Page 56 of One More Shot
I could break my rule.
For him.
But what happens when I break it and it goes just as it’s always gone? Dane realises that Iambroken. That having sex with me isn’t going to be fun and easy and I’m more baggage, more of a burden, than he’s willing to handle.
And then I lose him. Not just in a sexual way, but I lose all of this too. The friendship. The laughter. The nights spent curled up on the sofa watching him get irritated at the contestants on quiz shows when they don’t know the answers to apparently simple questions.
I can’t lose this just because I’m horny.
Dane shifts slightly and turns, his lips automatically splitting into my favourite lopsided smile as his gaze lands on me.
Really fucking horny.
‘Everything all right?’
‘Fine,’ I say, clearing my throat when I realise how irritatingly high my voice sounds. ‘Why wouldn’t it be?’
Dane lifts a brow. ‘You’ve just been holding my hair up for the last five minutes without doing anything.’
I glance at my hands. He’s right. The loc I started on fiveminutes ago is still between my fingers, thoroughly untwisted as I let my mind wander.
Definitely going to kill Sasha.
His smile splits into a knowing grin, like he can read my mind and knows exactly what turn my thoughts have taken over the last few minutes. I half-heartedly consider throwing caution to the wind and just going for it, but my phone vibrates beside me and snatches my attention away immediately.
Ever since the situation with Nan and her kitchen, I’ve kept my phone close to me. I know it’s irrational and I can’t be there all the time, but the idea of missing something important again literally makes my heart twist painfully in my chest and I refuse to feel like that again. Especially when I know that Nan can’t rely on Mum or Leanne or Josh to follow up with her.
It took Mum an entire week to finally text me back. Not even a call. Leanne at least had the decency – or sense of guilt – to check in with Nan two days later but, as far as I can tell, Josh still hasn’t even bothered to see what had happened.
Speaking of Leanne, her name pops up on my screen followed my several frantic messages.
LEANNE
ok ok i know what you’re gna say
but this is an emergency
can i pls borrow £200? will pay u back by the end of next week
I feel myself stiffen slightly as I read and reread her messages. Dane is still sat between my legs, but he must feel the tension in my body because he turns again, a worried frown pinching his brows together.
‘What’s wrong?’
LEANNE
plsssss my rent is due and im short just a little bit
promise i wont ask again
A stream of praying emojis flood my screen, followed by a handful of crying emojis, followed by:
LEANNE
ELZZZZZZZ PLSSSSSSSSSSSS
‘It’s nothing,’ I mutter, fingers flying to type out a response to my sister.
ELIOTT
