Chapter Twenty
Linc
I get back to my room, throwing my shoes and jacket on a chair, stripping off the rest of my clothes. I walk into the bathroom and turn the shower on. Leaning on the vanity, I look up at my reflection in the mirror. Fuck if I don’t feel used right now.
I step under the water and grab the shampoo. As I scrub my hair, I can’t get her words to leave my mind. The fact that she wanted me to leave should tell me exactly how she sees me. She set her boundaries with me. Normally, this would be exactly what I wanted—no strings, no sleepovers, no room for error. So, why am I so fucked up over it happening with her?
I rinse off and turn off the water. Once I’m dry, I say to hell with clothes and just get into bed. I lie on my back, staring at the ceiling, thinking about her until I finally pass out.
It’s a little after nine o’clock when I head down to meet Marcus for breakfast. We’re the first ones downstairs, so we claim a couple of tables for the group.
We sit and I ask, “What time did you finally go to bed?”
“Last time I looked at a clock, it was three.” He pours a cup of coffee from the carafe on the table and passes it to me.
“Was everyone still hanging out?”
“It was just me and Gigi. We watched a movie.”
“Watched a movie? Until three?” I inspect his face for any clues.
“Calm down. She has a boyfriend. Unlike you, I can be just friends with a woman.”
“I can be friends with a woman.”
“Yeah? Tell me what went down with Melonie last night then. Saw you two leave together.” He takes a drink of his coffee.
“Not sure I really want to talk about that yet.”
“Don’t fuck her over, Linc.”
His words reignite the frustration I felt hours before. “For your information, she pretty much fucked me over.”
He looks at me, confused. “What?”
I huff out a breath. “We slept together, then she told me to leave because friends don’t have sleepovers.”
“Wow. Wasn’t expecting that.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t either. It is what it is. Guess she got it out of her system. At least I know my place with her now.”
“Sorry it went down like that. I know you like her.”
“Well, she made it loud and clear that she doesn’t feel the same way.”
“So, you finally admit you have a thing for her?”
“Had, Marcus. Had a thing for her.”
He nods his head. “Got it.”