He stares at me deadpan.
“I mean, what’s wrong with your hand?”
“It’s on strike.”
Laughter escapes me until Reed frowns my way and I stop. Again. “I’m sorry. But wait. Are you telling me, you’ve been in love with Bria foryearsand—”
“I never said I loved Bria, Hayls,” he cuts me off, his face scrunching. “That’s allyou.”
“And Luke. And Amelia. And Dylan. And Easton. And Paige.”
“Christ, Hayls.”
“Oh, and I forgot, Bria. I bet if I asked her, she’d tell me you love her.”
“Don’t ask her.” He raises a hand between us. “That would be weird coming from mygirlfriend.”
“Very true. But back to the abstaining because you’ve got me intrigued… What other options would you normally have, if not your hand? Do you have a regular call list that I’m blocking you from? Or are youalwayssexually frustrated?”
“The fuck? No,” he huffs out. Something tells me he doesn’t usually talk about his sex life. “I’m not talking about back then. I’m talking aboutnow.”
“Two truths and a lie,” I throw out, hoping to get answers but also to lighten him up a bit.
“Fine.” He glances away, seemingly in thought, before nodding and turning back to face me. “One, I love riding mechanical bulls. Two, I gag on avocados—I can’t stand the texture. And three, two of my cousins got married. To each other. But technically one was adopted.”
I pout at his response, my arms folded over my chest. “Now who’s playing dirty? None of those have anything to do with the information I’m seeking.”
“Didn’t they?” He raises an eyebrow and stares at me while I frown in confusion.What?He loves riding a mech—Oh my God.I snort, slapping his chest.
“Shut up. You donotget off by riding mechanical bulls.”
“Maybe I was referring to avocados.” He shrugs and I slap him again, jokingly, of course.
“I’m kidding. But you never said it had to be about that.”
“Dammit, Reed.”
“Why do you want to know so badly? It’smyissue.” He blows out a breath and I shrug. Because while I have no idea why I need to know, I'm fascinated by the inner workings of my man, fake or otherwise.
“Call it curiosity. We are dating after all.”
“Fine. I don’t have a call list, but I did sleep with other women while I hadfeelingsfor Bria. You knew that already. And it’s been a while.”
“Presumably that would mean you use your hand quite regularly. Why is it onlynowgoing on strike?”
“Let’s just say I’ve needed it a little more often lately. Some hot blonde keepsrubbing up against me.” With his teeth clenched, he groans.
“I told you you’d fall in love with me.” I smirk when he scoffs.
“That’s not love, Sweetheart. It’s attraction. And we both know you’re equally as attracted to me…if not more so.”
“Guilty.” I bite my lip as I fake a grimace. “But that was never in question.”
“What’s the question then?”
I pause, thinking about how I want to play this. Reed shakes his head and stares out at the water, giving me the chance to watch him, and when his throat bobs, I’m done for.
“Do you really want to stop dancing?” I ask, my eyes wide as I draw his attention, my heart beating uncontrollably in my chest.
