Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 108846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“It’s not?” Does he know that?
“No.” Her headshake emphasizes her answer and then a playful smile curls her lips. She adjusts her stance closer to me, her chest subtly nudging my biceps. “So, you do know who I am.”
Maybe I’m extra sensitive because of Tasha, or because I consider Ryan a friend, but I don’t want to play this game anymore. Tipping back my drink to down the rest of my whiskey in one gulp, I set the empty glass on the counter. “Yeah, you’re the girl who my other roommate’s boyfriend cheated with. Have a good night.” I leave her gape-mouthed, carving my way through the crowd to Connor and the glaze-eyed brunette he’s finger-banging while they sway to the pulsing music. “Heading out now. It’s late.”
Connor pulls his hand away from the girl to check his watch, earning her frown.
“Damn, it is.” Leaning down, he whispers something in her ear.
She nods and, holding up a wait-a-second finger, scuttles over to her friends.
“Which one do you want?” Connor calls out over the music, and I feel the girls’ excited eyes survey me.
What is this, an auction? “Neither.”
“Dude,” he chastises with a what’s wrong with you look.
“I have a headache,” I lie.
“You know what fixes that? Both of them.”
I shake my head, hoping the girls get the message. “Ryan’s got her exams coming up. She’ll kill me if she loses sleep.”
Connor shrugs. “My room’s big enough for all of us.”
I chuckle. He is, by definition, the opposite of a cock-blocker. “Nah, I’m good. I’ll see you at home.” We’re only a fifteen-minute walk away.
I hightail it out of there before he can convince me to reconsider.
22. Ryan
“She lives!” Connor exclaims as I emerge from my room around eight on Saturday night, my stomach growling with hunger. He and Ronan are lazing on the couch, watching a basketball game. “What have you been doing all day?”
“The same thing I do every Saturday. My assignments. Studying.” I stroll toward the fridge, stealing a lightning-fast glance at Ronan. A wave of excitement courses through me.
“How many more years do you have, anyway?” Connor caps off the question with a belch.
“Just one.” If I can concentrate enough to pass my exams. It’s been a struggle, staring at my books and notes all day while my ears remain open, listening for any sound that might indicate Ronan’s going to pay me another visit. They were out late last night, and Ronan came home alone again. He went straight to bed, while I lay in mine for a good hour, listening, thinking that maybe he was waiting for me, that I should go over there. Finally, I drifted off.
“Hey, would you be a sweet, kind sister and bring over another round for us?”
“It’s not fair.” I pull two beers off the top shelf. If I ate and drank like they did, I’d balloon. Keeping my expression smooth, I wander over to the couch, handing Connor’s can to him first, then one to Ronan.
Ronan’s fingers graze mine in the exchange.
Connor frowns up at me. “You look different.”
“That’s because you’re drunk.”
Ronan snorts.
“No … are you wearing makeup?”
“So what?” I turn my back to him, wanting to hide the flush in my cheeks. I went to Ulta this morning to pick up my face moisturizer, and I was waylaid by a saleswoman who asked if she could try out a new mascara on my lashes. Normally I pass, but she was beautiful and claimed she was wearing that very brand. I wanted to see what it could do for me.
I bought the mascara, along with the gold eye shadow she swiped across my lids.
“So, you never wear makeup,” Connor says slowly.
“Not never.” Just hardly ever.
“Not when you’re sitting in your room all day, studying.”
“Whatever. It’s no big deal. Drop it.”
But he’s not relenting. “I think she’s trying to look good for you.” He elbows Ronan in the ribs.
“What? Why would I want to do that?” I force scorn into my voice while my face burns. This is humiliating.
“Leave her alone,” Ronan warns. “You’re going to make her angry, and she’ll take it out on me.”
“Fine.” Connor belches again, earning my grimace. “By the way, we’re having a goodbye party here next Friday.”
I groan loudly. I knew it was coming, but I can’t stop it. This is Connor’s condo, and I pay very little in rent.
“It’ll be tame,” he promises.
“The cops showed up last time,” I remind him.
“We’ll keep it under control.”
“I had to buy new sheets!”
“Ed’s not invited back. I promise.”
Ronan’s stony expression softens with his chuckle.
My pulse skips a beat, even as I try to argue against this. “And who’s going to clean up if you two are gone the next morning?”
“Maria from the first floor. We’ll get rid of all the trash and empties and leave cash for her.”