Page 41 of Broken

“You two aren’t as slick as you thought. But nice try,” Lo says. “Don’t worry, though, neither was Holden.”

My mouth drops open, and I shake my head in disbelief. “Well, okay, then. Yes, we’re hooking up. No, we're not in a relationship. It’s just sex. No labels, no strings, simply friends with benefits.”

“Those never work, Len,” Everleigh says. “Someone always catches those catchy feelings.”

“I know. But for us, it works.”

“Okay, just be careful, Len. I don’t want to see you get hurt. None of us do.” Ev squeezes my hand while Chloe and Maia nod in agreement.

“If anyone gets hurt, it’ll be Holden. I’m good. Now where the hell is our food?”

I successfully change the topic, but I can’t shake off the fact that everyone knows we’re hooking up, and we didn’t realize it. Unless Holden did and just didn’t tell me? But why would he do that?

After I’m home from dinner and lying in bed, I reach for my phone and type out a quick text to Holden.

Lennox: hi. did u know our friends know we’re fucking

He replies right back.

Holden: wth no

Lennox: yep. guess we’re the last to know our secret’s out

Holden: ha, well let's look on the bright side, no more sneaking around

Lennox: good point

Holden: wyd rn

Lennox: in bed u?

Holden: same. kinda lonely tbh

Lennox: o really, do u need help with that

Holden: maybe…

Lennox: i know just the thing

Holden: come show me then ;)

Lennox: i'll be right up

Chapter12

Holden

I know,I know. Now I’m the one asking her for sex. But shit, can’t a guy need an escape too? She breaks me, so I break my rules. Yet I can’t say no to my little firecracker.

And when I let her in a few minutes later, it no longer matters that my roommates see. Landon and Rhett watch from the couch as I open the door and lead her straight to my room.

“Shit, Rhett. Pretend we don’t see this,” Landon says, and they both laugh.

“No more sneaking around, I see,” Rhett says.

“Why bother? All you fuckers know,” I retort, and Lennox snickers.

“We knew before you two even did,” Landon says, and I pause for a second.

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