Page 82 of Fractured Fates
“I can understand why you find him so hot. And I mean, the man is freaking hot.”
I sigh. “He is.” I cover my face. “I’ve never had a crush before. I mean, there was never anyone around to have a crush on. But trust me to pick the two most inappropriate men to crush on.”
“Wait?Two?” Winnie asks.
“Crap,” I mutter. “I meant one.”
“You said two.”
“No, one.”
“Definitely two. Out with it, Rhianna,” she says. “You owe it to me after today.”
I twist my head to look at her and she scrambles up onto my bed and lies out beside me. The bunk creaks and I hope it can support our weight.
“Thank you, Winnie,” I say, taking her hand in mine, “for all you did for me today.” A second wave of guilt sweeps through my body. There I was bemoaning everyone in this place, completely disregarding Winnie. Winnie, who gave up her day to help me, despite the consequences coming her way. I’m not alone. I have her as well as Pip and I should start being freaking grateful for it.
“That’s what friends are for,” she says.
“I’ve never had a friend before,” I admit in a whisper.
“I kinda figured,” Winnie smiles. “Or a crush.” She smiles wider. “Two crushes. Come on, spill the beans.”
“Stone,” I say quickly and quietly.
Winnie stares at me like I lost my marbles. Truth be told, I’m not sure I ever possessed them.
“You hate Stone,” she says finally.
“Yep. The dude is an asshole. A really hot asshole who makes me feel things I cannot control.”
“Oh,” Winnie says.
“That’s bad, isn’t it? Really bad.”
“No, no,” Winnie says, shaking her head. “I think you’re just …”
“Just what?”
“A twenty-year-old woman with, you know, needs.”
“Needs?”
“I think you’re just horny.” Winnie turns over, tucking her hands under her cheek. “I think you need to get laid.” She sighs. “I think we both need to get laid.”
“I’m sure Trent would be more than willing,” I say, waggling my eyebrows at her and watching as she morphs a beetroot red.
“I’m not sure about that,” she mutters. “But you, you have more options than me.”
“I don’t think so, Winnie. I–”
“Andrew,” she says.
“Andrew?”
“Yes, Andrew. He clearly likes you.”
“No, Andrew and I are just friends.” As nice as Andrew is, he doesn’t make me feel things the way Stone and the man in black do. And I can’t see that changing anytime soon.
