Page 97 of In For a Penny
He raises an eyebrow at me, skeptical. “What about you? You’re not upset because it’s not you?”
“I don’t want to talk about this. You know how I feel.”
“Yes, but he doesn’t know how you feel, and you could easily be with him right now if you told him the truth.”
“But I don’t want to be with him. Jesus, don’t you get it?” I’m really upset and annoyed now. “I’m no good for him right now. No good for anyone. I need space and time to process what happened and what my next steps are. I’m not going to half-ass a relationship with him right now. I wouldn’t be able to give him what he deserves. I feel like half a person now.” I take a deep breath and shake my head, taking a seat on the edge of my bed. Oliver settles right next to me.
“Okay.” He wraps an arm around me, and I lean my head on his shoulder. “Alright.”
“Thanks,” I say. “At least you warned me they are here together. I don’t think I would’ve been able to look unaffected if I saw them making out again—especially not in my own home. Now I’m mentally prepared to endure that horror.”
He laughs and smacks my thigh before getting up, but his smile evaporates just as quickly. “Um, you’re dress. It’s, uh, short. A bit too short.” He points to my upper thigh, and I look down.
The bite mark on my thigh.
Yup. Still there.
I sigh and try to pull the hem down, but it’s no use. This is a real mini-dress and is unable to hide the actual evidence left behind from my night with Thomas Delancey.
“I’ll wear tights underneath to cover it up,” I mutter and push him out of my bedroom so I can finish getting dressed. Plus, I definitely need a moment to prepare myself for the rest of the night. I can hear the people slowly starting to arrive and the buzz of conversation and the occasional laughter. From what I can smell, the turkey is close to being done, and the sides and appetizers have arrived. Hoping the music has been turned on by Allie and not by someone who took liberties with my sound system, I shake myself off a little and open my door to host my first Thanksgiving dinner.
