Twisted Perfection (Rosemary Beach #5)(40)

Della



I changed into sweats and a tee shirt before walking back into the living room and talking to Tripp. I preferred to stay in this room and think about everything. I was still trying to figure out what happened and what I did wrong with Woods. He was giving me all kinds of mixed signals. Either he was disgusted by me and decided not to have sex with me or he had just been ready to get rid of me. I wasn’t sure. But then he’d made me wear his shirt and told me to change into baggy clothes. I wasn’t sure what to think about that.

As soon as I’d had that orgasm in his lap he’d been ready to get me the hell away from him. On the drive over here I had convinced myself that I’d screamed too loud and hurt him by pulling his hair like a crazed woman. Then maybe he was as embarrassed by the wet spot on my shorts as I was and that’s why he’d covered me up. He didn’t want Tripp to see me and know he’d been the cause of that. I reached over, picked his hoodie back up, and pulled it over my head. It smelled like Woods. I liked that. I had wanted to get to smell more of him tonight. The rejection I’d hoped to avoid was settling in.

I could talk to Tripp. I wouldn’t tell him exactly what happened but I could get his guy opinion on things.

Tripp’s eyes lifted from the book he was reading and he smiled up at me. “Already wearing Kerrington’s clothes. Damn the guy moves fast,” he teased.

I sighed and sank down on the sofa across from the chair he was sitting in. “Not what it looks like. Trust me.” The deflation in my voice had been a little more obvious than I intended.

“Uh oh. What’s wrong?” Tripp asked, setting his book down on the table beside him and sitting up straighter.

I thought about my words carefully. I didn’t want to tell him too much but I did want his opinion. “Woods broke things off with Angelina and we went to talk about that,” I began. Tripp nodded. He already knew this much but I was still scrambling on what to say to him. “We had lunch together and he explained that he wasn’t happy with her. He doesn’t want to be told who to marry. Then we went back to his place. He wanted to show me his house and I loved it.” I paused and chewed on my bottom lip a moment to think about my next words.

“He never takes girls to that house. It was his grandparents’ so it’s his off limits place. I’ve only been there a handful of times.”

That caught my attention. “His grandmother’s paintings are still all over the walls. They’re beautiful.”

Tripp’s eyebrows shot up. “He told you about her?”

I nodded and Tripp crossed his hands over his chest as he grinned. “Damn girl what have you done to Kerrington?”

Well, that was what I was wondering too. “I think he may have decided taking me there was a mistake. I… we… things got a little heated on the porch and then he stopped it and brought me back here. He said he had things to do. Just like that. No other explanation. It was weird.”

Tripp frowned and sat there quietly a moment.

“You two have, uh, had sex before, right? That was my understanding.”

I nodded.

“And today that didn’t happen,” he continued.

“No, he was really ready to get rid of me.”

Tripp rubbed his chin and then he shook his head. “I don’t know what the hell is up. That doesn’t sound like the guy I know.” He leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees. “Are you okay? Did he upset you?”

I was confused and a little hurt but I was okay. I smiled. “I’m fine. Just not sure what happened. I keep thinking I did something wrong.”

Tripp reached out and tugged on the sleeve of Woods’ hoodie. “When did you get this?”

There was no way I was telling him why Woods had stuck this on me. That was too embarrassing. “Um, when he brought me here. He put it on me before sending me inside.”

Tripp had a small smile tugging on his lips. “Did he see my bike?”

I nodded.

“What did he say when he put that on you?”

“Um, he told me to go inside and put on baggy clothes.”

Tripp cackled with laughter and leaned back in his seat. Once he was done laughing he took in my sweat pants and then looked back up at me. “You did as you were told.”

I nodded again.

“He likes you. He may be a little freaked out and doing stupid shit but he likes you. The baggy clothes are because he doesn’t want me looking at you and getting any ideas. Kerrington has gone possessive. Never seen it before but it is funny as hell. I think I’ll text him that we’re going swimming and see how fast his jealous ass gets over here.”

“No, don’t! He was going to deal with his dad I think.”

Tripp grinned. “I was kidding. It’s just funny.”

He went quiet and I hated the awkward silence. However, I was relieved that he thought Woods was acting weird because he was feeling possessive towards me. Maybe it was wrong to want that but it made me feel tingly and warm.

“I guess I should plan on traveling alone when I head out.”

I wasn’t sure yet.

“That depends on when you’re leaving and if Woods really is interested in something more with me. If this is just a fling for him then I may be ready to run soon myself.”