Page 55 of The Pursuit of Happiness

I lean in close and whisper, darkness in my voice mixed with lust, “I was thinking I could bury my face between your legs again until you come over and over again, screaming my name each time and then when you’ve had enough, I plan on fucking you until your body shakes and trembles.”

She shivers, “Promise?”

I give her a wicked look, “I fucking promise, baby.”

She gives me a devious little grin and we stand there staring at each other, desperate to touch each other and counting down the minutes until we can when my mom interrupts, “Oh, James! Look how cute they look together! Take a picture, I want to show it to my book club!”

ARIA

“OKAY, TELL US EVERYTHING!”Ivory demands as she sits in the butterfly position on the studio couch. She has an excited but also slightly devious look in her eye. It’s the same look she would get before snorting a line of blow and wreaking havoc on society. While she doesn’t really do drugs anymore, the look is worrisome nonetheless.

I nervously smile, embarrassment tinting my cheeks red. Slater left to get dinner with his parents a little while ago, whichleft me alone with the girls and Selene. Since we kinda need him to record, we’ve just been hanging out. Besides, we got plenty done today so we all feel good.

Slater’s parents insisted I join them for dinner, but I didn’t want to be invasive so I encouraged them to spend quality family time alone together. They agreed reluctantly and made me promise to join them for a meal or two at some point this week. I agreed and then they were on their way. Sly’s parents were so sweet. I can see where he gets it from. His parents have obviously been together a long time and their love has never faded. I hate admitting it, but I’m jealous of him. I never got the perfect family that he has and judging by my awkwardness, it shows.

I was so awkward with them, I’m sure they’re telling him now that they expected more from me and are disappointed. The thought makes my stomach churn. I want them to like me, I want them to think I’m good for their son, and I want them to see how much he means to me, but I’m afraid I didn’t show it properly. I just…panicked. I’m not used to the family dynamic that he has and when they seemed so happy and bubbly, I shut down because I don’t know how to be happy and bubbly with family of any kind.

Nausea twists my stomach into a knot around my anxiousness. I hope they don’t hate me. I hope Sly isn’t disappointed in me for how awkward I was around them and I hope he isn’t angry. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just overthinking.

“Heellloooooo!” Ivory waves a hand in my face to get my attention.

“Sorry,” I say quietly.

Ivory grins, “Sorries later, confessions now. What’s up with you and Slater?”

I hate lying to my friends. We never keep secrets from each other. But Sly and I just promised last night not to tell themsince what’s going on between us is so new. “Nothing is up. We’re friends,” I shrug, hoping to sell the lie.

Selene furrows her brows, an amused look on her face that tells me she isn’t buying any of what I’m selling, and Brody smirks, a knowing look on her face.

“I think you’re forgetting I’ve been exactly where you are,” Brody fiddles with a loose string on her jeans, a reminiscent look on her face.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

Brody stops messing with the string and takes on a tone of seriousness, “Harvey and I were sneaking around and hooking up on the low for a while before you guys knew. I’m just saying, I know you’re hiding something because I’ve been exactly where you are.”

Selene turns on Brody and raises her chin, “I knew the whole time that you were hooking up.”

Brody rolls her eyes, “You don’t count.”

Selene gives her a questioning look, “And why not?”

The look Brody gives Selene is a look one gives when they can not believe the other person is that oblivious, “Because there’s never getting anything past you, Selene. You always know what we do before we even think to do it.”

Selene preens, “I know, I just wanted to hear you say it.”

Ivory snorts a laugh, “Bitch.”

Selene laughs and Brody focuses back on me, “But seriously, just admit it. You and Slater are hooking up.”

The excited and intrigued looks on their faces as they stare at me, awaiting my response, have me suddenly blushing. God, I never blushed this much before Slater Nicks. The look on Selene’s face is different. Brody and Ivory are waiting for me to confirm Brody’s claim, but Selene…Selene already knows. She always does.

I sigh and decide to be honest even though I don’t want to putmine and Sly’s business out yet, “Fine. Yes, we’re hooking up.”

“I knew it!” Ivory throws her fists up in the air in victory.

Brody claps and Selene grins, “How’s the sex?” Brody asks, wiggling her brows.

I roll my eyes, “It’s not just sex with us.”

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