She stares at me blankly.
“For example, I might say ‘never have I ever had a threesome’ and if that is a true statement I don’t take a shot but if I have in fact had a threesome then I would take the shot. Got it?”
She nods and takes the shot in her hand, I gesture for her to start the game.
“Okay, um...never have I ever had sex.”
We both take a shot. I pass out the next round.
“My turn. Never have I ever had a one night stand.” I take a shot and Abby keeps her shot glass firmly on the table. Not a big surprise there given what Lee said last night.
“Never have I ever been in love.” Neither of us take a shot this time.
“There’s no such thing as love,” I challenge.
Abby bites her lip but doesn’t argue. I expected her to challenge me.
“Maybe you’re right,” She finally says with a shrug. “Is that why you only do casual sex?” she hit the nail on the head with that one.
“Yup,” I nod and then push another shot towards her.
“Never have I ever had a threesome.” I take a shot and unsurprisingly Abby doesn’t.
“Really?” She asks curiously.
“Yeah, it wasn’t as cool as I thought it would be though,” I admit but don’t elaborate.
“Never have I ever had an orgasm,” Abby says meeting my gaze, she doesn’t take a shot.
“You’ve got to be kidding me?” I say after taking my own shot. “Seriously never?”
“That’s what I said,” She looks down like she’s embarrassed by the conversation now. She’s the one who brought it up though.
“Not even by yourself?” The image of her touching herself gives me an instant raging erection.
“I’ve never…” She takes a shot and licks her lips before continuing. “I’ve never done anything by myself,” She says blushing again.
It is officially my mission in life to find every way to make Abby blush, she looks so damn sexy when she’s blushing.
“Damn Red, you’re killing me,” I say before I can stop myself. I’d love to blame it on too many shots in too short of time but I think it has more to do with not enough blood flow to my brain because it’s all in my cock.
“What do you mean?” She’s not playing coy, she genuinely doesn’t know what I’m talking about.
“You're sexy as hell and all I can think about now is making you scream,” I answer honestly.
“Ethan,” She tenses slightly shakes her head and looks around the bar trying hard to avoid looking in my direction. “It’s not going to happen. I don’t date and I don’t hook up, just think of me as a nun and we can just be friends.”
“You’re too damn sexy to be a nun,” I challenge jokingly.
“So are you kind of a man-whore or what?” She asks bluntly.
Usually I have no problem saying ‘hell yeah, and proud of it’, but part of me wants to downplay it to her. On the other hand, if I lie now she’s just going to find out the whole truth from Lee later anyways.
“I guess you could say I have quite a reputation.” I take a large gulp of my beer and grimace. The taste mixed with the after taste of the sweet shots is downright sickening. I push the remaining shots in Abby’s direction.
“Why do you do it?”
“Why don’t you date or hook up?” I challenge to deflect the question.
“I don’t want to talk about it. This game isn’t fun anymore.” Abby reaches for the two remaining shots and takes them one after another, and then she tilts her rum and coke to her lips and finishes that as well before getting up shakily.
“Whoa, head rush,” She laughs, the angry girl from a moment ago quickly forgotten. “I’m going to dance.”
She weaves through the crowd towards a makeshift dance floor where people are undulating drunkenly. She sways her hips to the music hitting every beat dead on. I could watch her shake that glorious ass all damn day.
“Where’s Abby?” Lee's voice startles me.
I gesture towards the dance floor.
“Shit,” She looks down at all of the empty shot glasses and a look of panic crosses her face. “How much did you let her drink?”
“I don’t know, I wasn’t counting her drinks I figured she was a grown ass woman who could decide how much to drink,” I respond defensively.
“You were wrong. If she’s dancing it means she’s wasted which means she’s about five minutes from either vomiting or sobbing in the bathroom for the rest of the night. Either way we need to get her home.”
“Lee, good news we don’t have to live with the shame of that defeat. They agreed to let us go best two out of three,” Nikki announces after appearing from the crowd and grabbing Lee's arm excitedly.
