Hooking - Kristine Allen Page 0,55

you know that you didn’t fuck her?” I finally asked. It was incredibly painful to say the words.

“Because once I saw the images posted online, it all came back to me. I did leave the bar with her, but she only helped me to my room, and I wouldn’t let her inside.” That admission was maybe more than I needed to know. Because fuck, did it hurt. It also made me angry that he would get so drunk that he couldn’t remember the things he’d done.

“Well, I mean, it doesn’t really matter either way. Right? Because we’re not really anything. Right?” It took everything I had to make it sound like I was unaffected. There was silence on the line. Fuming, I waited.

“Um. Yeah, okay. But for real, nothing happened. In case someone shows you, or you see it. Nothing happened.” He sounded odd.

“I believe you, but why would anyone show me? No one knows anything about us, so there wouldn’t be a reason.” My rationale seemed genius, but it sounded hollow when I said it.

“Yeah, you’re probably right. No reason.”

“We’re, what? Friends with benefits, I guess.”

“Sure. Look, I gotta get going. Coach put us on a curfew with bedtime and all after last night. I feel like I’m in fucking elementary school.” His grumbling actually had me laughing. Then he asked, “Why do you sound weird?”

I giggled. “I’m under my bed.”

“You’re what?” He huffed out a chuckle.

“Long story.” I laughed. Inside, I was still really upset that he’d gotten so drunk that he’d done something like that. But I also knew we hadn’t discussed exclusivity. When he got back, that definitely needed to be something we talked about.

“Alex?”

“Yeah?”

“Keep your fucking dick in your pants or it’s not coming near me again. Got it?”

“Syd. I meant it. Nothing happened.”

“I’m not saying it did, but I’m making sure that you know, in the future that won’t fly with me. Don’t give me a reason not to trust you.” Because relationship or casual, I wanted to know that he wasn’t going to give me some crazy shit.

“Trust me, I get it. If the roles had been reversed, I’d have been pissed. So thank you for not writing me off.” He sounded relieved. “Well, I need to get to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a seriously ass-busting day. Coach has a hard-on for us after last night. He’ll be working the dog snot out of us. I’ll try to call you, but I can’t make guarantees until after the game.” I heard rustling. “I’m in bed now.”

Was it my imagination, or did he seem reluctant to let me go again?

“Sleep well,” I said with a soft smile.

“You too,” he said, then the line went dead. I dropped my head to the hardwood floor. Right about then, my door swung open.

“Um, why are you under the bed, Sydney?” my mother asked in her accented voice. I scooted myself out and rolled over to my back to look up at her as I held up my phone.

“Dropped my phone and it went under the bed.” I grinned, and she gave me a look that said she loved me but thought I was losing my head.

“Do you have a minute?” she asked. Her hand nervously twisted the charm on her necklace. I sat up and leaned against my bed as she sat in my desk chair.

“What’s up? Is everything okay, Mom?” My brow furrowed in concern.

“Oh um, yes. Everything is fine. I just hadn’t had a chance to talk to you much since you came home after graduation.” My mother’s Spanish accent had always been soothing to me as a child. Though she thought she’d lost it, it was still there, giving a slight lilt to her cultured tone.

“Everything is actually really good, Mom. I love my job.” I decided not to discuss my relationship, or lack thereof, with Alex. Besides, I had a feeling she wasn’t here to discuss my job anyway.

“I’m truly happy for you, Sydney. I’m not sure if I tell you that often enough. Despite your father’s attempts to get you to work for his company, I know he’s proud of you as well.” She absently straighter the pens I had scattered on my desk.

“Mmm, maybe.” At my reply, she quickly met my gaze.

“He is. I can promise you that. He was worried about you finding a job with your degree, that’s all.”

“So maybe this is the time to tell you, I found an apartment that is in my price range