Page 24 of Accidentally Matched

I try to open my eyes as Nolan picks me up and, cradling me in his arms, effortlessly carries me downstairs. He places me in the passenger side of a pickup and buckles me in.

The scent of Colter, already seated behind the wheel, engulfs all of me.

“Thank you,” I say sleepily, but after a few moments of me trying to find a comfortable position to sleep, I give up, unbuckle myself, and scoot over to Colter.

I lay my head against his shoulder, his body heat scrumptious against me, and I snuggle in closer before I sigh and fall asleep again.

I feel Colter buckling me in again, his minty breath fanning over me as he does so.

“You don’t like me much, do you, Colter?” I murmur, but it feels like I’m talking in my sleep. “Nolan likes me. Jace likes me, but not you.”

I hear his heavy sigh before I feel lips linger against my forehead.

By the time we arrive at my apartment, I’m wide awake. More so because Clem is already there. I forgot we were going to Haley’s mom’s birthday party together.

I quickly thank Colter for bringing me home and Nolan for bringing my car because Clem is already asking me a million questions about what I was doing that I couldn’t drive myself back home.

“A girl never kisses and tells,” I say before Sweetpea leaps into my arms. “I missed you, pretty girl,” I coo at her. She licks my face in answer. I usually take her everywhere with me; we’re joined at the hip. Except for my expeditions with Colter, Nolan, and Jace, I’ve left her behind for some reason.

“Girl, you say? They’ve turned you into a glowing nympho,” Clem says, hurriedly going to my closet and pulling out the dress I’m supposed to wear for the birthday party.

I want nothing more than to take the longest shower ever and relive everything they did to me, but Clem is keeping time and counting down the seconds to when we have to leave.

But I can’t shake the buzz in my stomach, the tugging, the butterflies. As I’m applying my makeup, I absentmindedly touch the spot on my forehead where Nolan and Jace kissed me. Then I remember what happened in Colter’s truck. He kissed me there, too.

“Hurry up, we’re going to be late! And wipe that smitten grin off your face,” Clem teases me as she opens my door and nudges me out. I stick my tongue out at her, give Sweetpea more cuddles, and head to Haley’s.

Haley’s mom’s birthday party is a blast, naturally. I quickly say hello to my parents and lie through my teeth and tell my mom I’m not glowing; it’s just a new foundation. Of course I’m not glowing.

The evening progresses quickly, and Clem, Haley, and I finally get a moment to ourselves. We drink champagne in a corner and catch up.

“Tierney is in love,” Clem says to Haley. “You can see it on her face, and no, it’s not a new foundation.”

“What? With the ranchers?” Haley squeals.

“I’m not,” I say sheepishly. Am I confusing sexual attraction for love? No. I’m more level-headed than that.

“Yep,” Clem says, taking a big sip of her champagne before she continues. “She wasn’t only allowing them to bake their bread in her oven, but she also went, ‘I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach. And now that no longer applies to their cocks,” Clem says, whispering the last word.

“Oh my god. Is that true, Tierney?”

“No, it is not. I don’t love them any more than they love me. It’s just sex, and now it’s almost over, anyway. In fact, their secretary told me they were leaving for the rodeo in Wyoming and wouldn’t be back until next week. So even though I didn’t use up all my fifty hours of sexing, I’m calling it quits. See, how can I be in love with them?” My heart lurches, and I quickly down my drink.

My friends look at me as if I’m lying. I’m not. I’m not in love with them. I can’t be.

“Well, I would give anything to be in your position,” Clem says. “Hot sex. Three ways. And your parents aren’t determined to ruin your life. They actually want you to be happy.”

“What’s happening? Did your father lay down his ultimatum?” I ask.

“Yes. Marry or lose my trust fund.”

“Shit,” I say. “What are you going to do?”

“I know what I’m not going to do. There is no way I’m getting married, and I have no attachment to my trust fund anyway, so I’ll be just fine.”

“Good for you,” Haley says, and we all cheer at that. “Wish I could do the same,” she adds. “But I just found out my family is bankrupt.”

“What?” Both Clem and I ask loudly enough that we gather stares.

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