she didn’t. I was so wrapped up in Jericho—literally—that I hadn’t realized everyone had come back from their trip.
If Reese had walked in on us last night...yeah, I would’ve been mortified.
Addie grins. “I knew it. She and Luca are totally in love. They’re gonna live happily ever after.”
Love? Jesus. That seems way overboard. It also makes me incredibly uncomfortable for some reason.
“Just because they’re fucking doesn’t mean they’re in love,” I argue, feeling warm for entirely different reasons. “They could just be having fun. I mean, she doesn’t even really know him. She’s only been here for a few weeks.”
Addie shrugs off my words like those things hold no bearing. “Yeah, but I mean...you can feel how attracted they are to each other. And he’s good for her. Brings her out of her shell.”
Suddenly defensive, I cross my arms in front of me. “There’s nothing wrong with having a shell. Maybe she likes her shell, did you ever think about that?”
Addie’s blonde brows pull together, and she eyes me carefully. “Are we talking about Reese...or something else?”
I swallow hard and then move past her, all too aware of my fuck up. “I just don’t think sex should be equated with a happily ever after, because sometimes it’s just sex. Temporary fun,” I say, trying to get back on track.
Addie follows after me. “Hey, believe me, I know that. I was the one who had sex with three strange shifters and accidentally mated to them, remember?” she says at my back. “They didn’t want me the morning after, so that sure as sugar wasn’t a happy ending. At least, not right away. But I’m not talking like sex always equals love. I was talking about Reese. Because I can tell that with her and Luca, it’s not just sex. That’s all.”
“And I’m saying you shouldn’t jump to conclusions just because you think they go good together,” I retort. “Maybe Reese isn’t ready for that kind of commitment.”
I shove open the door to my room, and Addie follows after me. Thankfully, the sheets have been stripped and Jericho’s clothes are all gone, so the boar cleaned up like he said he would.
She stands in my doorway with her hands on her hips and a frown on her face. “What—” Her words cut off abruptly, and then she lifts her nose into the air. Her blue eyes go wide, and her mouth pops open in an O shape. “Holy guacamole! You had sex!”
She exclaims it loudly enough to fucking echo, and I glare at her. “Shut up!”
I stomp over to the window and yank it open to air out the room, even though it’s really too late for that. She obviously smelled it. Probably just announced it to the whole damn warehouse too.
“Sorry,” Addie quickly whispers, as if that does anything. She closes the door behind her and moves further into the room. “So that’s what this is all about. You’re not biting my head off about Reese. It’s about you.”
I scowl at her, but I can’t exactly argue, because she’s right.
“So what happened? Who’d you do the deed with? Was he hot? Or was it a she?” she asks, waggling her eyebrows.
I sigh. “Tell me why you think it’s any of your business,” I say, leaning against the wall with a brow cocked.
She ignores that, excitement dancing in her blue eyes. “Is that why you didn’t want to go to the beach? You wanted to get down and dirty here while your roommate was gone? Naughty, naughty,” she teases.
I rub my fingers across my brows. “God, you’re giving me a headache.”
She claps. “This is exciting! You’re really not gonna tell me who it was?”
“No,” I reply. “Now go hang out with your mates and get out of my room. I hate it when you get all smiley and excited.”
She pouts, somehow still smiling through it. “Come on, just tell me! I can keep a secret.”
That makes me snort. “Please. You’d tell your mates in a second.”
“Secrets don’t count with mates.”
Rolling my eyes, I decide to leave, since it’s clear I’m going to get hounded by Addie until I escape her. Unfortunately, the duck follows me down the stairs.
“Is it someone in the warehouse? Is it two someones in the warehouse? Is it someone from each warehouse?”
“Oh my God, stop talking,” I say, as I quickly make my way across the room and to the front door, purposely keeping my strides long to try to outpace her.