Message him and tell him you’re in.”

“Not happening.”

“Do this for me. I need you to because, Ry, I need to lose this fucking V-card one day, and I think I’ve found the perfect peen.”

“Oh my God, who is it?”

She walks out of my closet with my overnight bag. “I’ll tell you when you get back.”

“That’s bullshit.” I scowl.

“It is what it is.”

As she digs through my closet, she yells out, “Get to texting.”

Grabbing my phone, I grumble, “If this goes sideways, I’m blaming you.”

“Not going to lose any sleep over it since I blew off a certain someone for a year and a half because I didn’t want Hart to think I was a Jersey chaser.”

I sit up. “What? Who?”

“Not going there, so what does it matter? Send the damn text.”

Me:

Still not ready for a relationship, but I wouldn’t mind getting out of BV for a night. But I’m getting a room.

I watch as his dots jump back and forth a few times, and then …

Unknown:

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