Page 6 of Unpredictable

Fuck you, Sterling Brooks.

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Chapter Two

“Are you okay?” Sage asks for the third time tonight.

It’s been a week since that fateful night at Sterling’s house, the night that opened my wool-covered eyes. He’s called countless times and tried showing up here once, but I’ve been successfully avoiding him. That’s why I asked Sage and Tinsley to have a girls’ night tonight instead of hanging with the guys. That’s how we ended up in the Yates’s entertainment room watching reruns of Riverdale.

I let out a heady sigh. “Honestly? Not really, but I will be. I’m just in a mood.”

“It might make you feel better if you talk about it.” Tinsley shrugs as if it’s no big deal.

“I think whatever I had going with Sterling is over.”

Both of my friends sit up straight, ready for more.

“Why do you feel that way?” Sage, ever the wise one, inquires.

Taking a sip of my soda to stall, I think over how much I want to tell them. Finally settled, I begin, “I found out he was accepted into Northwestern’s summer program. He leaves next week. With him being so far away, why would we continue?”

“Do you want it to continue?” Tinsley probes.

Do I? Hell yes!

Instead of answering with my feelings, I analyze the situation.

“I think I do. I’ve loved Sterling for a long time. He’s been my friend for as long as I can remember. There isn’t a single guy in this world that I would trust to do the things we’ve done together. I mean, hell, I lost my virginity to him. Doesn’t that mean I have to love him, even if it’s a little bit? However, the distance is a huge deal. What if he’s unfaithful? That’s assuming he would want to continue whatever this is anyways. It’s not like we’re truly dating, so would it be being unfaithful?”

“Sounds like you have a lot of questions. Did you talk to him about this?”

I shake my head before whining, “Why did he have to be accepted? We were supposed to have the summer to get him out of my system.”

Sage gives me a sympathetic smile. “I don’t think you will ever get him out of your system, honey. I think you’re both too blind to see that this is more than you think it is.”

“Sterling’s always been this way. He never gets attached to women,” I reply as I pick at my nails.

“I don’t know, V. S might have a point. Sterling’s never been exclusive with a girl, not like he has with you. He also has never slept with one for this long. He especially didn’t care if another guy came close to her. I think he has real feelings for you.”

My heart hopes she’s right. I’ve been having deeper feelings for him for a while but resigned myself.

“Do you honestly think that?” My small voice holds some truth I’m not ready to admit.

“I really do. You should talk to him. Stop avoiding him.” Tinsley picks up her phone, typing a message out. “The boys are on their way here.”

“What?” I gasp. “Now? I’m not ready.”

“There’s never a right time for something like this, V. You’ll never be ready. Best to jump off the deep end and hope for the best.” Sage stands, patting my shoulder as she makes her way out of the room.

“Where are you going?” I call out after them both as Tinsley follows her.

“To wait for the boys. I suggest you come too.” Tinsley gives me a half smile, leaving me to sit in the room alone with nothing but my thoughts.

I don’t join them right away, even when male voices float into the entertainment room. It isn’t until I hear Sterling’s voice that my body moves. Almost as if on its own, it moves to the door, closer to that deep voice it’s come to love.

My body tingles as I remember the way he speaks to me, whispering dirty words in my ear as he gives me orgasm after orgasm.

As I move down the hall towards the kitchen, I find everyone standing around the island. Sterling’s in the middle of telling a story, while everyone else laughs at his antics. This is the side of Sterling that doesn’t come out often. He’s the strong and silent type, but get him on a topic he loves, and his whole demeanor changes.

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