Page 45 of The Attraction

It’s a struggle to hold back tears. “Next time can you be on Team Harper?” I mumble to her.

“I am. You just can’t see it, but you will, and then I’ll be right here with my,‘I told you so.’Just like you did with Flynn.”

But that was different. She was worthy of his love.

I’m not lovable. My dad taught me that.

ChapterTen

HARPER

Waking every morning to Forrest’s scent around me should unnerve me, but it doesn’t; it does the complete opposite.

Last night I cried myself to sleep after Felisha brought up thoughts I was trying to ignore. But I was so tired that they just flooded out, and although I was miserable at the time, this morning I feel so much more at peace than I did when I was falling asleep.

I know it’s not healthy, but I’m ignoring what Forrest said last night. This morning, I need to just carry on as normal.

It gives me an idea of what he was doing for the last six months every time I flirted with him. He would ignore me, and then the next time we met up, it was as if it never happened. Which just made it more of a challenge. Looking back, that really was bad form from me, but he never exactly told me to back off. He just didn’t take me up on the offer, so that’s how I justified it in my own mind.

I head to the gym down the hallway, where I can hear his music coming from, but I have to be brave and just suck it up, walk in, and get on the treadmill. If I want to keep eating these five-star meals every night, then I need to be running them off the next morning. Because Forrest’s suggestion of being naked because my clothes don’t fit anymore is just not happening.

“Morning,” I call in my sweetest voice to him.

I try not to salivate at him with a muscle shirt on, sitting on the weight bench, lifting a huge weight with his right arm. His face is scrunched up like he is straining, and the perspiration running down his skin tells me he has been at this for a while.

“Morning,” he grunts back at me, and I don’t wait for any big conversation once he is finished. Starting the treadmill, I pop in my earphones and press play on the next episode of my podcast. Not that I think anything can top the last episode of the great avocado incident, but hey, never say never.

Looking straight ahead doesn’t help me ignore him when there is a big mirror taking up the whole wall in front of both of us.

“Today we are talking about the most embarrassing things that have happened to you while having sex or making out. You know, like when you’ve come so hard you have almost shat yourself on his sheets. And when we put the call out yesterday on social media, you guys came up with so many stories it was hard to narrow them down, but I’m sure you are going to love these.”

My mind is already running with some of the embarrassing things I’ve done, but nothing podcast worthy, I’m sure. I tried not to laugh out loud the moment she mentioned the word shat. I’m not sharing my listening pleasure with Forrest again.

“First, we have Lolita, and don’t worry, we have changed everyone’s names, otherwise no one would ever share the good shit. So, Lolita, let’s share.”

As she starts talking, I can’t help stealing another quick look to the side in the mirror. Forrest has swapped arms, and it’s the one closest to me now. Oh, lordy, who invented shirts that have no sleeves and that have arm holes big enough that you can see every part of the chest? I bet the jerk wore it deliberately because I told him he had to wear a shirt. Well, this is as if he told me I had to wear pants, so I paraded around the place in a G-string. Technically they are pants.

Seeing the corner of his mouth lift up, I know he has spotted me checking him out, and he’s happy that I’m having trouble ignoring him. Trying to concentrate on the words in my ears is hard right now but necessary if I’m going to survive this workout session.

“Firstly, can I say this happened with my boyfriend at the time who is now my husband, but we still laugh about it to this day. It was about five years ago, and he was going to town feasting on me down there, something we were just getting into, and he asked my permission to lick up between my ass cheeks. I hadn’t ever had anyone do that before, and it kind of sounded exciting, so I nodded my head. He told me to pull my legs back, and the first time his tongue touched there, my whole body nearly jumped off the bed with the sensation of being so naughty. So, he reached up and put his hand on my stomach to hold me still, apparently so I could lean into the sensation and really feel it. Oh, I felt it all right, the pressure on my stomach was not a good idea. The moment he tongued me again, I pushed against his hand and farted the biggest fart ever, straight into his mouth.”

“Ughh, I would’ve died.” The words slip out of my mouth before I realize it.

“And not like any little lady fart, but you know, like one any guy would be proud of. Let’s just say the moment was lost as he rushed to the bathroom to wash his mouth out, and I was so mortified I crawled under the covers and wouldn’t come out. But we got over it and just giggle every time he is about to do it now.”

I continue to listen as Forrest shakes his head at me and starts laughing. But I’m not stopping, I just pick up speed and keep listening. There are a few incredibly good, but oh so bad, stories before the topic changes to talking about tomorrow’s focus of things your partner does that piss you off. Oh, I could add a few things to that list, and he’s not even my partner.

Looking at my watch, I see I need to wind down and go shower so I don’t make Forrest late for work. Not that I ask him to wait for me, but he does.

I want to wait until he finishes his workout, but I’m running out of time, so face up to the fact I have to just talk to him.

The moment I come to a stop, I pull my earphones out and turn to him. “I’ll just shower and then will be ready whenever you are.”

“No rush, I don’t have to be in early this morning.” Great, an excuse that I can get out of here early and skip the breakfast conversation.

“No problems, I do, so I’ll just head off as soon as I’m done, and I will grab breakfast at the office. Oh, and I’m having lunch with my mother and sisters today and then kicking on with my sisters after Mum leaves, basically so we can talk about her or about the things that we definitely do no not want to share with our mother.” I grab a towel and wipe down the machine, and Forrest is doing the same with the weight bench.

“I get it. But just a reminder of that dinner with my parents that my mum kindly invited herself to when Flynn mentioned you were staying with me. It’s tomorrow night, and Flynn’s cooking. So don’t insult him when you taste it and realize mine is better.” He winks at me. Taking the towel out of my hand, he throws them into the basket in the corner to be washed. “You don’t need to do anything, and I understand if you want to bail on us, but Felisha will be here, and I know my mother would really love for you to join us. I just apologize in advance for all the questions she will pepper you with. If it gets too much, just do what I do and handball it in Flynn’s direction. It’s my mother’s favorite thing to do, talk to the golden son.”

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