Page 99 of Forever Golden

Blue: Text or call if you get bored. I’ll be around.

West: For sure. Love you.

I set my phone aside and feel kind of sick, knowing he’s way across town and I’m sitting here with another guy. And not justanyguy—my ex, with whom it hasn’t even been a full year since the last time we were intimate. I can only imagine how West must feel at home thinking about it.

It’ll be over and done with soon enough. Just hang tight.

“That the boyfriend?” Ricky asks.

I glance over at him and nod. “Yeah.”

He’s thoughtful for a moment, then drops his trash into the now-empty food bag. “You really are happy with him, aren’t you?”

Surprisingly, I don’t detect any sarcasm. Only genuine curiosity.

“I am.”

He studies me a bit, judging my sincerity in silence. “Then, that’s all I need to know. If you’re happy, I’ll figure out a way to tolerate his arrogant ass.”

I laugh and give him a look. “I don’t know. I can’t shake this feeling that you’ll end up actuallylikinghim.”

Now, I’m the one getting a look, and it isn’t a pleasant one, but I’m laughing even harder.

“Pump the brakes,” he says with a chuckle.

“A girl can dream, can’t she?”

“Well, keep that one to yourself,” he shoots back, standing from the couch. “Come to the kitchen. I’ve got ice cream.”

I don’t hesitate to follow, making sure to grab my phone in case West calls.

“Are you sure we should be eating this? I mean, what if you need it for dinner tomorrow,” I tease.

“Real fucking funny. Just remember that joke when you leave for school in the morning and find your tires flat.”

I laugh, shoving him in the back, but stop dead in my tracks when I get not justanynotification, butthenotification.

Ricky spots me grinning and goes for his phone, too. The next second, our gazes lock and suddenly I’m feeling like West being lonely tonight wasn’t all for nothing.

Because… it worked.

* * *

@QweenPandora:“Just friends.”

Yeah, right.

Anyone else picturing KingMidas at home, sick as he looks at these pics? I almost feel guilty posting them.

Almost.

From day one, I said SeXyBeAsT was one to watch. We all knew he had eyes for NewGirl, but it was impossible to tell whether she was completely over him, or still pining for the past. However, these images that just rolled in suggest these two are far from over.

So, KingMidas, inquiring minds want to know.

What’s your next move?

Later, Peeps.

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