Page 72 of Someday You Learn

“Yes, I did yoga in my fucking underwear, Hazel. Ripped off my bra and threw it on the ground in front of him, and nothing. He let me walk away without even grunting or cursing under his breath.”

Holy shit. Sheistrying to get me to snap. And my fucking sister is in on it.

“I don’t know. I think he’s determined to keep this platonic.” She goes silent, which I can only assume means she’s listening to Hazel on the other end of the line. “No, I’m not going to do that.”

What the fuck would my sister suggest she do now? Sit on my face so I have no choice but to lick her pussy? What a hardship that would be.

“I just don’t know if this is worth it,” Cashlynn says, her voice laden with defeat.

The sound of it guts me. Is she talking about bailing on this entire charade? Or is she giving up on me altogether?

“He’s just so…” But she doesn’t finish that sentence, probably because my sister cut her off. She’s really good at that.

In that instant, I take a step away from the door, the heat rising in my chest shifting into irritation.

So, theyhavebeen conspiring. All of them.

Well, two can play that game, ladies.

You know what they say: Payback’s a bitch.

Chapter thirteen

Parker

“Someone’s here early today.”

I look up from my desk to find Beth standing in the doorway of my office. I did come in about an hour ahead of schedule because I needed space from Cashlynn before I said or did something I couldn’t take back. That’s the last fucking thing I need right now.

“I couldn’t sleep, and I had some paperwork to get caught up on, so…” I shrug, averting my eyes back down to the file in front of me.

“You know, showing up early isn’t going to sway his decision.”

That catches my attention. I sit back, crossing my arms. “That’s not why I’m here.”

“Oh, I just assumed.”

“I mean, I can’t deny that I’m trying to prove myself, Beth. But honestly, I didn’t sleep well, like I said, and I needed to get out of my house.”

Her eyebrows raise from that remark. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine. I’m just having a hard time adjusting to living with a woman,” I say with a laugh, which thankfully Beth takes as the joke I intended it to be.

“Ah, yes. There are always a few speed bumps when you start living with someone new, but you’ll adjust.”

Yeah, not so sure about that, especially when my new roommate wants me to have a permanent case of blue balls unless I do something about our growing sexual tension.

“We are, but it’s just been a lot of change recently, and I don’t handle change very well.”

Beth scoffs. “No man does, Parker. Especially Dr. O’Neil.”

Her mention of Robert makes my mind flash to the conversation I overheard a few weeks ago, so I seize the opportunity to ask about it. “Is everything okay with Robert?”

I can visibly see her swallow. “Yes, of course.”

“You sure? There’s not something going on health related that is making him consider retirement?”

“No, Parker. He’s fine, at least as far as I know. Why do you ask?”

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