“I can’t Nikki, I have to take my roommate home,” Lee says regretfully.
“No, it’s okay,” I wave her towards Nikki. “I can take her home.”
Lee shakes her head and frowns.
“She’ll probably need someone to take care of her. She needs me.”
“I can take care of her,” I assure her. “Go, have fun. Drive home safe.”
Lee relents and gives me a hug before following Nikki away.
Chapter 4
Abby
I drank way too much. I immediately regret my decisions. I’ll admit it, I’m a bit of a lightweight when it comes to alcohol, which is why I prefer pot most of the time. Having more than one or two drinks almost always ends one of two ways for me. Best case scenario I’m going to be praying to the porcelain god tonight, worst case scenario...I try not to even think about it. Every once in a while when I get wasted I end up thinking about the one thing I NEVER think about. Not the accident. This is worse than the accident. This is something I don’t give words to. Because then it would be a real thing instead of a horrible nightmare that I try so hard to forget. It’s the reason I know I’m not worthy to move on with my life. I don’t deserve to have a life. I draw in several deep breaths as my heart races at the thought of it.
“Are you about to barf, Red?” Ethan asks from the driver’s seat. I press my cheek against the cool glass of the passenger side window.
“No. My therapist said it’s a panic attack,” I say drawing in several more deep breaths, trying to slow my heart rate.
“You see a therapist?” Ethan asks.
I can feel the judgment in his voice. I know he must be thinking I’m a total wack job freak if I need a therapist.
“Not anymore,” I clarify.
“Why not?”
nosy much? Lucky for him I’m drunk enough to feel chattier than usual.
“All she wanted to do was drug me up. I hated the anti-anxiety meds she gave me, they made me feel so empty. I felt like I was living in a fog. She couldn’t help me, so I stopped going.”
My phone buzzes. I look to see the word ‘Mom’ flash across the screen. I immediately hit the ‘ignore’ button. Even if I wasn’t drunk I don’t want to ruin my streak of not speaking to her.
“Was that Lee calling to make sure I’m not trying to take advantage of you?”
“No, it was my mom,” I admit with a sigh.
“You always ignore your mom or just when you’re wasted?” Ethan asks curiously.
I want to tell him to mind his business but since he left the bar early to take care of me I suppose I should play nice.
“Always,” I respond simply.
“You guys don’t get along?” He asks.
When I don’t respond right away he continues talking.
“I’m sure Lee's mentioned it, but we haven’t talked to our parents since we moved out. So I get it, parents can be difficult to deal with.”
I clamp my mouth shut tight. What is there to even say about my mother? ‘Oh, she’s fine I just don’t like to talk to her because she reminds me of my abusive alcoholic father. Don’t worry he’s dead now. He dropped dead when I was ten, thank god’. I wonder how he would respond to that one.
“She’s fine, she just
likes to talk and I don’t,” I respond vaguely.
“What does she want to talk about?”
“If I wanted to talk about it I would’ve just answered the damn phone,” I snap at him. I feel bad instantly as the silence stretches out between us for several seconds. “Sorry, it’s just too much to deal with right now. Or ever.”
Ethan nods but doesn’t say anything.
I thank my lucky stars that I reach the bathroom before I start hurling. I feel Ethan’s gentle hands gather my hair up and pull it back as I’m face deep in the toilet. When I feel a strong hand against my back, I flinch involuntarily. Ethan must notice because he quickly pulls his hand back.
“Which toothbrush is yours?” He asks reaching for the toothpaste.
“Blue,” I mutter flushing the toilet. He hands me my toothbrush with paste already on it careful not to touch me this time.
“Why are you being so nice when I just keep being a total bitch to you?”
“Because you’re pretty and you seem like you need a friend,” Ethan says with a lopsided smile.
