Page 81 of The Sound Of Silence

“You know I can’t find someone; I’m dating Pippa.”

Seth laughs again, much louder this time. “I love that your life has suddenly become a soap opera. It would be a little bit funny if it happened to anyone. But you…it made my year.”

“Fuck off. If I’m not home by Saturday night, it’s your responsibility to get me out. It won’t look good for my career if I do anything rash.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll look into it. But for now, I’ve got to go.”

“Before you do… You want a soap opera? Ask Ryan to tell you why he’s been calling.”

I hang up without giving him a chance to question me on it, then walk around town until I know Willow will be at work.

When it’s safe to return, I head back, spending the rest of the morning working out—in the living room, since I can’t go near the hot tub anymore—and in the afternoon I watch mindless television with Pippa.

“Want to go to the diner for dinner?” I ask, when the credits roll on our last movie.

Pippa winces, offering me an apologetic grin. “An old friend asked to catch up before we go… but leave your phone on. I’m sure I’ll need bailing out pretty early on as I have a feeling she just wants some gossip on you. Let’s get a drink after that.”

I don’t ask why she’s going if she knows that, and reluctantly agree, hating that I’m so reliant on her. There’s only so many times you can hang out in the bar alone when you’re famous.Fucking small-town gossip.

After taking a second shower and throwing on some sweats, I grab a beer and busy myself with my phone, catching up on the latest San Francisco news.

When Willow gets home, she avoids all eye contact as she quietly heats her leftovers. But before heading to her room, she stops in the hallway, spinning around to face me.

“I see yourgirlfriendditched you again.”

The sass on her.Fucking Buttercup.

Resting back on my elbows, I kick my feet up on her coffee table and shrug, refusing to let her get to me.

She mumbles something about “couple goals” before flipping me off as she walks away. I almost laugh, but when she slams her door and a new silence falls over the house, I realize this situation is nothing to laugh about.

At nine forty-five, Pippa still hasn’t messaged, frustrating the hell out of me. Being here with Willow isn’t a smart idea, and the longer I stay, the harder it will be not to drink myself stupid out of boredom and nerves.

Bouncing my knee, I pull up Pippa’s contact and type out a message.

Jesse: Where are you? I’m coming—

Holy shit.Willow steps into view and I press send halfway through typing, my thoughts completely forgotten. She’s wearing a faded white tee that’s so old it’s practically see-through—and almost nothing else. The swells of her breasts are visible through the thin material, and as she walks past, I’m paralyzed by the unwelcome hold she has over me, unable to look away.

Padding lightly into the kitchen, she stretches up to reach a glass above the sink, and my eyes flash to her toned legs before raking over her entire body, taking in her—shit, sheisnaked.

My cock swells, and I have to fight myself not to reach down and grab it…but that’s not what has me freaked out.

What’s worse is the way my heart beats for her. The way it thumps in my chest to a rhythm that belongs to no one else. Like the stupid muscle remembers.

She turns to reach for something, and I notice the hint of black material beneath her top. She’s not naked, but close enough, and to my cock, there’s no difference. It’s the other parts of me that feel something else.

Yes, I have needs, and I’m desperate for a quick fuck, but this is more than that. Right now, I want to drop to my knees and worship her until she screams. I want to sink my fingers inside her again and listen to her moan my name. I want to devour her. Feast on her. Have her begging for more. I. Want. It. All.

But I can’t have any of it.

When she’s finished her drink, she bends over to put the glass in the dishwasher, and I lose all control as an irrational rage courses through me.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I bark out, pretending I haven’t just been a voyeur in the Willow show again.

She jumps at the sound of my voice, and her hand flies to her chest. “Jesus!” she cries out, her eyes wide with shock. “I thought you went out with Pippa.”

“I’m still waiting. Why are you naked?”

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