Blindsided (Fake Boyfriend #4)(20)

“How old is she?” Talon asks.

“Five.”

“Hmm … can five-year-olds read yet?”

“Not big words.”

“Cool. What I have to say might be easier over text anyway.”

Before I can reply, the call ends, and I find myself in a stare-off with a five-year-old. A minute later, a text comes through, and I’m the one to break my gaze from Gabby first.

“Mommy only lets me have half hour screen time.”

“I’m pretty sure Mommy doesn’t want you to eat pancakes either.” I cock a brow at her, and even at her age, Gabby understands my underlying threat.

Then I realize I’m threatening a child. I don’t think I should ever be a parent.

Gabby runs off, and I go back to my phone.

Talon: So your sister thinks I’m bad at football, huh?

I snort.

Me: You remember what Vanessa’s like. She went to USC too.

Talon: Shit. She’s a mom now?

Me: Yup.

Talon: Is the kidlet mine?

Me: You better be fucking joking.

Talon: HAHAHA. Of course, you fucker. Sisters are off-limits.

Me: Not cool, bro.

There’s a long pause before the next text comes through.

Talon: Kinda feels like we missed out on a lot of each other’s lives.

Me: Yeah, well, football and life happened.

Talon: I meant what I said in the bathroom. That I’ve missed you.

Okay, nope. Texting is not easier. My stomach does a weird flip thing, and as I read over it again, it keeps doing it until I feel physically ill. I keep staring at the words that could either mean everything to me or continue to string me along on Talon’s hook.

Talon: And I really liked kissing you.

I blink rapidly, making sure I’m reading what I think I am. What am I supposed to say to that? My fingers type out three different responses: I liked it too.

You should have. I’m awesome at kissing.

Are you drunk?

I end up deleting them all, and he beats me to responding.

Talon: I don’t know what that means.

Well, that one’s easy to reply to.

Me: Neither do I.

Talon: Kinda surprised you didn’t push me away. Or punch me.

It’s everything I’ve ever wanted.

I was too drugged up.

I was two seconds away from pushing you up against a wall and fucking your mouth with my tongue.

Delete, delete, delete!

Me: It’s not like I hadn’t thought about stuff like that happening before …

I shouldn’t send this one either. It’s playing with fire. A little voice in the back of my head that sounds a hell of a lot like the Talon I used to know whispers in my ear. “Here are some matches. Have at it.”

I hold my breath as I hit send.

Talon: Really?

Rationalize, my brain tells me.

Me: We’ve shared a lot of girls. Done a lot of crazy and kinky shit with them. Are you saying you’ve never thought about it?

Talon: Not until recently, no.

I shouldn’t be surprised or hurt when I knew that was going to be his answer. Instead, I should be focused on the point that he’s thinking about it now. But that’s the thing. He’s only contemplating it now. Experimenting. Thinking he could like dick after seeing two guys get it on. That has nothing to do with me. I did the exploring thing when I was in college. I’ve played out the fantasies running through Talon’s brain right now, and I came to terms with being on the straighter end of the Kinsey scale but still very much bi. What if he doesn’t? He could kiss me again and say “Nope. Definitely straight.”

Will I resent him for crushing me? Worst of all, would I be able to recover from that?

Marcus Talon has the power to break me, and he doesn’t even know it.

Talon: Have I freaked you out?

Guess I’m taking too long to respond.

Me: Nah. Takes more than curiosity to scare me off.

Talon: You know what they say about curiosity and the cat.

Me: It killed it?

Talon: Nah, it turned him gay.

I can’t help but laugh even though I probably shouldn’t.

Me: That’s a horrible joke, even for you.

Talon: I’m a little out of my element here.

Me: Man, if this message thread didn’t have so much private stuff on here, I’d have to screenshot that. Mr. Know-it-all is out of his element? Oh shit, does admitting that mean you’re no longer eligible for MVP? Don’t you multi-time winners know EVERYTHING?

Talon: Are you sure you want to taunt me about this? You know what happens when I’m challenged.

Me: Somehow, I don’t see you becoming an expert in everything gay just to prove a point.

Talon: Oh, it’s on. Wrong move, Miller.

Wrong or idiotic? I haven’t completely decided yet.





Chapter Nine





TALON





I can do this. It’s just porn. Gay porn, but that’s still porn. It’s sex, and who doesn’t like that?

My finger hovers above numerous thumbnails of guys in various positions, but some of the titles scare me off. Like: Brutal Fuck. Fast&Hard. Torn New One. Bottom Passes Out. Monster Cock in Tight Ass.

If I’m clenching at the sight of the titles, I’d hate to see how I’ll react to watching the damn clips.