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Casey
The doorbell rings in one continuous, obnoxious buzz. I bury my face in my fluffy pillow and groan, knowing it has to be one of two people, and I’m betting Jagger is sleeping off whatever he did last night. That leaves Lily.
Reaching across the bed, I hope to find the insanely chiseled body of the man who sweetly held me all night without even trying to grope me—even if I wouldn’t have minded—but only find cold sheets. I turn my head and peek open an eye. My bottom lip juts out when I see he’s really gone and probably has been for a while.
I hate when he’s gone before I wake.
Flipping over toward my nightstand with a huff, I grab my phone. There are dozens of missed calls and texts from my two besties, and I roll my eyes. I saw them last night. Nothing could be that urgent.
The buzzing stopped a few seconds ago, which means they let themselves in. Why they haven’t barged in here yet, I don’t know, but I better get up before they do.
I’m tossing the covers back when the door opens, but instead of two vapid psychos, sex on a stick walks in wearing nothing but a pair of black basketball shorts, sneakers, a backward ball cap, and a glistening sheen of sweat coating his broad, defined torso.
Why do I want to lick the sweat from his abs? The man has turned me into a deviant.
“Stop looking at me like that, Sunflower. My balls are still fucking blue from yesterday, and your friends are waiting in the kitchen for you.”
“They can keep waiting.” I bite my lip, following the trail of moisture running down the center of his abs as it disappears beneath the waistband of his shorts. His muscles ripple under my heated stare, and he groans.
Leaning down, he catches my bottom lip between his teeth. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I know you wouldn’t want your friends to hear your screams.” He stands up, his jaw clenching tightly. “Give me five minutes to shower off, then you can have the bathroom. I made your favorite frittatas. Feed your friends and yourself while you wait.”
“Frittatas? How long have you been awake?” I glance at my phone again and gasp. It’s almost noon. I race to my dresser, grab a pair of shorts, and slide them over my legs. I spin back around to him with my hands on my hips. “Why did you let me sleep so late?”
“Because you were emotionally and physically drained. You needed it.” He’s right. Yesterday was exhausting. I let one little thing eat away at all the confidence I’ve built over the last few weeks. It should’ve been sweet to know he did so much to ensure I could enjoy my passion. Instead, my mother’s voice echoed through my mind, ripping me to shreds.
Graham apologized for how he reacted to my outburst last night, and I appreciated it. I also appreciated he let me have a minute to myself. I thought I needed a minute to breathe without feeling like I had to do it for him. But the minute he left, I realized I didn’t need space at all. I was still trying to push him away I suppose. Hurt lingered that he kept that from me, but his words turned over in my head for the few hours I was there.
He was right. I lied to my dad to protect him. Now, I know I shouldn’t have. Not about Mom and what she was doing, but the truth is, if I had to do it again to keep his heart intact, I would. Right or wrong, I will lie to protect someone I love. So I can’t be angry if Graham does the same.
He told me he would do anything to keep me safe—to protect me. Nothing was off limits if it meant I would be hurt, and as I sat there slowly sipping my spiked pink lemonade, I knew I would do the same for him. It’s why I’m always so tight-lipped. But with him, my heart is also on my sleeve. It’s a strange conundrum.
“Now go eat.” He turns me toward the door and slaps my backside as he shoves me forward.
Lily and Ashleigh didn’t bother waiting for me. They’re shoving food into their mouths when I get there. They spot me with matching smirks, waggling their brows. “I literally just woke up. I do not look like this for the dirty reasons you’re imagining.”
“Uh-huh, sure,” Ashleigh snickers, making me blush for no reason at all.
“What are you two doing here, anyway?” I fold my arms across my chest as I watch them shovel the egg mixture into their mouths like starving dogs.
“We didn’t get girls’ night last night,” Lily tells me between bites. “I’ve told you; it doesn’t count when Liam is there because you’re no fun. You bailed before freaking ten, Casey. Who does that on a Friday night?”
“I do,” I laugh. “Besides, I wanted to get back here to Graham.”
“Why didn’t he just stay?” Ash asks. “Not like the other two morons weren’t stalking about like assholes.”
I shrug, not wanting to divulge the ins and outs of mine and Graham’s relationship. I know it’s something girlfriends do, butI don’t want to. It feels like what happens with us should stay between us. “He was letting me have girls’ night.”
“He’s probably not comfortable around Liam, either,” Ashleigh suggests.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. I have a feeling Graham takes great pleasure in makingDaduncomfortable. He just refrains because of me.
“Okay. Onto the subject at hand,” Lily says as she wipes her mouth.
“Lily, leave her alone,” Ashleigh warns, and my eyes jump between the silent war going on between them.
“Why should I? I’m feeling woefully neglected on the friend front lately.” She spins, pointing a finger at me. “And you didn’t tell me about him. You’re supposed to tell me. I’m your best friend.”
My brows sink, irritation growing at her hypocrisy. She and Dad were together foryears, and they only told me a few months ago.No. They didn’t tell me. I found out when Dad announced it to a room full of people at Lily’sfake wedding. Any other time, I’d let it go, but suddenly I don’t want to. “You mean like you told me about you and Dad?”
