Page 31 of Personal Foul
Easton
How’s the debate going?
About the bar?
About us
I stare at the word us. I would never have used the word us in a sentence to describe Easton and me, but here we are. I play stupid because I feel a little well of panic and lust every time I think about the two of us.
What about?
Easton
The hateship. You in or out, Princess? You’re torturing me. We leave in a few days
It sounds like playing with fire
I like playing with fire. And I definitely like every time I play with you
My stomach does a little somersault. His admission makes me feel like maybe, just maybe I’m not totally alone in this hateship. A few days, running around pretending like Easton and I are actually a thing. It could be fun. It could take the edge off—in general, and about the way I feel about him. If we can drop the tension between us several notches, it’d probably make this whole project go easier too. Maybe we can stop arguing every five seconds. Maybe I’ll figure out that he’s actually terrible in bed and the one night we had was a fluke. But if it had been just a preview, I am doomed.
Then I think about what our friends would say if I could ask their advice. And I guarantee they would hate it. Tell me it’s a bad idea. That I’m going to get hurt. That we are just going to fight more as a result. But I’m not worried about getting hurt. I know who Easton is. I know what he does and doesn’t bring to the table. I’m not worried about catching feelings where he’s involved. And he definitely doesn’t have to worry about me having feelings for him. He’s a walking red flag, an entire collection of them really, and feelings are not involved. So why resist the attraction if there’s no real risk…
Okay. I’m in
Easton
See you Saturday then, Princess
* * *
Later that week Kenz,Liv, and I are all packing for the trip, bouncing back and forth between each other’s rooms trying to decide what to take and what we’re going to wear. We’re currently in Liv’s room while she tries to pick a couple of dresses for when we go out to some of the nicer restaurants, and she’s modeling them for us in between discussions about how much skiing we’re actually going to do versus shopping, eating, and generally being lazy couch potatoes.
“You know it doesn’t matter what you wear, right? This dress or the last one, he’s going to be obsessed with you no matter what. And you look gorgeous in everything,” I say, shaking my head as I smile at her fourth dress.
“I just want to make sure I look good. I know he’s Liam, but he still makes me kinda nervous you know? In a good way.” She smiles back.
“We know.” Kenz winks at her.
“Are you also bringing a war chest of sexy dresses?” I look at Kenz.
“I have a few.”
“Do you want to borrow some?” Liv looks at me.
“For what purpose? All the taken men who will be at the resort?”
“I mean we’re going to go out to dinner and do some sightseeing. There might be a cute single ski instructor at one of the lodges eating dinner. He sees you in a dress from across the room…” Liv starts daydreaming for me out loud.
“You’re assuming she won’t spend the first half of this trip murdering Easton and the second trying to find a place to bury him.” Kenz laughs and then turns to me. “You know if you do need to bury him just let me know. I’ve listened to enough podcasts now. I’ve got tips.”
I laugh. “I’ll be sure to do that.”
“Are you sure you’re okay staying in a room with him?” Liv asks.
“Yeah. He’s mostly harmless when he’s not irritating me,” I lie because I’m not about to admit all the ways Easton gets to me.
“If you need to swap or anything, just let us know. Once we’re in, I doubt they’re checking rooms or anything,” Kenz offers.
