Page 23 of Taking Chances

“I never had one. Unless you’re counting Mary Redford in middle school.”

“So, Mary’s the one that got away?” She pokes an elbow at me, and I chuckle.

“I’m just not a relationship type of guy.” I shrug.

“Typical. Why do all men have a problem being loyal to one woman?”

“I don’t have a problem being loyal, sexually. I had some arrangements like that. But the emotional part, not for me.” She eyes me for a few seconds before pouring me another glass. I pause, chewing on an almond. “Your turn. Is your search for love your family’s ambition or something that you actually want for yourself?”

“Something I actually want.” Her gaze meets mine before she lets out a deep breath. “I know it may sound silly to you, but I want to have that feeling. I want to feel safe, and loved, and worshipped.”

“It’s not silly. You deserve it.” And she does. If anyone deserves to be worshipped, inside and out, it’s her.

“Your turn.” A soft blush taints her cheeks and neck. “Do you think you’ll be able to act like you’re crazy about me?”

“I’m sure.” I wink, acting unbothered, but it will be easy to do. She’s very likeable and I really want to rub it into Bryce’sstupid face. I drink my shot before asking the next question. “Your turn. How would you like me to show how crazy about you I am during the wedding? Just so I don’t do anything to make you uncomfortable.”

“Do you mean like. . . touch me?” Her voice turns to whisper as her face does its best to match her hair color.

“Yeah, I mean small casual touches, kisses, etc.”

“I didn’t take you for an affectionate guy.”

She’s spot on. “I just want our performance to be as believable as possible.” I pour her a drink. “And I think if I were crazy about you, I couldn’t keep my hands off of you.”

“I guess that makes sense. So, I think that anything that’s crowd appropriate is fine.” She nods profusely before downing her glass. I guess she got used to the taste because her face doesn’t show a bit of disgust. “Do you own a tux?”

I laugh out loud. “Yup, I do. I know I don’t look like it, but I attended quite a few fancy events while I played hockey.”

We continue going back and forth until the whiskey bottle and the charcuterie board are both empty. Luckily, we were at least smart enough to agree on the details of how we met and started dating before getting fully drunk. We’re also definitely more comfortable around each other and ready to play a loving couple, though we’re barely staying awake at this point.

“I should probably go,” I say, getting up.

“You can’t be planning to drive like this?” She gets up, her eyes wide open.

“No, I’ll grab an Uber.”

“But your bike is here.” She bites her bottom lip. “No, you should stay here. We’re going to be sleeping in the same room in a week, so sleeping in the same apartment shouldn’t be a problem.” It sounds like she’s convincing herself rather than me.

“I don’t want to impose.”

“You won’t be. And this couch is pretty comfortable, I fall asleep on it all the time.”

It is comfortable. And Iamdrunk. “OK.”

“Let me get you some bedding.” She scurries to her room and comes back with a pile of light pink sheets. “Here. You can use the bathroom first.”

I wash up, brushing my teeth with the spare toothbrush she gave me, and leave her to get ready for bed. Taking my jeans and shirt off, I’m left in only my boxers, but I tend to run hot.

The couch is like laying on a cloud. Still, I’m too unsettled to sleep. Once I hear her finish with the bathroom and shut the lights off, I turn on the small desk light and head to her bookcase.

Guessing all the pink and light purple books are not my cup of tea, I search the black and dark gray section, pulling out the book closest to me and bringing it back to the couch.

I open it to a random page and quickly shake my head.I must have imagined that.

‘Cock, pussy, thrust, grab, impale’ are the first words my eyes catch.What the fuck?

Starting from the top of the page, I realize it’s a sexual scene of sorts, something with at least two dicks. One inside the pussy of the female character, while she deep throats the second one. The scene is rough, practically violent as the woman is getting used to the fullest.

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