Page 63 of Choke

Never seen him like this.

And I just made a pass at his friend to make him jealous.

“I like my life the way it is. I don’t need Adrian Liberty fucking it up.”

The need to get away from this slams into me, and I start to retreat toward the doors. I need to lock myself inside where I’m safe.

Safe. In the condo, he likely has a fucking key to it.

I swallow hard, hands shaking.

I’m fucked.

“I’m sorry…” I rush out a little louder—more to Adrian than the boy next door-looking man in front of me. “I drank too much. I wasn’t thinking.”

As if that would resolve my sins.

“Be careful.” He warns.

I can’t bring myself to ask him for more details. What should I take care of? My body? My mind? My heart? My soul?

“Careful. Right. I got it. I’m sorry. I gotta—” I turn on my heels and sprint to the door, fumbling for my keys.

“Lex.”

His voice follows me to the door.

“Stay away from hockey players.”

I offer an exaggerated nod. I need to know that both of them know that I understand. I rush to the door, fumbling for my fob. Once inside, I turn and push it closed, ensuring it clicks to engage the security lock.

Before I turn the corner for the elevator, I glance over my shoulder one more time and see what looks like a wall of shadows approaching Calloway, who is smiling broadly, arms out in an exaggerated shrug.

Are You Ready?

Adrian

“I don’t have a death wish.” Cally lifts his hands in surrender, a nervous chuckle escaping.

Good, he should be nervous.

“You’re goddamn lucky you pushed her away.”

I crack my neck as I approach him, fire still burning in my chest—roaring, demanding release.

“She’s spicy, man. That chick has no interest in me. She did that all for you.”

He’s laughing and shaking his head as I reach him. We both look toward the building and see her turn the corner toward the elevators.

The anger I was feeling a few minutes ago morphs into something different. I glance at my watch. Twenty minutes. Enough time for her to think she’s in the clear—before I remind her she’s not.

“So, what’s next, man?” Cally stretches his arms over his head.

I pull my phone from my pocket and flip open the cam app. Lex is inside her apartment, her back pressed to the door. Even through the grainy footage, I can see the way her chest rises and falls, and if I were a betting man, I’d say that whole scene left her equal parts terrified and turned on.

She lifts the jersey over her head and lets it fall. The weight on my chest lifts—just slightly. She’s left in that skirt, fingers already unzipping, tugging it down.

Cally leans over to peer at my phone and sucks in a breath of approval, reminding me he is still here. I elbow him away.

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