Page 9 of When You Left Me Speechless

“Mine and Tanner’s pickleball team.” On the front of my shirt our team name is written in a cool retro font. There is a large picture of a pickle wearing a sweatband and holding a paddle. Two pickleballs frame either side of its feet, giving the illusion of a dick and balls. “Sorry, when we designed it, I didn’t ever think I’d be letting a girl borrow it.” I remove my hat and rub my hand through my hair.

She shakes her head and walks over to me slowly. “Isn’t pickleball for old people?” She lets out a giggle, and a drunk hiccup escapes with it.Damn, she’s cute.

“I’ll have you know pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and our team is undefeated.”

“Spoken like an old person,” she laughs again. “So, are you going to show me your dink and balls?” The corners of her mouth turn into a sexy grin. She grabs my arm and starts to pull me in the direction of the bedroom. Her eyes beg me to follow, but I don’t move. My feet are firmly planted on the floor.

“Uh, um, do you want to watch TV or something?” I choke out, immediately regretting how lame I must sound. She looks at me, and confusion overtakes her face. I gesture back towards the couch.

“Oh, um, sure.” She lets out another hiccup, and I smile at her nervously.

She drops my hand and walks over toward the couch. Her pointer finger finds my chest as she walks by me, and the corners of her mouth fall into a disappointed frown. “See, I knew you weren’t any fun,” she pouts.

I turn around and sit down on the couch next to her. “So, any preference on what you want to watch?”

“Oh, no, you can choose.” Her words drip with disappointment.

I turn on old reruns ofFriendsand pull her in close. To my surprise, she curls her body against mine, and for the first time in a long time, the girl lying next to me feels right.

CHAPTER 4: I SHOULD PROBABLY PUT ON SOME PANTS

POPPY

Isquint my eyes at the sunlight streaming through the window. The clock on the bedside table reads 7:31 a.m. I’m in a bed and the cute guy from the bar I remember meeting the night before lies a few inches from me. He is shirtless, only wearing a pair of gray joggers that outline his cock perfectly.

God, it looks huge. This is not the time. Focus.

My clothes are in a pile on the floor. I try to remember what happened last night, but my head is pounding. The night is blurry, and,oh my god, I can’t remember what happened once we left the bar.

My eyes widen as I look around the space. Two nightstands flank the bed. A leather chair sits in the corner. A wood dresser is along one wall. I look for clues about this guy and there is nothing personal anywhere to be found. Above the dresser hangs a collection of random framed photographs of wildlife and landscapes. I notice a duffle bag on the floor and remember that this isn’t his place and he mentioned he was staying with the other guy.

Shit, where is Lacey?

I carefully get out of bed and collect my things. I headacross the apartment to the only door she could be behind. Setting my things down on the couch, I order an Uber before quietly turning the knob to the other room. Next to Lacey lies the other guy we met last night. They are both very naked and barely covered by the very thin sheet. I tiptoe over to her side of the bed.

“Wake up,” I whisper, shaking her shoulder. “I called an Uber, and it’s almost here. Come on, let’s leave before they wake up.”

Her eyes open and meet mine. She stretches and yawns.

“Come on, let's go.” My voice is calm but urgent.

She nods and slowly gets out of bed. I gather her purse as she gets dressed. We tiptoe out of the room, careful not to shut the door too loud behind us. I grab the things I left on the couch, and then we take off toward the front door.

“What happened last night?” I ask after the car door shuts.

She smiles at me. “Well, Tanner and I had mediocre sex, and then I fell asleep,” she laughs.

“Wow, Lace, what a raving review.” I start to laugh, but my head hurts, causing me to wince.

“I mean, he wasn’t my worst, but he wasn’t my best, you know? Did you fuck your guy?” She looks me up and down, making eyes at my shirt. “Is that a smiling dick?” I’m instantly very aware I am sitting in the back of a stranger’s car, wearing nothing but a T-shirt with a giant dick-shaped pickle on the front.

What the fuck was I thinking?

“No, I think it’s a pickle. I was so set on getting out of there, I don’t know why I didn’t pause to get changed.” I shake my head and let my face fall into my hands. She laughs.

“The last thing I remember was us stumbling out of the bar last night, and then I woke up in a bed, dressed like this, under the sheets, and he was lying next to me. Shit. You thinkI hooked up with him? I don’t even know his last name. His first name was Logan, right?”

“Yes. Gosh, I didn’t realize you were that drunk, but then again, you did keep stealing his shots, so I don’t know how I missed it,” she says, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, I feel like a bad friend.”

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