Page 18 of The Shake Off

“I can’t believe this! There’s no way!” He stared at me, waiting to see if I broke into a grin, or told him I was only joking… Or that he was in fact the God’s gift in bed he’d always been told he was.

But I held firm, even when he linked his hands behind his head and began pacing back and forth. Thirty seconds later, he stopped in front of me again.

“Okay, give me another chance,” he demanded, like he was seconds away from stomping his foot the way my goddaughter, Bell, was starting to do when she didn’t get what she wanted. But from a two-year-old girl it was cute, from a twenty – whatever he was – man, it was borderline comical, not to mention ridiculous.

“For what?”

He looked around, making double sure no one was listening, then back to me with more sincerity than I’d ever seen on anyone before. “To give you an orgasm.”

Every muscle in my face tensed and scrunched while I tried to figure out if he was being serious, which all evidence seemed to point toward. I also had to check my own sanity, because I couldn’t imagine in what world I’d be standing in front of this seemingly perfect specimen while he begged me to have sex, and I said no.

Oh, wait, it was this world.

“I don’t think so.”

“Payton…”

But I stopped him before he could beg again, telling myself I was saving him a shred of dignity. I reached out to pat his arm reassuringly, but then stopped myself. This situation was awkward enough as it was.

“Hey, it’s really not a big deal. It happens plenty.”

“Not to me it doesn’t.”

“Sure about that?” I smirked, trying to lighten the situation before realizing Ace did not consider it a laughing matter, but this conversation was becoming too stupid for words.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What?”

“That comment. Are you saying I’ve never given an orgasm?”

“No. Noooo, of course not. All I’m saying is… oh never mind.” I didn’t actually know what I was saying, and more importantly, I really needed to get out of this hole I seemed to be digging. I was definitely not wearing the right footwear forthat.“Ace, just forget it. We had fun and you’re a nice guy, I’m just not interested in a second go around. No big deal.”

He muttered something under his breath I didn’t catch, and wasn’t about to ask.

I thumbed behind me and forced a smile. “I really need to go to the bathroom now. Good luck this season.”

He didn’t reply, just deepened his scowl and watched me walk away. He was still standing there when I turned around the second time. I might have ended the conversation, but from the look on his face, I had the distinct feeling it wasn’t over.

Therefore, I would be hiding in the bathroom for the rest of the afternoon like a mature adult.

FOUR

ACE

Ithrew a t-shirt into my gym bag; a pair of jeans followed, then a hoodie and my favorite Air Jordans.

The bedroom door clattered against the wall as I opened it with all the annoyance coursing through my body, and marched into the kitchen.

Parker was sitting at the breakfast counter, one eyebrow raised as he watched me dump my bag on the floor and open the fridge. He was still watching as I gulped down half the bottle of Gatorade I’d opened.

“What?” I snapped.

He shook his head, his mouth turning down. “Nothing.”

“Why are you up so early?”

“Why areyouup so early?”

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