Page 25 of The Trolley Kiss
I need to get back in the groove with Mack. He’s perfect. He’s a gentleman. We laugh together. We have fun together. Hopefully we’ll move forward to more of a friends with benefits situation. Eventually it’ll fizzle out, and no one has to get hurt. It’s easy. It’s safe.
I turn down the hall and into the first room on the left. I pull the cord in the closet, turning on the light, and I run my fingers along the clothes, trying to find a sweatshirt.
“What are you doing?”
“Ahh!” I scream, clutching my chest. “Fuck! You scared me,” I pant, trying to catch my breath.
Declan smirks like he isn’t sorry at all. He steps into the walk in closet, leaning against some drawers. “Why are you in my room, Addison?”
“When did you get here?”
“Why?” he asks, folding his arms over his chest. “You afraid I saw you and Mack making out by the fire?” he teases.
I laugh, rolling my eyes. “As if. Mack said his room was on the left. I was looking for a hoodie.”
He nods toward the railing behind me. “You can use one of mine.”
I turn and linger for a moment, scanning his clothes, not wanting to leave yet.
“Nice touch with the condoms,” he says as he steps closer, reaching past me to grab one of his sweatshirts and handing it to me.
I turn to face him with a smirk. “You did say it was an essential supply.”
“I really hope none of these dipshits actually fuck here. I’m not paying our cleaning lady enough for that.”
I throw my head back laughing. “No! You better give her an extra tip then. You need your guests to have the whole experience. The lake house trip that changed their lives.”
“Changed their lives?” he laughs. “Have you had life altering sex before?”
I blush slightly, so I smile at the ground for a second to hide it. “Do you believe in post orgasm clarity?”
“What?” he asks, giving a confused chuckle.
“It’s kind of like right after you orgasm, you can see things more clearly because your thoughts aren’t being controlled by your hormones anymore.”
He purses his lips to the side, thinking for a moment. “I guess scientifically that makes sense, but what exactly are you getting clarity about?” he asks like he knows there’s more to the story.
“I don’t know,” I say, shrugging my shoulders and shying away.
“Yes, you do. Tell me.”
“No, I don’t want to.”
His smile grows even more sinister. “Yes you do.”
“Do not!” I place my hands on my hips.
“Why?”
“It’s embarrassing,” I mumble, not looking him directly in the eyes.
He stares at me with amusement on his face until I have no choice but to give in. “Ugh! Fine!” I huff. “My uh… my ex said something to me,” I murmur.
I know he heard me, but he acts extra dramatic anyway. “Oh, I’m sorry? What was that? You’re going to have to speak up,” he teases.
I sigh. “He said he was certain how he felt about me. How I was the only girl for him. His ‘one great love.’” I look down at my hands. “Turns out. Not so much.” My voice cracks a little at the end.
There’s concern on his face, but I don’t really feel pity from him. More like he just wishes he could take away the hurt.