Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Relief washed over me. “Thank you.”
He stepped back, still looking tense and unhappy about it. But I would deal with him later. I had to go face Calvin. Turning, I spotted my shorts and went to get them.
“Wear this,” Forge said, and I glanced back to see him holding the shirt he’d had on last night.
“Uh, I don’t think—”
“You’re not walking out there in those tiny-ass shorts and top without a bra. In fact, wait a minute,” he said as he started for his closet.
I could hear Calvin knocking again and started putting on my shorts. I had to get out there.
Forge emerged from his closet, holding a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. “Put this on.”
“That’s going to swallow me.” I stated the obvious.
“That is the point,” he replied as he reached me. “Hands up.”
“Forge, seriously—”
“He’s gonna go in that room eventually. You want to hurry and get this on or argue with me? I don’t give a shit either way.”
I lifted my hands and let him slip the hoodie over my head. “Those sweats will not stay up,” I said as he held them out for me to step into like I was a child.
“Drawstring, darlin’. Drawstring.”
Frowning, I decided to just put them on to make the man happy. I thought about pointing out that Calvin had seen me in pajamas much like the ones Winslet had supplied me with many times. He’d also seen me in a bikini. The way Forge was acting, I feared he might lose his shit if he knew that. I would be enjoying this jealous thing he had going here if I wasn’t worried about the talk I had to have with my best friend.
Once he had them pulled up to my waist, he tightened the strings and tied them, then took in my appearance and nodded. “Okay, you can talk to him alone now.”
I let out a small laugh. “Are you sure? Should you put a ski cap over my face just to be safe?”
The corner of his mouth lifted into a crooked grin. “Don’t tempt me, Pickles.”
I rolled my eyes and started for the door.
His fingers wrapped around my wrist, tugging me back before I could take a second step. “Don’t take too long,” he said.
He pressed his lips against my temple and ran the back of his fingers down the side of my neck. I shivered.
“I’ll do the best I can,” I told him. “But this may take a bit.”
“Don’t take too long,” he repeated.
The warning in his tone this time sent a small ripple of fear through me, but I shook it off. He was just being possessive.
“Okay,” I agreed.
He released me then, and I hurried for the door before he changed his mind.
Forty-Six
Elsie
My eyes swung down the hallway to meet Calvin’s as I closed Forge’s door behind me. His gaze drifted down my clothing and then snapped back up to my face. The shock and … well, horror in his expression didn’t bode well for this talk. I started toward him, doing my best to smile.
“Uh, hey. We need to talk,” I told him, hoping he kept his mouth shut until we got inside my room.
“What the hell are you thinking?” he asked a little too loudly.
I winced. Shut up, Calvin. Please.
I put a finger to my lips to shush him. “In my room,” I hissed, annoyed by his reaction.
He didn’t move out of my way when I reached him. Instead, he pointed a finger toward Forge’s door, still with the horrified look on his face. “Did you sleep in there?” he demanded. “Are those his clothes?” His tone was incredulous as he asked a question he already knew the answer to.
“Yes, and yes. Now be quiet and get in that room,” I told him, pointing at it.
“I thought you said you weren’t sleeping with him?” He threw up his hands. “Since when do we lie to each other? And why? Why would you do that? You’re a virgin!”
Okay, whoa. How had he known that? I’d not told him that bit of information. Also, if he would lower his freaking voice, that would be helpful.
“Calvin, you have got to stop talking and go in that room,” I urged him.
“Did you … have you been …” He stopped and shook his head. “I can’t. I just can’t believe you’d have sex with him. Or did you not? Jesus, Els, this is insane. You’re smarter than this.”
I was getting annoyed. He was acting as if I’d just walked out of the room of an escaped convict. It was his cousin, for crying out loud. One he had trusted enough to leave me under his roof. In the room down from his. I didn’t see how my sleeping with him was so offensive.
“Calvin, while I do not understand your over-the-top reaction to this, I do get that you are upset. I will discuss this with you in my room,” I said, shoving him back toward the door.