The Lying Hours (How to Date a Douchebag #5)(71)

“Me? No. Never been tempted. Since we get tested for wrestling, I don’t know what the fuck JB is doing. Pardon my French, didn’t mean to cuss.”

I wave him off. “I’ve never tried it either. I have a heart murmur, and it would freak me out not knowing how my body would react.” I pause. “It’s on my dad’s bucket list though.” Laugh. “He wants to smoke it.”

“That’s…an interesting thing to have on your bucket list.”

I shrug. We’re not here to talk about my father; we’re here to talk about Abe asking me to climb out a window to avoid confrontation.

I cross my legs and dangle a foot. “So.”

Abe stops pacing, faces me, rooted to the carpet. I almost expect him to drop to his knees to beg for forgiveness. Instead he raises his arms and hooks his hands behind his head.

“I don’t know what I was thinking asking you to…” He waves a hand around. “You know.”

I want him to say it, so I raise an eyebrow.

Just one.

He gets the hint. “I’m sorry I asked you to hide when JB came home. It was wrong and insensitive and really fucking stupid.” He sucks in a breath. “I’m an idiot.”

“Okay, let’s not go down a shame spiral—we’re both human and we both make mistakes.” I think for a second, gathering my thoughts. “You just need to know that it wasn’t okay. It made me feel used. I know you’re not ashamed of me, Abe, and I know you weren’t ready to tell him, but I don’t want to be hidden away, either. That’s not what I signed up for.”

He blows out a puff of air. Rakes his fingers through his beautiful, thick hair. “I know. The thing is, when I was lying to these girls—to you—I didn’t consider it lying. The LoveU account is Jack’s, and Jack was going on the dates and had the final say in who he went out with. So I didn’t really think I was doing anything wrong.”

That kind of makes sense in a really messed-up way.

“It’s really freaking hard to be honest with him. Everyone babies the kid—our coaches, his parents, me. He doesn’t do shit around our place, puts in just enough work not to get his ass kicked during every match. I have no idea how he’s even still on the team.” Abe squats in the center of my room then lowers himself to the carpet, sitting with his legs out in front of him in the middle of my floor. “How did you know something wasn’t right?”

“You mean how did I know you were lying? I didn’t. The whole situation just seemed weird. JB was so attentive and fun on the app—well, you were. Then in real life, he was just so blah, as boring and uninterested as a human could possibly be. It made zero sense.” I poke his calf with the toe of my foot. “I wonder how many girls thought he was a weirdo but didn’t say anything.”

“He wouldn’t have told me. His ego is…” Abe’s head shakes. “Massive.”

“He seems spoiled.” My gaze softens. “Abe?”

“Yeah?”

“If you ever lie to me again, we’re done.” I fold my hands in my lap and give my thumbs a little twiddle. “Seriously done. No third chances—this one was a whopper. Then the whole window thing, and not telling Jack. And him punching you—I mean, come on.” I stand and move over him, legs spread, one foot on either side. Lean in. “Am I nuts for taking you back? Is this crazy?”

His head slowly shakes. “No.”

“It kind of is. No self-respecting gir—”

“Oh my god, it’s not crazy! It was two times! We all make mistakes, some of us more than once. Get over it!” Hannah shouts through the wall, her exasperation palpable.

I lean in closer, our lips inches apart. “How you turned her to the dark side is beyond me.”

“Am I the dark side?”

“Duh!” Hannah shouts again.

I’m seriously going to kill her. She’s certifiable. Supposed to be minding her own freaking business—how can she even hear me? I’m barely speaking above a whisper.

I look Abe square in the eye, place my hands on his face, palms cradling his firm jawline. “You know if we screw around she’s going to hear everything.”

Kiss him on the lips.

I’ll never get tired of feeling these lips.

Abe’s baseball-mitt-sized hands slide up my thighs, thumbs digging. Fingers migrating toward the fly of my jeans, deftly unbuttoning. Unzipping. Hook inside the waistband and tug them down around my hips. Down past my knees and shins. Helps me step out of them.

I’m standing over him, bracketing his body, crotch near his face.

Baby blue lace panties now the center of his attention.

My knees get weak watching him watch me, his hands back in position, unhurriedly creeping around the back to my ass. Abe squeezes my butt cheeks, sitting a little straighter from his position on the ground.

Arches forward until his nose is pressed into my stomach. Runs the tip slowly down to my center.

Legs unsteady, I have nothing to grab but the back of his head. I twirl a lock of his hair around my index finger, nails digging into his scalp. Of their own accord, my legs spread the barest fraction of an inch. Then a bit more when Abe’s mouth heats the lace of my underwear, followed by his tongue. Teeth.

My eyes slide closed, head tips back. Sigh escapes my throat when those large hands wander again, left thumb hooking a bit of baby blue so his tongue can sink into me.