Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
These are crazy times.
9
DORNAN
Travis collects Elias first and then me before heading to Celine's building. The atmosphere in the car is strangely charged, and I'm grateful to be in the back seat where I feel less pressured to make conversation. This whole situation is weird. Not so much the three men to one woman ratio. That part has become almost ordinary in our small circle of friends. No, it's the fact that we're nearly strangers to each other, and there is this buzz of competitiveness rolling off the car's other occupants, which I don't appreciate.
Celine is my friend first and foremost, although, after our last date, I'm less sure about the simplicity of that statement. I know what happened between her and Elias, which makes my skin prickle. Her date with Travis was after mine, so I have no knowledge of what went on between them. I guess it must have gone okay because Travis is here for round two. I mean, date two.
I sigh because who the fuck knows what any of us are doing right now?
Playing stupid games, and to what end?
Elias is here for the sex. That's for sure. Travis is an unknown quantity. And me. Well, I don't know what the fuck I want. To help my friend. A repeat of the other night. More.
Admitting that I have feelings for Celine that don't fit into the friendship mold is tough, especially under the circumstances. Jealousy isn't an emotion that sits well with me. Celine isn't serious about any of this, so jealousy is the least of my worries. Having feelings for a friend who's on the rebound is a recipe for disaster.
Elias clears his throat as though the silence in the car has become overwhelmingly uncomfortable for him. "So, what's the plan for tonight?" He twists to assess my expression and then stares at Travis's shadowy profile.
"Wine and dine Celine," Travis says. "Show Eddie she's a desirable girl so that he'll hopefully kick himself for being such a douche. And then watch Celine walk off into the sunset as a changed woman."
"That sounds like a lot to achieve on one fake date," I say.
"Did you fuck her?" Elias asks, and I almost choke on my own tongue.
"No." Travis's answer is quick and firm. "That's not my style."
"Did she want to fuck you?" Elias isn't dissuaded from asking what's on his mind by Travis's tight jaw.
"She did…"
He doesn't elaborate on why he didn't go through with it, but I make my own assumptions. He's a better man than both me and Elias.
"And what about tonight? What do you think she'll want to do after this four-way date?"
Travis's jaw ticks, and when he doesn't reply, Elias turns to me. "Did you fuck her?"
I nod solemnly because I'm not a kiss-and-tell kind of guy, and answering this question is awkward.
Elias's eyes flash, but he doesn't ask about the specifics, which is a relief.
"What do you think, Dornan, about tonight?"
"I think we need to play everything by ear. Celine's on a revenge mission. Who knows where her head is."
"We should be on the same page." Elias stares at Travis's profile as though his comment is aimed solely at him.
"And what page is that?" Travis glances at Elias before refocusing on the road again. "The page where we don't make Celine feel worse than she does already. She's failing classes, and this thing with Eddie is affecting her way more than it should."
I don't have a chance to give my opinion because Celine is waiting outside her dorm, looking like a million dollars. I mean, she always looks good, but tonight she could rival any celebrity on a red carpet. When I glance at Elias, his tongue is practically hanging out of his mouth. Travis's eyes widened at the sight of her. He might not have been on Elias's page before, but he's halfway there now.
Celine tugs open the door and slides into the seat next to me.
"Hey, boys." Her voice is bright and upbeat, but there's something a little artificial behind it that I'm not used to hearing. A tremble of nerves, maybe.
"There's our girl." Elias puts his hand behind Travis's headrest to turn himself. He shakes his head and then folds his lips as though she looks good enough to taste. I can't disagree with him there.
"Has anyone been to this restaurant before?" she asks.
"Nope," we all say in unison.
"It's supposed to be good. And tonight is on me, by the way. Please don't make any kind of deal about that. I asked you all out. I'm flexing my dad's credit card tonight."
I can't be the only one who doesn't feel great about going on a date and letting the woman pay. I was raised to be a gentleman, and I don't even want to think about how my dad would view this whole setup.