Page 31 of The Bachelor

Fuck me.

If I pulled her against my body and hugged her hello, I’d have a raging erection that everyone would be able to see. Since that hard-on was already threatening to mount, I got up from the stool and moved over to the girls, angling myself so only my mouth got near her.

“Good to see you, Oaklyn,” I said, and I gave her the fastest kiss on the cheek. I stepped away and added, “I’m going to go grab a shot,” before heading for the bar.

SEVEN

Oaklyn

“What, did I drive him to drink?” I asked Hannah as I watched Camden walk to the bar. “That was the quickest hello he’s ever given me.” I took a seat next to my best friend.

“He’s probably a little grumpy.” She rolled her eyes. “First, the guys wanted to come out with us, and he told them they couldn’t, and then I went and invited my bestie—oops.” She laughed as she pulled a piece of hair off my lip and tucked it behind my ear. “Andtheeen, we were talking about girls before you got here, and I was giving him a little shit, so he’s probably extra salty about that part since that isn’t his favorite topic to discuss with me.”

Oh man, but it was just the topic I wanted to hear about.

“What kind of shit were you giving him?” I asked since she hadn’t been specific enough in her description.

“Do you happen to remember when he dated Dana Wade in high school?”

“How could I forget? You were completely obsessed with that girl’s hair,” I said. “You came over to my house and sat in front of my mirror with a curling iron, trying for hours to do your hair like hers.”

“Yes! Her!”

“Didn’t they date for, like, five minutes? And the entire school was talking about it the whole time?” I questioned.

“But that’s longer than he’s ever dated anyone.” She handed me her wine, and I took a sip. “I just don’t want him to be a bachelor forever. He needs to find love and give me nieces and nephews.” She put her hand on my arm as I tried to chime in. “Not today. I mean, we’re young—I get it—but I just need to know it’s going to happen.”

“I hate to tell you this, Hannah, but it’s also okay if that doesn’t happen.”

“No, no,nooo.” She took her wine back. “Now, you’re sounding like him. I need you on my side.”

I took a quick glance toward Camden, where he was standing at the bar, talking to the bartender. She was tall with long, dark hair, wearing a corset with cleavage triple the size of mine. What made it even worse was that she was gorgeous.

He’d probably go home with her tonight.

Ugh.

I shouldn’t care.

But I did.

The whole thought of it made me feel sick to my stomach.

I needed to get my mind and my focus off Camden.

I looked back at Hannah and said, “You’re acting like he’s forty and still a virgin. Which will be my story, by the way, not his.”

“We both know that’s not even close to being true. You’re going to lose your virginity; it’s only a matter of time.”

“Except I can’t seem to find a nice enough guy to woo it from me.”

She laughed so hard that she snorted. “That’s because you don’t like nice guys. You’re into bad boys who can’t be tamed or transformed.” She set both hands on my shoulders. “You’re the angel in our friendship and the type of girl who wouldn’t even kill a mosquito if it landed on you. When it comes to dudes, you’re the same way. They sting you, and you let them. It’s like they smell you out, and you’re too sweet to swat them away.” She smiled. “You need to be attracted to guys like yourself. Who will welcome you with open arms and woo the hell out of you.”

“Says the girl who’s dating the ultimate asshole.”

She pulled her hands back and surrounded her wine. “Hey, I can handle an asshole. I can be one myself—let’s not forget that.”

“Then, why can’t I?”

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