Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Seth’s hair looked a bit strange, random strands going this way and that, but it made sense once I spotted the curling iron across the room. Come to think of it, Mom’s hair was styled as well.
I smirked. “What am I going to do with the two of you?”
A flirty look passed through Seth’s eyes that made me swallow hard and turn away.
Boys can be so dumb…
Why did overhearing Seth make me want to prove him wrong? And why did it also raise the hair on my nape that he might’ve been treated badly by past boyfriends?
He was too adorable for his own good, and honestly, I’d never thought that way about another guy before. Sure, I’d considered some of them hot over the years—and that was my first sign that maybe I had an inclination toward women and men. And once I’d finally given in to my curiosity and watched a gay-porn clip, I knew with the utmost certainty. But knowing it and admitting it were two different things. I’d never acted on any attraction—except in my head when I needed to get off—and the thought of it terrified me for a variety of reasons. But this was so not the time to be thinking about Seth’s bow-shaped lips and how his innocent laugh filled me with warmth. Likely this had more to do with the smile he was putting on my mother’s face. For that I would always be grateful.
“Well, we obviously think you should join us,” Mom said, patting the seat behind her. I loved seeing that lightness in her eyes—even if she’d definitely had more than her share of wine—and if that was the kind of playfulness Seth brought out in her, I was all for it.
After grabbing a beer from the fridge, I sat down beside Mom and finished watching an ’80s movie with them, while they swooned like schoolkids over some hunky older brother on the screen.
“Even Jake has to admit he’s cute,” Seth said, pointing toward the television.
I shrugged. “Eh. Whatever.”
He raised an eyebrow. “C’mon, even a straight guy can appreciate how attractive he is, all buff and sexy.”
My face flushed at the comment. Part of me was afraid he saw the truth I was hiding, while the other part wanted to blurt out that I wasn’t so straight after all.
And besides, muscular guys were so not my type. Wait a minute, I had a type? Yeah, suppose I did.
“Okay, sure.” I scoffed. “Now will you stop asking?”
Seth high-fived Mom as if they’d gotten me to admit some secret password instead of a dude’s good looks. If Mia were here, she’d have some words for me about promoting toxic masculinity or something like that, and she’d be right. It was stupid to be this afraid of voicing an opinion, especially in front of someone I trusted with my life and a new friend, who I knew purely by instinct was a good person.
When the movie was finally over, I stood up to stretch, lifting my hands over my head. My shirt was no doubt riding up—which was ridiculous to even think about right then because who the hell cared if I had skin showing? Except I could feel Seth’s gaze searing into me, and for some reason, I liked how that felt. When I glanced in his direction, he looked away, his cheeks flushed. Tipsy Seth was too damned funny.
After I dumped the empty wine bottles and stored the remaining Oreos, I handed Mom and Seth some ice waters to help them sober up, or they’d be hurting in the morning. As Seth gulped the cool liquid down gratefully, his eyes snagged on a pack of cards from the other night when Mom and I played Rummy.
Seth insisted we play a game called Ninety-Nine, which required dollar bills as well as counting. It turned pretty comical when neither of them was able to concentrate long enough to tally the numbers and dissolved in laughter instead.
“I think we need to call it a night,” I said when Mom accidentally knocked the deck of cards off the table and Seth snorted loudly. I looked pointedly at Seth before squatting down to gather the cards. “You shouldn’t be driving home.”
“I can take an Uber,” he replied, fumbling for his cell on the table.
“I can drive you,” I asserted.
“Nonsense, he’ll stay overnight.” Mom gripped the table as she stood, probably so she wouldn’t fall over. “It is a pajama party, after all.”
“That’s okay.” Seth’s voice was thick. “I can—”
“Sounds like a plan,” I replied. “The couch is surprisingly comfortable.”
Unfortunately, my house was only a two-bedroom, so I didn’t technically have a guest room. Suppose I would soon, though.
Seth looked relieved. “You sure?”
“We’re sure,” Mom said. “Let me grab some sheets so I can—”
“I got it handled, Ma.” I gripped her shoulder and kissed her cheek. “Go on to bed.”