Page 31 of Blocked Score

I nod, forcing a smile. “Of course.”

She might have broken my heart, but it’s not like she cheated on me or anything. She didn’t do anything wrong. I can’t hold it against her that she came to her senses sooner than I did and realized that jumping from the temporary fun we had in Chicago to a demanding long-distance relationship was a silly idea in the first place.

I don’t want her thinking that I’m holding a grudge—or holding out any hope that we’ll pick up where we left off—and let that make her pass up a no-brainer opportunity to keep her from being homeless.

Hesitancy still radiates from her, so I fix a prodding grin to my lips, prop my forearms on the table, and lean toward her.

“Come on. Where else are you gonna go?”

The flat expression on her face tells me she has no answer to that question.

I don’t know how I’m going to share a home with the one girl I’ve never gotten over, but for her, I’ll keep my real feelings under wraps and make it work.

I rasp my knuckles against the surface of the table like I’m a judge pounding his gravel, settling the matter.

“Alright, roomie,” I say chipperly, “let’s go meet your other roommates.”

I was hopingthe guys wouldn’t be upset with me for volunteering our empty room without consulting them. I was really hoping that they’d get along with Scarlett, too. That they’d like her.

Turns out, they might get along too well.

We’re in the living room. Scarlett, me, Rhys, Sebastian, and Jamie who’s over to visit. Tuck is out on a double date with Olivia along with Hudson and Summer. We’re just hanging out, Scarlett and the guys getting to know each other.

I don’t know how the hell the topic of conversation turned to this, but everyone’s sharing their weirdest or most awkward sex stories.

It’s Scarlett’s turn right now. The guys are absolutely cracking up, because of course Scarlett knows how to tell any story to make it the funniest thing you’ve ever heard.

But me? I’m sitting with my jaw clenched, my muscles tight, and my flat mouth unmoved by even the slightest twitch of a smile.

I can’t be surprised that Scarlett has lived an eventful life with lots of experiences. It’s one of the things I found most interesting about her.

But actually hearing about her being with other guys?

I don’t like it. Not one damn bit.

It’s stupid, I know, but I can’t help it.

“He didwhatwith his dick?” Sebastian asks, his voice still choppy with laughter.

My grip digs into the worn fabric of the couch cushion I’m sitting on. My knuckles go white and thin as jealousy rises to my mouth and coats it with a bitter taste.

I choose to pay attention to the drumming of my pulse in my ear rather than listen to Scarlett recount what happened between her and another man’s cock.

“What about you, Lane?” Sebastian turns to me, his cheeks still red from laughter at our new roommate’s story.

“Me? Huh?” I ask, my attention pulled away from the stupid, irrational jealousy curling through my body.

“What’s your weirdest sex story?”

My nostrils flare. I don’t want to hear Scarlett talk about other guys, and I don’t want to talk about other women around her, either.

“Nothing. I don’t have one.” I grit out the words.

“Oh, come on,” Scarlett says with a prodding, musical tease.

“I don’t want to. I don’t have any stories.” The contradictory excuses rush out in a tight monotone.

She rolls her eyes. “You’re no fun.”

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