Forever Mine (Roommate Duet 0.5)(11)

He gently places a finger over my lips. “You’ve had way too much to drink. It’s cute, but I don’t need drunk Sav truth bombs right now. We do have a lot to discuss, though.”

A rush of guilt washes over me as I remember what I did to him. “Hayden, I—”

Before I can finish, Veronica pushes her way between us.

“Hate to cut in, but…” She looks over her shoulder and rolls her eyes. The passive aggressiveness in her tone isn’t lost on me either.

My mouth falls open, and before I say or do something embarrassing, I rush out the door as fast as I can without giving Hayden a second glance.

Some things really are better left in the past.





Chapter Four





Hayden





“Veronica,” I grit between my teeth. I could slap a NOT INTERESTED sticker on her chest, and she still wouldn’t get the picture. “You were rude.”

“I was rude?” she counters, trying to wrap her arms around my neck, but I swiftly peel them away. “You’re supposed to be here with me.” Her whiney voice is like nails on a chalkboard, and I cringe.

“That doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to dance with other people. I think you have the wrong idea about us,” I tell her, but I don’t explain further before I rush off and make my way out of the ballroom to find Savannah.

Talking to her again after all these years has my emotions all over the place. I’d always had feelings for her, even if they weren’t reciprocated, but hearing her say she missed me has me focused on the past ten years without her in my life. It’s been hell.

Savannah was always an amazing singer, and when I heard her angelic voice again, even if she was muttering the words, I was brought back to our high school days. Anytime we’d study, she’d hum so beautifully, and the next minute I’d have her on her back, ripping off her clothes. There was always something so damn sexy about her studying and humming. And fuck if I don’t want to do the same to her right now.

I find her stumbling down the hallway as she hugs the wall. With one hand holding her body up, she’s attempting to lift her leg and pull off her shoe.

“Shit,” I hear her mutter when she misses the grip of her heel. “Fuck. Goddammit shoe.”

I hold back a chuckle and come to her side. “Need some help?”

Savannah looks up at me and exhales. “I can’t get this stupid foot off my shoe. It’s glued on or something.”

Her slow speech has me laughing. She’s so drunk and doesn’t even know what she’s saying. “Let me help.” I kneel in front of her and slightly lift her bare leg. I effortlessly release her shoe and hold it up like a prized trophy. “Got it.”

Her foot hits the floor, and she drops about six inches of height. “Think you can sweet-talk the other one to come off?”

“Let’s give it a whirl,” I say, holding out my hand. She loses her balance and holds herself up on my shoulders. “You okay?” I raise my brows and notice how close her cleavage is to my face.

“Sorry. Yes. Just gravy.” She can barely keep her eyes open at this point, and my only thought is keeping her safe.

Once I have her second shoe securely in my hand, I help put her foot down on the floor before standing. “Sav. Let me take you to your room.”

“I’m fine,” she quickly argues, patting down her dress. “I have my key card somewhere.”

“C’mon, let’s find your things, and we’ll go.” I press a hand to her lower back and hold her shoes while I guide her back to the ballroom. She doesn’t argue this time and presses her body into my side. Dozens of memories surface, and everything about this woman has me transfixed.

The way she feels pressed against me. The softness of her skin. The smell of her hair.

It’s as if no time had passed at all.

It’s as if she didn’t break up with me over the phone and shatter my entire life.

It’s as if I haven’t spent the past ten years wondering what-if.

“Hunter,” I say, grabbing his attention from the brunette shaking her ass on the dance floor. Although he came as a buffer, his eyes have been glued elsewhere. “I need a favor.”

He finally turns and looks at me with furrowed brows. “What?”

I step closer. “I need you to take Veronica home,” I tell him, keeping my voice low.

Hunter leans slightly and notices Savannah next to me, then gives me a look that tells me he doesn’t approve.

“It’s not like that,” I reassure him. “She’s wasted. I just want to make sure she gets back to her room safely.”

“Mmhmm. Right.” Hunter crosses his arms over his chest and straightens his stance. He’s bulkier than me, no question, but he tries to act like the big brother when I’m five years older.

“Yes, right. If she stumbles back to her room, she might not make it before some fucking creep takes advantage of her. Or hell, she could choke on her own vomit in the elevator. Either way, I’m just gonna take her upstairs, get her settled into bed, and that’s it.”

Hunter shrugs, deciding not to push me on the subject. “Alright, man. But if Veronica starts stroking my dick, I might not be gentlemanly enough to say no.”