I burst out laughing and choke on thin air. “Reed.” My voice rasps until I clear it. “People will be dying to dress you. You don’t need her. I doubt you’ll have any trouble.”
“Good. So that’s settled. We’re locking in a party and a premiere, both great opportunities to show the world how perfect you are for Cynthia.”
“Exactly. And if we’re lucky, Bria will be reaching out one way or another before either has even happened. Have you told her yet?”
“I haven’t.” His voice croaks before he subtly clears his throat. “She went home for Christmas this year, so we haven’t had a chance to talk properly.”
The mood changes and even though we’re not together, I can sense his unease. “Are you worried about it?”
“I don’t know if it’s that or something else. But either way, after New Year’s Eve, she’s going to know.”
“Wait. You invited her, didn’t you?”
“Surprise.” Reed’s voice rises and I picture him waving his hands around. “She kind of invited herself. I hope you’re ready.”
Jesus. Am I? My stomach sinks at the prospect, but I smile through it. “As I’ll ever be.”
With Reed in another state for his away game and me being busy during the week, we don’t see each other until he arrives to pick me up for the New Year’s Eve party the following Thursday, and when he walks in, I have to pick my jaw up from the floor.
Holy shit.
Greeting me with a casual it’s-just-another-Thursday smile, Reed’s wearing a fitted long-sleeve Henley top andgreysweatpants. I’ll repeat,greysweatpants.
He’s obviously trying to kill me.
Slamming my eyes shut, I massage my temples and count to three, repeating my newly created mantra over and over.I cannot sleep with Reed. I cannot sleep with Reed. I—
“What’s going on, Hayls?” he interrupts. “You look troubled.”
“Troubled?” My eyes flash open. “I wouldn’t call it troubled so much ashorny.” I grin nervously, feeling a little joy when Reed’s face twists uncomfortably, as though my words cause him physical pain. Now he knows how I feel.
“Christ, Hayls.” He shakes his head.
“Sorry, but you’re wearing sweatpants and they suit you.” I tilt my head as my eyes drop to the natural bulge between his legs, making me sigh dreamingly.
“Hayls,” he scolds and it makes the moment even hotter. “Iwasgoing to give you your present right now, but I think I’ll change first.” He throws his bag over his shoulder and gestures toward the bathroom.
“This isn’t my present?” I pout, my gaze still locked on the bulge.
A strangled groan gets caught in his throat. “I’m going. I’ll be back.” He stalks away and I shift my focus to his ass, my laughter bursting out of me.
“Sorry,” I call out, laughing harder when he tells me it’s fine.
While he’s getting ready, I try to get the image of him railing me against a wall out of my head for long enough to finish curling my hair. And when I’m done, I step into my tight little black dress, shimmying it up over my body before walking out with the zipper undone.
I’ve got to stop buying dresses when I can’t reach the zipper. It’s problematic. But I guess it has led to me getting to know my neighbour well since I often beg her to help. I’ve even had her six-year-old help me once.
We won’t talk about the time I slept in my dress because I couldn’t get the zipper back down.
Today, I have Reed. Add that to the pros of having a boyfriend.
Said boyfriend is staring out my window as I walk back into the living room, and when he turns to face me, it’shisjaw that drops this time.
“Fuck, Hayls. You’re breathtaking.”
My heart skips as I laugh, jokingly lifting his jaw. “Flattery will get you everywhere, dear boyfriend. Can you zip me up?” Spinning around to flash him my back, I pull my hair aside and draw in a breath, feeling exposed all of a sudden. Reed steps closer and the energy around us changes. It thickens somehow. Try as I might to write it off as the magic of New Year’s Eve, it’s harder to ignore when his fingers brush my skin and a shiver runs through me.
Geez, Hayls. It’s innocent. Get a grip.
