Page 10 of Mistle-Ho

There are lots of perks to having a tight-knit group of friends. There’s always someone to talk to. Always someone to go out to lunch with. We’ve known each other for over a decade, so I don’t have to dig into backstory when shit goes down, because they lived it right next to me. These girls have my back and are always ready to saddle up when I need sidekicks. And if I ever have to be bailed out of jail in the middle of the night, I have a whole list of options.

But they also know me really well. Well enough they can tell when I’ve got a secret.

“Oh, shit.” Wren’s lips curve into a smile, white teeth flashing against her dark skin. “You’re blushing. This must be really fucking juicy.”

I didn’t plan to tell them about what happened with Gavin. I didn’t plan to tellanyonewhat happened with Gavin. But I’m fighting myself over the whole thing, and I need someone to fight along with me, so a confession comes spilling out.

“I accidentally jacked Gavin off in the treehouse during my parents’ Christmas party.”

Silence.

My friends stare at me, mouths agape, as the seconds stretch out.

Unsurprisingly, Isla is the first to speak. “I’m going to need you to repeat that, because it sounded like you said you gave your brother’s best friend,” she pauses, sucking in a breath and lifting that same damn finger, “and the guy you had the biggest crush on all through high school, a holiday hand job in your mom’s she-shed.”

I roll my lips inward, immediately regretting my decision to share my story with the rest of the class. They’re clearly going to make a bigger deal of this than they should. Time for some damage control.

“I didn’t have a crush on himallthrough high school.”

I’d figured out Gavin wasn’t genuinely into me by spring of our senior year and the embarrassment of how stupid I was to think he liked me murdered any warm feelings I had toward him.

Lola presses both palms to her softly curved cheeks, heavily lashed eyes wide as she asks, “Does he have a big dick?”

Isla bumps Lola’s plush hip with her own bony one. “You can’t ask that.” Isla focuses on me, lifting her brows. “Is his body proportionate?”

Hazel smashes a hand into the center of Isla’s face, pushing the wild redhead back a step. “Don’t answer them. Studies have shown penis size is practically irrelevant to female pleasure.” She squares up to me before firing off her own question. “Which is why I want to know if he returned the favor.”

I chew my lower lip, because the answer isn’t going to go over well with my friends. “I kind of ran away before he got the chance.”

They all gasp at once and Wren’s hand flutters to her chest like she’s appalled at my behavior.

“You didn’t stick around and demand yours?” Isla shakes her head at me, full lips pressed into a deep frown. “Have you learned nothing since Hugo?”

“Ugh.” Lola’s head falls back, her long, dark curls spilling around her shoulders. “You just had to say his name, didn’t you? Now we’re all going to be pissy for the rest of the night.”

“We can remedy that. It’s not too late to hunt him down and fuck him up a little.” Isla pitches the same idea she does every time my college boyfriend comes up. “Give his house a nice Christmas egging.”

“Egging houses is a waste.” Hazel sips her wine. “If you want to fuck someone up, you throw bologna on their car. The acidity eats into the paint.” She pauses before adding on, “It takes a little while though, so you’ve got to stick it in spots where they won’t notice it right away.”

‘We’re getting sidetracked here.” Wren points at me. “We need to talk about why Alexis is still avoiding letting a guy get her off.”

I laugh, the sound sudden and sharp. “I’m notavoidingit.” I down some of my wine, needing the alcohol to help me through the mess I’ve walked myself into. “My dress was covered in jizz. What did you want me to do?”

“We want you to get your kitty worshiped until you can’t walk straight.” Isla purses her lips thoughtfully. “You think he’s any good at going downtown?” She squints her eyes. “He seems like the kind of guy who eats like he’s starving every single time.”

“If he’s not good at it, he should be ashamed.” Hazel snorts. “He’s certainly had enough opportunity to perfect his technique.”

“Is that why you didn’t stay and let him sex you?” Lola’s voice drops, like the next bit is a secret we all don’t already know. “Because he’s a fuckboy?”

“No.” The answer comes easily. I actually don’t give a shit about how many women Gavin’s been with. I wouldn’t judge him for that the same way I don’t want to be judged for my own lack of partners. “I didn’t stay and let him sex me because I came to my senses and realized it was a terrible idea to mess around with him.”

I down the rest of my wine, setting the glass on the counter as my friends go back to staring at me in silence. “He’s not at all what I’m looking for, so there’s no reason to make shit weird between us.”

“I hate to break it to you, but giving him a handy during your parents’ party probably already made shit weird.” Isla’s expression is stern as she continues lecturing me. “You might as well have gotten something out of it too.”

“Well, it’s too late for that now.” I grab the open bottle of white wine and spill the rest into my glass. “And I highly doubt the opportunity for reciprocation will present itself anytime soon, so I’m going to forget it even happened.”

I’m sure Gavin already has. No doubt he quickly focused his interest elsewhere. There’s probably a whole line of women begging for his attention. And when I have to face him down Christmas morning, things will be the way they always were.

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