Page 96 of More than Friends

She pulls the card from my hands and says, “Now that you know our names and ages, can we come in?”

I turn the key and swing open the door. I stumble into the apartment, and they follow after. I was going to offer them drinks, but now I’m not. God,nineteen. I shouldn’t have let them inside. I pour myself another drink without offering them anything and sit down on the sofa. They sit on either side of me – close to me.

Layla walks her fingers up my bicep. My body tenses – not in a good way. What the hell is wrong with me? Well, I know what the hell is wrong with me, but why can’t I snap out of it?

Krista leans in and whispers in my ear. “What do you want, Decky?”

I don’t answer and then she says, “Take off your shirt. I want to see your tattoos.”

I lean forward, and they both help pull my shirt over my head. I zone out while they touch my chest and arms – discussing each tattoo with each other. They might be asking me questions, but I don’t register any words they are saying.

“You’re so hot,” Krista says and then she presses her lips to my neck while Kayla places her hand on my thigh. I nearly let out a loud sigh because Kayla is inching her hand upward and is going to be very disappointed when she reaches my dick. How am I not hard right now? I’m actually getting a little worried. Maybe I need to see a doctor? I’ve brought a different woman back to my apartment every night for nearly two weeks, and I could not get it up for any of them. And now – two women. Not eventwo womencan do the job. I’ve had a string of disappointed and confused women leave my apartment, and it looks like I’m about to have two more.

I just want to forget about Maggie, and all I can think about is Maggie. Fuck Maggie. Why am I thinking about Maggie right now? I shouldn’t be thinking about her at all. I went all the way to the other side of the world to try and stop thinking about her. It didn’t help. It also didn’t help that as soon as I returned, she was coming out of her apartment with her new boyfriend. I can’t stop thinking about her with him. Doing all the things to him that she used to do to me. When we started hooking up years ago, I didn’t think twice about who she was with and what she was doing, and now it is consuming me. Eating me alive.

Kayla’s hand has inched all the way up my leg, pulling me out of my thoughts. I put my hand on top of hers before she can move it any higher.

I lean my head back and groan. Both women pull back and give me a confused stare. I lean forward and pick up my drink.

“I’m sorry,” I mutter before taking a big sip.

They exchange glances and then Krista moves to sit on the ottoman in front of me. She nods for Layla to join her. “Maybe you’d like to just watch for a bit.”

Krista runs her hands through Layla’s hair and then presses her lips to Layla’s. Their hands are everywhere, tongues deep in each other’s mouths. And – there’s not a single stirring inside me. Nothing. It’s just an empty void. Bored. And confused as hell.

I keep sipping my drink – watching them make out, waiting to feel something,anything.

Layla pulls back and looks over at me, confusion spread over her face. Krista tilts her head to the side as she studies me. I lean forward and set down my drink.

“Girls.” I drag my hand over my face and groan. “I’m sorry. It’s really not you.”

Krista tilts her head just a little further and then says, “Did you go through a breakup?”

Layla gasps, “You’re still in love with her, aren’t you?”

Krista frowns and Layla pouts her bottom lip out.

“Not exactly,” I say. They aren’t entirely wrong though.

Krista moves back beside me on the couch and says, “Tell us what happened.”

“Yeah, why are you heartbroken? Tell us.”

And I do. Not everything. I keep things vague enough and change a few important details so they can’t sell this story to the tabloids tomorrow. I leave out the pregnancy contract and just say we were friends with benefits, and she wants to move on. I do not mention that she’s my sister-in-law’s sister either.

“You have feelings for her,” Layla says when I'm finished. Her hand is on my thigh again, but not in a sexual way this time.

“You love her. You should tell her,” Kayla agrees.

Love her? No that’s not possible. It’s not love but it’s something.My eyelids are heavy – the bourbon has fully kicked in. “Should I talk with her?”

Krista’s eyes grow bigger. “Of course.”

“Absolutely.” Layla nods her head in agreement. “She needs to know.”

“I should tell her,” I say slowly like the words are in another language.

I lean my head against the back of the couch and close my eyes without saying a word.

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