Page 95 of Play It Sinful

“Maybe you want to pack an overnight bag, since you refuse to leave clothes at my place.”

“Sure. I’ll be right back.”

I rush to my room. If he’d told me about this change of plans, I would have packed a bag already. I’m usually not keen to spend the night at Brian’s, because my place is nicer. Maybe that’s why I’m reluctant to leave any of my things in his apartment.

I grab my toothbrush, PJs, a change of underwear, comfy clothes and shoes for tomorrow, and most important, condoms. Even though I’m on the pill, I make Brian wear them. But he’s been trying to convince me to forget them. He even showed me his negative test result.

The idea of an accidental pregnancy gives me hives though. After that initial mistake, I risked it with Sean only because I wasn’t terrified of having a kid with him.

When I return to the living room, the rest of the D&D party is already there. Brian turns to me and smiles. “Ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

I’m glad I was able to convince Gia and Blair to come to the fundraiser with Noah and Alex. I don’t think I could stand an entire evening alone with Brian. It’s getting harder to pretend I’m as into him as he is me. He fell first, even before we started going out. I’d hoped I’d catch feelings for him. Now I know it isn’t going to happen. I shouldn’t string him along, but I don’t want to be the bitch who breaks up with someone so close to Valentine’s Day. I’ll wait until after.

I’m not sure what’s with Brian tonight though. He’s more clingy than usual. Maybe he can sense the relationship is doomed, and he’s trying to salvage it. All he’s accomplishing is to irritate me.

Dinner is served buffet style, and when Alex returns to the table after hitting the buffet a second time, he has a mountain of jumbo shrimp on his plate.

Blair’s eyes widen. “Oh my God, Alex.”

“What? I’m a big boy.”

“Dude, did you leave any shrimp for the rest of us?” Noah asks.

“Relax, Kingsley. There’s plenty more. Besides, I’m also eating Gia’s share.”

Noah makes a face. “Uh, shouldn’t I be eating her share since it’s my baby who’s making her hate shrimp?”

Gia grimaces. “How about no one eats the shrimp? Even the smell is making me nauseous.”

Alex slides his plate farther way from her. “Sorry. I’ll eat fast.”

“To be fair, that smell is making me sick too. Are you sure the shrimp isn’t bad?” I ask.

“The shrimp is fine.” Alex eats an entire shrimp in one bite, then adds, “Maybe you’re preggers too.”

The blood seems to drain from my face. “The hell I am.”

Brian squeezes my thigh under the table. “It wouldn’t be the end of the world if you were.”

I gawk at him. Is he serious? “Actually, it would. I don’t wanna have kids.”

He winces. “Like… never?”

With you, yes, never.

“I don’t know how I’ll feel about it in ten years, but right now, I don’t see myself as a mother.”

“I think a lot of women feel that way until they actually go through with it,” he replies, then looks at Gia. “Am I right?”

“I can’t speak for every woman on the planet,” she replies.

“And didn’t you apply to that art residency program in Europe?” Blair pipes up.

Shit. I wish she hadn’t said anything, because I haven’t told Brian that.

“What art residency program?” Brian leans away from me, removing his hand from my thigh.

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