Page 97 of Play It Sinful

What is he playing at?

“Oh yeah. Man, what a tool.” Alex stops in front of the dumbbell stack. “I don’t think he’s going to last.”

I try not to show interest, but my heart beats faster. I’m happy about the prospect of Ashley dumping that fucker. I start my reps and ask nonchalantly, “What did he do?”

“He’s very… clingy.” Noah moves to the machine behind me. “And he got upset when he found out Ash was planning to join an art residency program in Europe.”

I stop my exercise mid-rep and look at him. “What? She’s leaving?”

“It’s not for certain yet.”

I look in the mirror again and restart my reps, focusing on the burn of my muscles. It’s better than acknowledging the pain in my chest. Ashley going to live in Europe would be the best thing. She’d be happy there, and I could maybe finally move on. But the idea that I won’t see her as often as I do now—even if all I get are glimpses of her around campus or when we’re hangingout with our friends—doesn’t sit well with me. I guess I like to suffer.

“I hope she goes, or that she at least dumps that weasel,” Alex chimes in. “Blair and I didn’t vibe with him at all.”

“Yeah, Gia and I weren’t impressed with him either.”

“If he’s giving off weird vibes, maybe someone should say something. We don’t want another Martin.” Logan makes a point of staring into my eyes through the mirror’s reflection.

My stomach bottoms out. I want the guy to be a jerk so Ashley can dump him, but I don’t want him to be a psycho.

“Don’t fucking remind me of that motherfucker,” Noah grits out.

I’m no longer in the mood to work out. I stand up and put the dumbbells back in the stack.

“Are you heading out?” Alex asks me.

“Yes. Logan’s right, someone needs to check on Ash.”

Logan smirks. “You go do that, man.”

He thinks he’s being all helpful by sending me straight to Ashley. Little does he know it isn’t by choice that we aren’t together. Destiny dealt us a cruel hand. But I can’t stand back and do nothing when our friends noticed her boyfriend waving red flags.

ASHLEY

I wanted to spend Sunday evening alone, but Brian showed up and surprised me with a box of Ditzy Donuts and meat-lovers pizza. He knows my weaknesses. Now, we’re watching a movie while eating dinner. My roommates went to a comics convention and won’t be home until much later.

Tonight, we’re watching the last Spider Man movie, which we’ve both seen before, but I love Tom Holland and Zendaya.

Brian stands suddenly and says, “I’m going to the bathroom, but you don’t need to pause it.”

“Okay.”

A couple minutes go by, and then I have to pee. I forget to hit pause, but the movie is in a slow part anyway, and I’m quick. Since Brian is using the bathroom in my room, I use the one for visitors. When I return to the living room, Brian isn’t back yet, so I go to check on him because an action scene is coming up.

He’s standing next to my bed with his back to the door, so he doesn’t notice my presence. My attention immediately zeroes in on all the condom wrappers spread out on the mattress.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

He turns around fast, hiding one of his hands behind his back. “Nothing.”

“Why are all those condoms out of the box?” I move closer.

“Uh… I was going to do a heart shape with them, but there aren’t enough.”

I’d believe him if he wasn’t acting so shady. “What’s in your right hand?”

“Nothing.”

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