Chapter 6
SIX
I reach across the bed in search of warm, naked skin.
Summer.
My hand meets nothing but cool sheets. I peel my eyes open to find the other side of the bed empty.
“Summer,” I call, my voice gravelly.
She’s not here. Somehow, I already know it. She lights up a room, and this one feels dull, missing a Summer-shaped ray.
“Fuck.” I rub sleep from my face.
This is a first. I’ve pulled the Irish exit more times than I care to admit. Being on the receiving end of it? That’s new.
We had a good time. No. We had more than a good time. Why would she sneak out on me?
She knows I can get her number from Fox, right?
Does she think we’d never run into each other again, living in the same city? With mutual friends?
I reach for my phone to text Fox and knock a folded sheet of paper off the nightstand in the process. It flutters into a heap of my clothes on the floor.
Frowning, I bend down and grab it, opening the page.
(615) 555-0163
If you want to do this again sometime.
xo
I read it twice. There’s something in my chest that I’m going to go ahead and call relief. She left her number; she wants to do this again.
In what universe would I not want that? What is she thinking?
I tried really hard not to pull my usual bullshit. Actually showed her I was interested in more than just sex. Does she think that’s all it was?
Is that all it was to her?
Well, now that I have her number, I can clear this up really fast.
I unlock my phone and notice I’ve got messages waiting.
The first is from last night:
Dominic Fox:
King
Please don’t make this weird for everyone
You can’t fuck with group synergy
Summer is part of Mia’s group
Which makes her part of my group
Which makes her part of our group
Don’t fuck this up
Another one from Logan came in an hour ago.
Ryan Logan:
Dude, where are you? I’m here early and you’re not waiting for me. Are you okay?
I scrub a hand over my face.
Me:
Morning skate is optional today
Ryan Logan:
And?! When was the last time you missed an optional anything?
I’d planned to get my morning workout in by embarrassing myself on the pickleball court.
First time for everything
A new notification pops up from our group chat.
Saints Sinners
Ryan Logan:
Rook, swing by King’s place and check on him
Great.
Easton Helm:
How is that on me?
It’ll take an hour to “swing” by
He lives in the burbs, not next door
Me:
I’M FINE AND NOT HOME.
Dominic Fox:
Dominic Fox added Mia Matthews to the conversation.
Easton Helm:
Dude, you can’t add your girlfriend to this chat
Ryan Logan:
Gonna have to side with Rook on this one… my sister is not welcome here
Mia Matthews:
Wow. I feel so loved.
Ilya Volkov removed Mia Matthews from the conversation.
Dominic Fox:
I’m never going to hear the end of that
Ilya Volkov:
You’re welcome.
Ryan Logan:
Why’d you add her in the first place, Fox?
Dominic Fox:
King, something you want to share with the class?
Zip it, Fox
Dominic Fox:
How was your night? Anything interesting happen?
Ryan Logan:
What’s going on…
Easton Helm:
Did Cap get lucky??
Not up for discussion
Dominic Fox:
We’re on the road this week. Can’t avoid us forever
But I can now. And I have a couple of days to come up with a story.
I exit the chat. Notifications keep chiming, but I ignore them. Instead, I save Summer’s number and pull up her contact.
I’m half tempted to call her, but I settle for a text instead.
Hey, why’d you leave?
I grimace. Delete.
Had fun last night
Backspace. All of it.
Third attempt:
I can’t stop thinking about
Jesus. No.
I scrub a hand over my face and erase it.
What am I doing? I’m not sure I’ve ever overanalyzed a text this much in my life.
Okay. One more.
I read it over and hit send before I can talk myself out of it.