Page 129 of Return Policy
“Don’t worry.” Theo joins us, waving his phone at me as the sound of my slurred voice blares from the speaker. “I got it on video.”
“Fuck’s sake,” I groan. “Did everyone stay over here last night?”
“Well, I couldn’t exactly carry you home once you passed out on the lawn,” Sophia says. “Theo and Noah put you on the chair and… I was pretty sure you’d kill Theo if I went home with him alone so…”
I open one eye, taking in her teasing smile. “You’re probably right.”
“Yeah, and then Sophia needed someone to keep her company so…” Andi winks at Sophia, and she laughs.
“Now there’s an idea,” Theo says, and I don’t have the energy to flick him off.
“I’malsokidding,” Andi says with a wide smirk across her face. “Olivia left her phone, so we came to get it.”
“You women are going to kill me,” I growl, and they both laugh.
“We’ll be inside,” Andi says, dragging Theo away, leaving me alone with Sophia. She places a hand on my face, smiling down at me.
“You look way too happy for someone whose boyfriend passed out on their friend’s lawn.”
“It happens.” She shrugs, seemingly unaffected. “Are you okay though? As much as I didn’t mind the lap dance to the sound of ‘Jingle Bell Rock’…” I groan, my face flushing with heat. “You didn’t really seem like yourself.”
I blow out a frustrated breath. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m not upset. I was just worried if everything’s okay with you, that’s all.”
I swallow hard, knowing it’s time for her to learn the one part of me I’m too damn afraid to even face myself.
I think I’d rather show her instead.
37
SOPHIA
“I can’t do it, babe.” Elijah thrusts his phone toward me. “Check for me.”
Grades were just released from the statistics test he took last week, and he’s a jittery mess. He passed his world history final with flying colors—thank you very much to his excellent tutor—but if he doesn’t pass statistics, it doesn’t matter anyway. He’s pacing the room, dragging his fingers through his hair, making me anxious as all hell.
“Elijah.” I grab his arm, pulling him to me. “Just relax. I’ll check. Lie down and whatever happens, I’ll make sure you have a good night, okay?” I wink.
He smirks and climbs on the bed. I climb on top and straddle him, pressing my center directly against his naked abs. He glides his warm palms along the exposed skin of my hips. “I should find out all my life-altering news this way.”
“Okay, here we go.” I press a few buttons, open up his test, and read the result before placing the phone gently on the side table. I lean down towards his face as his rapid heartbeat pounds against my hand.
“You’re killing me, Sunflower.” He grips my hips tighter. “In more ways than one…”
I brush my mouth against his ear and whisper, “You got a ninety-one.”
He bolts up, almost throwing me off the bed, and catches me with a steady arm. “Are you shitting me?” The smile on his face is so wide and beautiful it makes my heart melt.
“You did it, Honey Bee.” In one motion, he flips me onto my back, expelling the air from my lungs.
“I couldn’t have done it without you.” He rests his forehead against mine. “My favorite girl.”
“Yourfavorite?” I scoff playfully. “How many others are there?"
“Let me think…” He sits up, tapping a finger to his mouth, and I roll my eyes. “There’s the smart girl, the artsy girl, the one who loves busting my balls. The silly girl, the mouthy girl, thenoisygirl.” He waggles his eyebrows. “The drive-me fucking-crazy girl. The sexy-even-as-a-koala girl. Oh, and can’t forget the spontaneous let’s-fuck-in-the-study-room girl.” I giggle, running my fingers along his rippled torso.
“And which one of those isactuallyyour favorite?”
