Page 25 of Seeking Her Studs

“For what else, Hollywood? Round two.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Blaire

I peel my naked body off of the dusty, bare mattress. The camper van feels like a hotbox with the morning sun beating down on it and no ventilation in the bedroom.

I open my eyes and look around.

All alone.

I shouldn’t be surprised. It was clear what last night was to both of us.

Sex.

Blowing off steam.

Scratching an itch.

Whatever I call it, the truth remains. It wasn’t love. But I have to admit it was really, really hot non-love.

It still doesn’t feel like my finest moment shimmying into last night’s clothes for the strangest walk of shame ever.

I pop open the door of the camper, which is hanging on its hinges, and spot the bag brought over for me last night sitting on the ground as if it’s waiting for a reasonable person to bring it in and carry on their night alone. I grab a water bottle and chug it.

I glance at the bag containing the egg sandwich waiting there untouched. Sorry, egg sandwich. I really wish I would have eaten you, but it turns out I am, in fact, not a reasonable person.

After I take a very non-Hollywood squat behind the camper to pee, I accept my fate and head back to the house for a shower.

I take a deep sigh as I step through the field that connects the camper to the house. It feels like I can finally breathe for the first time since I woke up. The sun is climbing up over the mountains. There’s a refreshing breeze that rustles the long blades of grass, making their shadows dance.

This place could really be magic. But I can’t help the feeling of emptiness that followed me from Los Angeles. I’ve seen so many wonderful things in my life. It’s part of the job to have access to things most people could dream of. Yet, I’m getting damn sick of seeing all the wonderful things alone. I want to share it with someone. I try to fight the hurt that this walk could have been shared with Colt if he had bothered to stick around.

Even though last night was a disaster trying to find my Mountain Studs, I can’t give up. It’s the only hope I can cling to right now.

Because while last night was really sexy, now it just feels like I’m going on the same self-destructive path by choosing superficial connections in place of meaningful ones. And it’s already feeling bad.

I wonder what the three Mountain Studs are up to at this very moment? Hopefully not also taking a walk of shame.

And then it hits me. The Mountain Studs have that nickname for a reason. They can’t stay away from the mountains for long.

I need to remember all that I can from our conversations before they blocked me. I can even go over some screenshots I sent to Ruby for clues. They had their favorite trails and I bet if I look at a map, I can make a checklist of places to find them.

My walk transforms from a dejected sex monster trudging out of her den to a woman with a purpose cheerily bouncing along.

Now I just have to sneak into the house unnoticed.

I head toward the giant robin egg blue hydrangea bushes that line the garden. If I can just get past them unnoticed, then I’m in the clear and I can take a nice long shower to wash off every bad decision I made last night.

I round the corner, thinking I can take a sigh of relief but stop dead in my tracks.

It’s a family freaking breakfast.

Briggs, Colt, and Reese are seated around the stone outdoor dining table, passing around a plate of pancakes like they’re the Brady bunch. And I would blow them off, despite them looking frustratingly adorable, but I can’t. Because seated at the head of the table is Kaylee. And I haven’t seen her since our incident in the diner.

I straighten my top out to make sure there’s no rogue boob coming out the side of it. Colt notices me and a grin spreads across his face. I glare back at him accusatorily.

Yes, I made it out of the camper alive, you asshole. Thanks.

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