Page 86 of The Bachelor

Me

What about the other night?

Oaklyn

The way you got all growly when you thought I wanted your best friend. How you pulled me outside, into the darkest alley, and went all alpha on me.

How you kissed me.

How you took what you wanted from me.

How you ordered me onto my knees.

My dick was already getting hard.

Fuck me.

Me

Do you know what I can’t stop thinking about?

Oaklyn

I’m pretty positive I can guess … my mouth.

“So, what are you going to do about Oaklyn?” Declan asked, gaining my attention. “Are you going to tell your sister you want to date her best friend? Are you just going to keep it a secret and hope Hannah doesn’t find out?”

“I haven’t even had that talk with Oaklyn,” I admitted, relieved when the waiter showed up with our shots.

“Three more tequilas,” he said as he placed them in front of us. “Anything else—”

“Another round of shots. And you might as well bring me two more of these.” I held up my almost-empty vodka.

Macon and Declan nodded, signaling they wanted refills as well.

The second the waiter was gone, Macon said, “Hold on. You haven’t talked to Oaklyn about any of this? And she has no idea how you feel?”

How I feel?

Something I hadn’t even admitted to these guys, but they clearly had that answer without me saying a goddamn word.

I blew some air through my lips. “It’s complicated.”

“Because you like her and you’re not ready to tell her? That’s what you consider complicated?”

I no longer gave a fuck about the gel in my hair and grabbed the front that I’d spiked, tugging each of the strands. “Listen …”What the hell am I going to say? What is my reasoning? Why does all of this feel so hard?“I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. I’ve never really wanted to be in a relationship before. And now, I’m here, and it’s Hannah’s best friend, and Hannah will have my ass when she finds out.”

“And to top it all off, you’re about to take Oaklyn’s virginity.” Macon’s brows rose. “Unless you already have?”

“I haven’t,” I replied, “and that’s all I’m going to say about that.”

“A virgin, shit.” Declan chuckled. “What, you’re not going to tell us what you did to her in that alley?”

“Fuck no.”

Declan reached across the table and gripped my arm. “It’s all right, buddy. I get it. I wouldn’t say a word either—and not just because you’re Hannah’s brother and those details wouldn’t be appropriate.” He continued staring at me. “You care about her.”

I filled my lungs. “Yeah, I do.”

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