Page 112 of Sweet Hate
Mia
Friends don’t lie. Are we just gonna pretend I don’t see them do the walk of shame in our apartment?
Kim
No, no. Not this crap again. Until you tell us what the fuck is going on, you two keep this shit out of the chat. I need to know what’s happening in the bathroom. Lucas go stand outside and listen.
Lucas
Fuck no. I’d rather Axel didn’t knock my teeth out before I get my breakfast burrito.
Kim
Ugh fine. But you all suck.
Lucas
Ohh they’re finally headed back this way. Christ, Axel is smiling. Like actually smiling. They totally fucked.
Kim
OMG tell us more @Haven !!!
Axel
Breakfast’s here. Guess you’reshit outta luck.
Kim
Definitely preferred him leaving us on read.
Mia
Seconded.
Swayze
Dirty third.
37
HAVEN
What the hell was I thinking? Short answer, I wasn’t. I can’t believe I’m sitting in the diner without panties on. Squeezing my thighs together I fidget and wriggle on the bench again, the silky material sliding across the vinyl covered seat easily with a swoosh. Can people tell? If they can’t, that stupid noise will give it away soon enough.
I glance surreptitiously at Lucas but he’s chuckling down at his phone.
Ok, hopefully that means he hasn’t noticed I’m indecent right now. OK, fine, not entirely, but I’d feel better if I had my panties acting as some kind of barrier here.
Axel’s warm, strong hand grips my thigh under the table and gives it a squeeze to halt my movements. What is he doing? He can’t be grabbing my thigh in public. I shoot him a glare, widening my eyes pointedly, but he just flashes me a smirk and flexes his fingers again.
Anxiety creeps in the longer we sit here waiting for our food and his hand is not helping one bit. I toy with my fork, contemplating stabbing his offending hand, so the cocky assholegets the hint, but I don’t want blood all over my favorite yoga pants. That would be a little unfortunate.
It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have agreed. It was a really stupid idea. There’s a fine line between crotchless panties and going commando, but now I’m out in the wild, I feel totally exposed. Clearly Axel won’t be finding me naked under a coat by his front door anytime soon.
At least Lucas is entertained by the group chat. The chat I am now actively trying to avoid thanks to him putting us on blast. I could kill Axel for responding. All that did was confirm Lucas was telling the flippin’ truth. They couldn’t believe Axel was messaging them for God’s sake. It’s like rule number five was to skywrite the fact that we’re about to shag. Why don’t we tell the local paper while we’re at it?
Our friends guessing is one thing—though not ideal, they are usually decent about keeping our business within our little group, but if old Edna sitting on the opposite table catches sight of Axel's hand currently creeping up my inner thigh…well, that’s hardly giving off friend vibes, is it? I don’t know about him, but I don’t make it a habit of groping my friends’ thighs, dangerously close to theirsex parts. Should I just write the pants off as a casualty of war and grab the damn fork?