“You want to be my friend?” I ask incredulously. I throw in an eye roll for good measure. He nods and then cautiously offers me a hand to help me up.
“Sure I want to be friends. Come on, I really need someone to watch Doctor Who with, and none of my other friends get my obsession with Marvel movies, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. I need a nerd buddy. Don’t shut me down.” He shoots me puppy dog eyes.
“Fine, we can be friends,” I relent with a sigh. If I wasn’t trying to put on a prickly front though I’d admit that it kind of makes me warm and fuzzy inside to have a new friend.
“Are you okay or do you want to stay in here?” He asks, keeping a respectable distance between us in the cramped bathroom.
“I think I’m okay.”
I brush my teeth and then rinse out my mouth with water. I get the distinct impression Ethan was checking out my ass as I bent over the sink to rinse my mouth.
“Are you going straight to bed, or do you want to hang out and watch some Netflix for a bit?”
“Netflix, please.”
We head to the living room and get comfy on the couch. Ethan grabs me a glass of water from the kitchen.
“Can I ask you a really awkward favor?” I’m drunk enough that I don’t care if I embarrass myself.
Ethan hesitates before smiling and nodding.
“Can we snuggle?”
“What?” Ethan laughs and cocks an eyebrow at me with a cautious confusion in his blue eyes.
“I’m lonely and sad. I really just want to snuggle. Plus, I’m drunk enough to be able to ask. Please?” I shamelessly shoot him the puppy dog eyes like he’d done to me earlier.
It’s been so long since I’ve felt really human contact. I honestly can’t remember what it feels like to have a man’s arms around me. The voice of a scared young girl tries to break through my drunken barrier of courage but I force her down. I’m not the girl I was back then and if Ethan tries to hurt me I know how to defend myself now. Don’t I deserve a little human contact?
“Sure,” Ethan sighs opening his arms and gesturing me forward.
I snuggle into the crook of his arm and rest my head on his shoulder. My heart flutters as I breathe in his masculine scent. No, this is platonic.
“Thank you,” I mumble against him.
I’m sure he put something on to watch but I can’t remember what it was because within just a few minutes I’m dead asleep with his arms around me. I can’t remember the last time I slept that well.
Ethan
My heart pounds as she snuggles against me. This girl is a mess of mixed signals and contradictions. Fist she practically jumps out of her skin when I touch her back, now she’s snuggled against me. Her ass pressed firmly against my erection. If she notices it she doesn’t say anything.
Why is her proximity affecting me like this? It’s not like I’ve never cuddled with a chick before. In fact, it’s usually a sure fire way to get in their pants. But I’m not trying to get in her pants. Okay, that’s a lie I would jump her right now if I thought she’d be down for it. But, it’s obvious that she is a bit skittish about men, and for some reason I really want to know why.
I’m surprised she even wanted to get this close to me. Until now she had been actively putting space between us. So what does this mean? Maybe she wants me to make a move? Before I can finish contemplating the meaning behind this cuddle-fest I hear soft snoring coming from her. That’s fucking adorable. I can’t keep the smile off of my face. What is wrong with me?
“This is awfully cozy,” Lee's voice causes me to jerk awake.
Abby stirs beside me as well. As soon as her eyes fall on me a look of horror crosses her face. Before I can say anything she’s off the couch and sprinting towards her bedroom.
“Damn Lee, did you really have to wake us?” I sit up and rub my eyes. I feel surprisingly cold now that Abby is gone.
“What the hell was going on here?” Lee's voice is laced with accusation. “You said you would take care of her. In what universe is bedding a sad, drunken girl the same as taking care of her?”
“Jesus Lee, I didn’t fuck her. I held her hair and got her a glass of water like a fucking gentleman. Then, she said she was sad and asked me to hold her. I guess we both fell asleep. That’s all that happened, I answer defensively.
“Alright, that does sound like drunk Abby. If I had a nickel for every time she made me cuddle with her I’d be as rich as she is.”
