Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Me
I can bribe her with brownies next time. Consider your contraband safe.
The heat in my chest moved lower. I saw her smile in my head, imagining it when she read my reply—the way it started in her mouth and finally reached her eyes when she couldn’t hold the reserve anymore. My body reacted like it always did when I let myself go there, a hard line of want. It took a lot of effort to put a leash on it because this wasn’t the time or the place. I stuffed the phone under the strap on my bag and went back to cleaning up.
Once we finished setting everything right, we hit the locker room to shower and change. It hummed with bad jokes and steam that fogged mirrors even though the fans were doing their best to clear the air.
Metal lockers slammed. Tape ripped. Water hammered tile. This was the soundtrack of my life. Or it was before I met Ivy. Now, I couldn’t wait for the sound of her voice to wrap around me.
I toweled off, pulled on a black tee that stuck to my damp shoulders, and scraped my hair back with my fingers until it settled where it belonged.
Another buzz. Anticipation lifted one corner of my lips as I eagerly unlocked the screen. One line this time. But it pushed a bark of laughter out of my mouth, stunning everyone who heard it.
Ivy
Reminder, you promised not to glare at innocent men today. I have witnesses.
I felt my mouth curve even more. It was a good sign when a woman knew your bad habits and teased you about them like she owned the right. I typed back, leaned against the cool locker, and tuned out the noise in the room.
Me
First, I don’t remember making that promise. It doesn’t sound like me. Also…
Me
Define innocent.
Her dots blinked, paused, then blinked again.
Ivy
Men who ask for “just the tips” are fair game. The rest are innocent bystanders.
I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep in another laugh. Apparently, I failed.
“What the fuck?” Cole’s voice suddenly exclaimed. I glanced up to see him walking in the room, his eyes glued to my face. “I’m almost certain I just heard Saxon laugh.”
Raiden smirked from a bench, wrist-deep in his gym bag. “I’ve concluded that he got laid.”
“Bullshit.” Sylas didn’t miss a beat. “Raiden wouldn’t recognize the signs unless they came with a Yelp review.”
Ames grunted from behind his locker door. “Some of us are just here to lift heavy things, children.”
“Definitely about a woman, though,” Brady murmured.
Ames nodded while Cole studied me a little too closely, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. I figured Lorna had spilled the beans to her husband. I just hoped he read the warning in my expression. Ivy was not up for discussion with these idiots. I wasn’t ready to share her yet.
He inclined his head just the tiniest bit, and I released a relieved breath.
“Who is she?” Ames asked.
“Nope,” I muttered. “Not talking about that.”
Micah shut his own locker with his hip and eyed me like a man appreciating a rare astronomical event. “Well, whoever she is, keep her. You’re almost human these days.”
“Fuck off,” I grunted, my typical scowl back in place. “And stay out of my business.”
Raiden shot a glare at Micah, but it was clearly in fun. “Thanks a lot, Micah. You broke him again. Back to the beast.”
Brady zipped his backpack and slung it over one shoulder, looking at me curiously. “You coming to study film tomorrow?”
“I have PR shit to do.” I pulled on a hoodie, the fabric cool against my warm skin. “And a life.”
Cole raised his eyebrows in mock offense. “So this woman you’re obsessed with. Isn’t she—”
My dark, warning glare cut him off mid-sentence, but he grinned, clearly not intimidated.
A couple of the guys made a few more cracks, obviously fishing for information.
I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag. “You’re worse than a pack of gossiping grandmas,” I told them, my tone even, not unamused.
“We’ll get you put back together again one of these days,” Raiden quipped confidently.
I waved a lazy middle finger over my shoulder, cut through the steam and noise, and pushed out into the corridor. My phone was already in my hand before the door shut behind me.
Me
I’m heading out. You need anything before I swing by?
The reply came quickly enough that I knew she’d been holding the phone.
Ivy
Just your good behavior.
Me
No promises.
Ivy
I’ll allow one glare. Two if he deserves it.
Me
And how do I know what your criteria are?
Ivy
You’ll know.
I slid the phone into my pocket and let the smile sit where no one could see it. I didn’t think about the guys anymore. My mind was filled with Ivy.
It didn’t matter what she was doing. I wanted to be with her.