Page 71 of What are the Risks
Over her shoulder, Pat was sternly glaring at me as if to saydon’t fuck this up for me.Cockblocking a teammate was dick-move 101. I’d never live it down. Which is why ten minutes later, we were pulling up outside Gretchen and Linsday’s house.
It was so close to our place I could hear the music. I would’ve happily dropped them off and told them to walk back if it wasn’t close to freezing.
“You may as well come in,” Gretchen said as I shifted my car into park. “This could take a while.”
Fighting the urge to groan, I reluctantly followed everyone inside.
While the layout to Gretchen and Linday’s place was similar to ours, the décor was totally different. It also smelt sickly sweet, like they burnt multiple scented candles all day, every day.
“Come help me pick something, Pat,” Linsday said, reaching for his hand and tugging him towards the stairs.
Pat eagerly followed her, clearly hopingpick somethingwas code for more. Usually I’d happily entertain the friend while he got his rocks off, but not tonight.
“Be quick,” I called out before he disappeared entirely. “I need to get back to Ruby.”
“Who’s Ruby?” Gretchen asked the moment they were gone.
I collapsed onto the couch, which was barely visible beneath the countless decorative cushions. “My, ugh, best friend.”
Gretchen nodded cynically, the same way everyone did whenever I mentioned I had a female best friend. It was asure-she’s-only-your-best-friendnod. Up until thirty minutes ago, that had been true.
“It’s not like that,” I robotically said.
“So you’ve never hooked up?”
“No. I mean...” I dragged a hand through my hair, which was still mussed up from Ruby’s touch. “I kissed her for the first time tonight.”
Gretchen’s sculpted eyebrows rose. “And?”
“She hightailed it out of there,” I reluctantly admitted. “I have no fucking clue where her head’s at.”
“What about you? Where’s your head at?”
“Pardon?”
Gretchen lowered herself onto the couch across from me, getting comfortable. “Did you enjoy the kiss?”
I’d fucking loved it. I hadn’t loved Ruby’s reaction though. The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced I had royally messed up.
Shehadkissed me back though, and she’d made the sweetest sound right before I slid my tongue inside her mouth. I was hoping that counted for something good.
“Do you want my take as a girl?” Gretchen offered.
“Sure. Why not?”
“I’d say she bolted because she wasn’t into it.”
My stomach didn’t just drop – it plummeted through the earth’s core and came out on the other side.
“Really?”
“Ryker, as someone who’s hooked up with you before, believe me when I say yours aren’t the kind of kisses you runfrom. They’re actually the kind you hang around for... hoping it will turn into something more.”
Gretchen leaned back slightly, resting on her palms. If she was purposely trying to accentuate her chest, it was working. My eyes momentarily drifted to her pushed-up breasts before I pointedly raised my gaze.
She had great tits, don’t get me wrong, but her bra was working wonders, because they sure hadn’t been that full when she was naked on top of me.
“How long have you been friends with her?” she asked.