“She’s rich?”
“Well not actually rich, but she has enough money that she doesn’t have to work her way through college like the rest of us do. I think she has some sort of inheritance or something. She never wants to talk about it,” Lee explains.
“That seems to be a common theme with her. Is there anything she does like to talk about?”
“Benign things like movies, books, school. Anyway, I’m heading to bed.” Lee turns to head toward her bedroom.
“Lee, did you have fun with Nikki?” I ask before she gets too far.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She narrows her eyes at me.
“Nothing. Night Sis,” I sigh and lay back down. Maybe Lee and I are both too damaged by our parents to ever have healthy, normal relationships with other people.
Chapter 5
Abby
I jerk awake from my usual nightmare around 7am. I’m greeted with a pounding headache and a mild nausea. A small parting gift from drinking too much last night.
“Morning Red,” Ethan calls to me cheerfully as I step out of my bedroom.
I wince at the noise.
“Too loud,” I grumble.
“Aww, is somebody a little hung over?” Lee taunts from the kitchen.
I give her the finger before skirting around her towards the coffee maker.
“You and Ethan looked awfully cozy on the couch last night when I came in.” She whispers with a conspiratorial smile.
“You and Nikki have fun last night?” I counter. I know this is the one subject that will end this conversation. I receive a dirty look from Lee but somehow she isn’t deterred.
“I know you have some secret demons you don’t want to talk about. But, it doesn’t hurt to let people in once in a while,” She answers gently.
“Lee, stop.”
She nods once and finally drops the conversation.
“How’d you sleep Red?” Ethan asks as I enter the living room.
“Fine,” I respond vaguely.
I was cozy with Ethan on the couch last night to be honest. I can’t remember the last time I slept so well. I wish Lee hadn’t barged in and woken me up. When I opened my eyes and saw Ethan with his arms wrapped around me it was nice. But, then my whole body had been seized with panic as I’d realized how vulnerable I was wrapped in his strong arms.
It’s not like I want to be a friggin nun forever, I’d love to get all naked and sweaty with a sexy guy like Ethan. Maybe one day. Ugh, my l
ife kind of sucks. In so many ways I’m so much stronger as a person than I was with Justin. But in other ways I’m like an empty shell of a person. How is that even possible?
“Listen Red,” Ethan pulls me from my thoughts.
“Stop calling me Red,” I gripe. He shoots me a lopsided smile and then continues talking.
“Sometimes Lee doesn’t respond to my texts or calls and I get worried. I know I shouldn’t, she’s capable of taking care of herself. It’s just that she’s my baby sister. I was wondering if I could get your number. Then, if I can’t get a hold of her, I can at least check in with you to see if she’s okay.”
“Wow, props for the smooth execution of that request. Asking for my number in a way that makes it virtually impossible to say no.”
I open my hand for him to hand me his phone.
“You better not use this number for anything other than an emergency,” I warn as I type my number in and hand him his phone back.
“You got it Red,” He winks at me before heaving himself off the couch. “See you guys later.”
“Abby?” Lee pulls me close so we can snuggle on the couch, like we usually do when we watch TV together.
“Yeah Lee?”
“I just want you to know that you’re my best friend. If there’s ever anything you need to talk about I’m here for you.”
“Right back at ya sister.”
I’m sure one day I’ll be ready to talk about everything. I hope then the nightmares will stop.
“Are you ready for school to start next week?” I ask her, trying to get at a lighter subject. Lee sighs.
“I guess. I’m mostly glad I only have two years left. There is a light at the end of the tunnel,” She laughs.
Ethan
My apartment feels way too quiet as I slump down on my couch after a ten hour work day. I pull out my phone and type a text to Red.
Ethan: Since I’m only supposed to text you in an emergency, what exactly constitutes an emergency?
A knock on my door pulls me from my thoughts. I have a feeling I know who it is.
Worth the Wait (Sexy Nerd Boys #1) Page 3
