Page 51 of Chosen Boy

I lie on my back, staring at the ceiling. My head hurts. My body hurts. Mybrainhurts. Number one, why did I drink so much? Number two, why did I drink so much and decide it would be a good idea to literally sit on Hunter’s face? Thong-less.

With the few others I’d romantically been with, I never camethathard. Sure, they gave me pleasure, and I enjoyed myself. But Hunter was a whole other ball game.

I’m feeling things I shouldn’t be feeling for him. But even though he and Paige have been formally split up for two years, they still have something there. At least, they did until just recently. I don’t want to be a rebound. And with Hunter, that’s exactly what I would be.

But maybe…we could use each other to get over our shit. He’s sulking over the rejection of his ex, and I’m getting over getting the boot from my parents. Sex could be helpful. In fact, I think we both deserve it, to be honest.

The door squeaks open, and Ryann peeks through the crack before pushing it open the rest of the way. Taking a few steps, she leaps onto my bed, landing next to me.

“Okay, so…tell me everything and don’t leave anything out,” she says, eyes wide. “Ya girl is getting no dick. You have thatI just got some dicklook on your face. Do tell.”

“I do not!” I smack her lightly. “And I did not!”

A few days ago, after asking Hunter if it was okay, I told her the arrangement was fake. And that we were just pretending to date, but there were no feelings involved. Somehow, I knew I could trust her, so it felt good to tell her the truth, no matter how messed up it is.

“Hmm…” She taps her fingers to her chin. “Well, I know that look. So, unless you just stashed your vibrator before I walked in here…you had one hell of a release earlier. And since you were with Hunter last night, my money is on that sexy motherfucker.”

Putting my pillow over my face, I feel my cheeks heat to the point of melting. “I’m not telling you shit!”

She tickles me, and I peek out from the pillow.

“Please, I’m not ticklish. You have to have actual feelings to be ticklish. My soul is dead.”

“Wow, you really are like a zombie.” She shrugs. “That’s okay. I’ll just ask him next time we see him, I suppose!”

When she starts to stand, I grab her hand, pulling her back down. “Okay! Fine!” Putting the pillow back over my face, I exhale. “We did something on the yacht. Something…that is a certain number.”

“A number?” she mutters. “Oh! Oh! Ohhh! Shit! You guys did the ol’ sixty-nine?” She hits me, tearing the pillow from my face and chucking it on the floor. “On a yacht? Holy shit! That’s hot.”

I’m somewhere between laughing and dying as I cover my face with my hands. “It was dumb! I was drunk. He was drunk. And I guess we just—”

“Decided to put your mouths on each other’s genitals?” She laughs. “I love it. I mean, I don’t love him. Because, you know…athletes.Buttruthfully, girl, you’ve been a bit uptight. Glad to see he loosened you up a bit.” She winks.

“It’s actually gross when you say it like that.” I groan. “It can’t happen again. It shouldn’t. He’s probably still in love with Paige. His parents tolerate me, but deep down, I’m sure they don’t like the idea of me being around. And let’s not forget that he’s probably going pro.”

She eyes me over. “Sounds like you’re trying to convince yourself not to fall in love with him, Savage.”

“That’ssonot it.” I shake my head. “It’s just…hooking up makes things complicated. We need to just get through this dancing ordeal and go our separate ways. Deep down, we still can’t stand each other.”

“Mmhmm…I always sit on the faces of those I hate too,” she deadpans before her eyes widen. “Does he know you’re dancing at Peaches?”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’ve played it off like I just work in a restaurant off campus. And when he asks for more information, I just change the subject.” I cringe. “I hate lying to people, so I guess I’m just, well, avoiding it?”

“Are you embarrassed?” she asks, but there’s not an ounce of annoyance in her voice. Just curiosity.

“No! Well, maybe a little.” I shrug. “I don’t know. I guess I feel awkward, saying it out loud. Because guess what? Whether you want to call it this or not…we’re strippers. And we both know there’s a stigma around that word.”

“Sure is. But guess what. Every one of us doing it has our reasons why we’re there.” She sighs before she gives me a nervous look. “When it comes to Hunter, whatever you do, just be careful. It’s easy to act like a coldhearted bitch now, but the deeper you get into it…the harder it’s going to be to let go. And maybe you’ll be the girl in the fairy tale. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll get that happily ever after that everyone likes to fantasize about. But if not, just know I’ll be here for ya, homie.”

“Thanks. But if I was smart…I’d just turn off the idea of any sort of physical or emotional relationship.” I clear my throat. “And I am smart. Sort of.” I crane my neck to look at her. “What about you and Watson? How has working with him been going?”

Her body tenses, and she inhales, making her nostrils flare. “It’s fine. He’s nice.Toonice. But he’s not fooling me. They are all the same.”

I laugh. “I wouldn’t be so sure. I hear he is genuinely nice.”

“Whatever,” she mutters, scooching to the side of the bed. “I’m headed to the gym. Wanna join?”

“Hell no. I’m taking myself a damn nap.”

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