Page 19 of Runaway Girl
He was tenacious, unyielding and… solid.
Nope, don’t go there. Do not fucking go there.
Despite my best efforts, I hadn’t been able to feed the latent hunger that could only be sated by a certain athlete with a talented mouth and tongue.
I had underestimated the connection of being with someone for four years. Ethan knew my body—what I liked, what Iloved.
After a couple of disastrous dates, I conceded. They never measured up because they weren’thim.
I missed my little pink friend, but I missed my real-life big friend more.
And I didn’t think I was the only one getting frustrated.
Ethan was playing like shit, and his attitude was even worse. The latest scandal was a video of him going off on a fan for yelling out, “Runaway Girl.” Sure, I should have sent that person a personal thank you note, but all the added upheaval of media backlash was fucking with my bag.
Felix waspissed, and Ethan didn’t seem to care—about his money, his sponsors or losing future prospects. Hence why my boss practically dragged my ass to the stadium to assist his feeble plan of pulling Mr Harris back in line. Felix obviously didn’t know him well.
I was hesitant. I didn’t want to be in Ethan’s orbit again. I didn’t want to be in close proximity to the viper who had a particular venom that called to my very DNA.
Ethan continued to regularly send me gifts, and I took them, ’cause why the fuck not? But it wasn’t the monetary items that made me pause. It was the accompanying cards attached, always written in his hand.
“I miss your soft hair.”
“I miss your jokes.”
“I miss my lucky charm.”
“I miss licking you clean.”
Some of them made me smile, others made me lightheaded, and some made me blush as if I were an untested preteen—not that I’d admit that to anyone, especially him.
“I’ve got to take this,” Felix said before answering his phone and moving further down the field.
His voice ripped me out of my head, which in turn had me processing where my gaze had lingered and stayed.Damn it!Intense, soul-altering eyes stared back at me, swimming with so much emotion I had to look away before I was submerged and subsequently drowned.
The team was finished, heading for the changing rooms. They were a raucous bunch as they passed, and I sensed Ethan lingering at the back, creating the perfect scenario for him to ambush me.
However, Jake slowed his pace to walk alongside him, leaning down to whisper in his ear. The exchange would have been normal, except Jake’s seedy stare seemed to penetrate my skin.
He hadn’t been my client for long, but the fool was starting to irritate me. I wasn’t unused to the self-importance those types of men had, but his insecurity and lack of experience were starting to show.
Like all of them, he wanted the world. But Jake had to realise he was a green nobody who was still finding his place—and I was more than happy to put him there.
We were supposed to meet for a business lunch that day, but he cancelled last minute, rescheduling to dinner instead. I was going to tell him to shove the meeting up his ass, except Felix’s secretary, Heather, booked him in before I could refuse.
That’s when the hissing duo reached me, and Jake spared a smug smile my way.
“We still on for dinner tonight, Alicia?”Why did that sound suggestive?
“You got the confirmation text, didn’t you?” I snarked.
“Yes, yes. Sorry, I’m just excited. Ican’twait.”
I barely refrained from rolling my eyes at his kiss-ass tone when my attention caught on a frozen Ethan.
My former lover held a firm mask, but I could see the shock sinking in as his gaze bounced between us.
Then, Jake signed his own death note by giving a flirtatious wink.
