“Going twice…”
Ripping my gaze away, I turned toward the exit, the sudden feeling of the sky falling making me practically run.
“Sold! To the lovely lady in the white dress!”
I let the door slam behind me, knowing the applause would cover most of the noise. Slumping back against the door, I heaved in a shuddering breath.
The ache in my lower body and even the whistle I desperately curled my hand around suddenly weren’t good enough. In this moment, they seemed like poor substitutions for the real thing. Memories of what was already over and might not come again.
I couldn’t convince myself those were just self-sabotaging thoughts, not when Emmett’s date had a face now. And an endorsement from his beloved daughter.
Yeah, paltry leftovers from a quickie bathroom hookup just weren’t enough, and I was done convincing myself otherwise.
Fuck this.
Fuck him.
What do you get when the man you love tells you he wants you, asks for time, and then does a dating auction even after you ask him not to?
Payback.
35
Elite Group Chat
Lars: Question. What exactly is a tampon tunnel?
Prism: *laugh emoji* x3
Win: You’re too innocent for these things, angel.
Wes: He isn’t innocent. He sleeps with you.
Rory: Can you believe the nerve of that girl? First Jamie and then Ry!
Madison: She definitely had it coming.
Jess: Ryan handled it, though.
Kruger: How come when I call Jess my wife, everyone has something to say, but when Ryan refers to his girl as missus, everyone swoons?
Ryan: Didn’t you hear? I’m a swim god.
Kruger: I ain’t religious, bro.
Prism: *praying hands emoji*
Lars: Seriously, what is it?
Rush: A giant pussy.
Lars: That explains why I didn’t know.
Wes: Why’s that?
Lars: ‘Cause I prefer dick.
Prism: *laugh emoji*