Page 11 of Drop Three

The date. The kiss. He kicked me out.

I slept like the dead.

My body flies forward and I open my heavy eyes to take in my surroundings.

Callaway.

Why am I looking at a photo of my brother on the mound and a million and one of his trophies lined up on a shelf?

My eyes dart to my suitcases, neatly tucked in the corner of the room, the en suite bathroom off to the side, and my boots placed neatly by the side of the bed.

For the love of god.Am I naked?

My hands find the soft white blanket covering me as I lift them with the intensity I’m known for to check what I’m working with.

Clothes.

Thank you, Navy Hayes, for having some common sense last night. Clothes are a good thing. This is good.

I know exactly where I am. I wasn’t drunk, just on the brink of exhaustion.

All the details come rushing back from last night, and I can now vividly remember how I ended up at the guys’ house—finding only Bodhi at home.

I don’t know what I was thinking.

I’m not surprised that Bodhi was adamant about arranging things to ensure I was comfortable and had a safe place to stay, but I could have figured something else out. When Luke and I started having more problems than usual, Bodhi was there for me. He always ensured I knew I had a place to stay if needed. He was the kind of friend I needed at the time until I went and fucked it all up.

I stayed in a hotel for two months after my breakup with Luke, and when I realized I was blowing my entire savings, Jared offered for me to crash with him.

It seemed like a no-brainer at the time. We were only friends, always had been. I never would have thought two months after moving in with myfriendthat he would be telling me to leave. Now that I feel more clear-minded, I realize what an ass Jared was last night. He made me feel so small for not reciprocating his feelings and being honest with him.

Instead of being angry, though, I feel hurt. It’s like he expected me to fall for him right away and to be okay with him kissing me without my permission.

Well, I’m not. I wasn’t.

I’m ready to date, but I want a man. I want a real man who will put me first and love every part of me. I deserve that, and I refuse to settle until I find it.

One tiny problem: I need to figure out how to date.

Luke and I were together since high school, and our relationship all those years was lukewarm and lacking in intention.

I want the opposite.

I want fire and passion.

I want to feel like I can’t keep my hands to myself because I’m so infatuated. I want full body chemistry—inward and outward.

I’m confident I’ll find it, I just need to train myself on some things.

But right now, I need to change into clean clothes, gather my things, and find another place to stay.

* * *

After changinginto a matching workout set and sneakers, I gather my things and head downstairs. I don’t know what I plan on saying to Bodhi, but I’m confident he will have questions. I remember crying. It seems I’m unable to contain my emotions around the man, who constantly has to console me.

I know it makes him uncomfortable—at least, that’s what I tell myself.

I need to talk to him quickly, thank him for letting me crash, and be on my way. I need to run or something to get this anxiety that’s sitting in the center of my chest out. It’s smothering me.

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