Chapter 8
Tristan (present day)
I push into her at a punishing pace, desperate to bust my nut so I can get on with my day.
“Ugh, Tristian you feel so good” she moans wantonly.
“Stop talking” I grunt through gritted teeth. She is frustrating me.
After a couple more thrusts I exhale sharply through my nose as I welcome my release.
She must notice that I’m finished because she hastily moans “I’m coming” while making a face like a porn star.
Liar.
It’s fine because I don’t really care. I got what I wanted.
I climb over the side of the bed and make a beeline for the toilet. After I take a quick piss I hop into the shower without even waiting for the water to heat up. Grabbing the shampoo that Dani demanded that I start using after making a big stink about my body wash, shampoo, conditioner combo. I begin to lather it into my scalp. I almost skip the conditioner but I know Dani can tell if I don’t use it, and I like when she rubs my scalp - without all the nagging.
I’m just rinsing off when I feel Jessica pull back the shower curtain and step in behind me. She can’t see me rolling my eyes, and she thinks I don’t know what she’s trying to do. I make sure I’m suds-free and out of the shower less than fifteen seconds after she gets in.
I started noticing it about 2 weeks ago.
The lingering after sex, the random texts asking how my day was. Then last week, after my game, she ran onto the field and jumped on me, arms clinging around my neck like a baby orangutan. Over her shoulder, I could see Alec and Dani’s shocked faces.
I’ve never had a girlfriend, and I don’t want one. Jessica knew that when we started our arrangement. She’s trying to audition for a role that doesn’t exist. So this is the last time I’m sleeping with her. It’s getting too messy. I mean, I’m a bastard, so I don’t care if her feelings get hurt—but I don’t do drama, and this is shaping up to be a whole lot of it if we drag this out.
Still naked, I make my way to the fridge, grab an energy drink, and crack the seal.
As I lower the can, Jessica comes into view wearing nothing but underwear and a purple zip-up hoodie.
“Where’d you get that?” I ask.
She steps further into the kitchen and wraps her arms around my waist. “I found it in your room. I didn’t want to get fully dressed in case there’s a round two, but I was kind of cold.”
My grip tightens around the can. That’s Dani’s hoodie.
“Take it off,” I say, keeping my voice even.
She tilts her head, a teasing smile tugging at her mouth. “Already? Damn, you recover quick.”
“No,” I reply flatly. “Take it off because it’s not yours.”
Her smile falters just a little, but she laughs it off and unzips the hoodie. I grab it from her and head for the washing machine.
Jessica is hot on my heels. “God, I’m not contagious. I mean, you would know. You were balls deep in my pussy 10 minutes ago” she flirts.
I close the lid of the washing machine and tilt my head toward the ceiling, trying to summon some restraint. “Jessica, this isn’t working out.”
“What do you mean? We literally just...” She gestures vaguely toward the bedroom. “You didn’t seem to think it wasn’t working out ten minutes ago.”
I don’t answer right away, and that only makes her fill the silence.
“If this is about me showing up this morning, I just thought—” Her voice wavers, the playfulness starting to slip. “I thought we were... you know, getting closer.”
“We weren’t,” I say quietly. “I made it very clear what this was from the start.”
Her face hardens, whatever softness left in her eyes burns off in an instant. “You know what, Tristan? You act like you’re some kind of saint for being upfront, but you’re just an asshole.”
I don’t respond. There’s nothing to say.
“God, you’re so full of yourself,” she snaps.
She storms past me, bare feet slapping against the hardwood floors as she disappears down the hall toward the bedroom.
I let out a slow breath and step out onto the back patio, the early morning air cool against my skin. Through the open window I hear the quick shuffling of clothes.
A minute later, the front door slams hard enough to rattle the frame.
I take a sip of my drink and stare out at the yard, relieved that went as smoothly as it did.
