Page 40 of Reckless Storm
“Thank God.” I don’t bother hiding my relief as I relax, my shoulders dropping. “So what are we really doing?”
“Huh?”
“If you’re messing with me.”
“Oh no. We’re going shopping. I was messing with you about Bria. I don’t really think you’re one of her girlfriends.”
“But I am one of yours?”
“No. You’re my bestguyfriend, and I trust you. I could really use your help. I love fashion, but I’m not great at choosing it. Basically, I need you to tell me if I look hot or not.”
I release a breath through my nose and grin. “Okay, Hayls. Let’s do this. But you owe me.”
Hayley’s bright smile lights up her face, and when she rushes over to hug me, it’s enough to convince me I’m doing the right thing. And after squeezing the life out of me, she rests her chin on my chest and glances up with an appreciative look in her eyes, further cementing my decision. “Deal.”
“Good.” I bop her nose before stepping back, ready to get this over with.How hard could it be?
Well, fuck me.I am out of my depth. On the drive over alone, she loses me, filling me in on the styles she wants to try on, while I nod along, pretending to know what the hell she’s talking about.
She’s just finished telling me how badly she’d love to find a silver dress, when she changes the subject so fast I get whiplash.
“Since I know you’re wondering… The character I’m auditioning for next week is a virgin,” she states matter-of-factly, making me jolt.
“What?” I choke back a laugh. “When was I wondering that?”
“You weren’t but you were curious about my dry spell, right?”
Dammit. I shake my head and comically sigh. “You caught me. I’m not going to lie. It did intrigue me.”
“Well, now you have your answer.”
“Hold up. So you’re staying celibate because the character you’re auditioning for is a virgin?”
“At first I wasn’t. I just wasn’t feeling it. But when I heard about this role, it made sense to continue.”
Huh. “Well, there you go. I never knew you were a method actor.”
“I’m not, usually. But in this instance, I wanted to understand her desperation and intensity. I wanted to feel the restraint she endured before she gave in and made the worst mistake of her life, sleeping with the man that killed her brother.”
“Whoa. Did you just spoil the plot for me? Hayley, come on,” I scold, jokingly. “Now I can’t watch it.”
“Shut up. You don’t even know what movie it is.” She shoves my arm gently so as to not cause a car accident and I chuckle. “Plus, that’s not the big twist. You’re fine.”
“Phew. Thank God. So…since you brought it up. How’s the sex ban going for you?”
“I’m done. I get it. It’s frustrating as hell. I’mthatdesperate—I’d fuck one of my exes. Even the one that couldn’t find my clit.”
Jesus Christ.I tap the brake and we both rock forward, making Hayley laugh.
There’s a whole lot to unpack in that sentence. First, Hayley doesn’t swear all that often, unless she’s talking about sex, or she’s drunk, but also…shemustbe desperate, because she does not speak favorably about her exes.
“Good to know,” I try to joke. As someone who feels the same level of frustration, it’s impossible not to react.
“TMI?” Hayley asks, her expression pinched.
“Nope.” I shake my head. “I’m good. I asked.” I shrug and focus on the road until I sense her gaze boring a hole in the side of my face.
“You feel my pain, don’t you?” she asks, squeezing my arm.
