Craving The Player (Amateurs In Love Book 1)(23)
"You wanna find out?" Clay asks, now in the kitchen. His tone is far too hopeful in my opinion.
Sierra tilts her head in mock consideration. "No, I don't think so.”
My laugh tears through the room as I watch Clayton's face fall through watering eyes. Sierra seems less than impressed by the both of us as she sighs in what I assume is disbelief and heads for the door. My sides start to ache when I reach up and wipe a hand down my face, clearing the laugh induced tears from my skin.
"Buddy, I think it's time you retire your game. It's rustier than the bathroom showerhead."
Clayton's head snaps in my direction and he shoots me a less-than-subtle warning look. Feigning innocence, I purse my lips and blow him a kiss.
"If you two are done, I want to talk to Braden," Sierra says, staring at Clayton, watching as he nods along with her every word. "Alone," she adds when he continues to smile absentmindedly at her.
"Right," he coughs, nodding again before rushing off to his room. Sierra lets out a thankful sigh once he’s gone, turning to look at me.
"Alone at last." I smile slyly, loving the way her jaw clenches with annoyance. Damn she's fun to rile up.
Waving me off with a lazy swish of her hand, she mumbles, "I left my number on your bed."
Surprise floods through me at her confidently spoken words. I'm not sure what I was expecting this morning, but I definitely did not expect it to be this easy. I would have bet my winnings from my next boxing match that I would have had to snuck my number in her phone and call myself to get her number.
"Duly noted, babe." I nod, overcome with the urge to smile in victory. I would have if I knew that it wouldn’t have earned me a slap across the face.
"Don't call me babe," she snaps. "And please keep this to yourself. Your friend creeps me out."
Blowing out a light laugh, I nod again. "So. No strings. Just sex then, yeah?"
She blinks once before saying, "Yeah, just sex."
Chapter Ten
Sierra
“Just sex?” Sophie sputters, spitting chewed up lettuce from her salad across my desk. It lands on a picture frame of me, Clare and Liz from our trip to the zoo this past month. Liz sits on my shoulders wearing a wide smile with two missing teeth and a pair of light-washed, blue jean overalls with bronze buttons. Clare stands beside us, struggling to hold three melting ice cream cones in her hands. It was scorching hot that day. I think I’m still finding skin to peel from the nasty sunburn I got.
It’s been a week since I last saw both Braden and Sophie. Work has held me by the tits, keeping me busy to the point of near exhaustion. I don’t have much energy left by the time I get home at night to do more than microwave a frozen meal and crawl into bed. My phone remains chalked full of unread texts and unanswered calls. It’s a wonder I’ve even managed to shower and throw on makeup every day.
Sophie wipes her mouth with a napkin that was previously folded on her lap. “Just sex a guy like that? No way in hell. I’m calling it now, S. It won’t work.”
“You only think that because you don’t even know the guy. He’s a total douche-bag.” I stab my plastic fork into my salad container and bring a bunch of leafy greens to my lips.
I never knew how much I would love being able to eat my lunch in an actual office instead of outside or jammed inside of a small lunchroom until now. And from Sophie’s laid-back posture, I can tell that she approves as well.
“A sexy douche-bag,” she mumbles, still staring at me with an unconvinced glimmer in her blue eyes.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m not looking for anything more than sex. You know that.”
Clearly not believing me, Sophie scoops up the rest of her salad before shoving it in her mouth and tossing the empty container in the trash can by the door.
“Whatever,” she says with her mouth still full. “All I’m saying is that you might want to be careful if you’re so against catching feelings. A guy like Braden won’t hesitate to dump you out on the street like it’s garbage day once you lose you’re no longer all shiny and new.”
“I know.” I nod. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Uh, yes I do. You’re my best friend, Sierra. I worry about you more than anyone.”
Slapping a hand above my left breast, I let out an exaggerated sigh, my eyelashes fluttering. “I love you too.”
“Anyways,” she sings. “I saw Maeve the other day.”
I freeze instantly, blood draining from my face. The mood between us shifts, and I hate myself for allowing just the sound of her name to have such a negative impact on me.
“Oh? Did you two talk?” Please say no.
“She saw me before I could turn around.” Sophie visibly cringes from the look on my face. I’m not surprised, I don’t even need to look in the mirror to know that I must look like a kid who just had their lollipop snatched from their mouth.
“Great.” I push away from my desk and begin busying myself with the lunch wrappers covering the top of it. The slight tremble in my hands only fuels my temper as I drop the empty salad container into the trash can and shove it down harder than necessary. Once, twice, three times. I let my repressed anger break free each time I shove the container further and further into the garbage bin. I close my eyes, letting out a shallow breath before righting myself and turning around.