Adore Me (Austin Singles 3)

March

TWO WEEKS HAD passed since the dreaded moment I asked Blake to have no-strings sex with me. Kaelynn was sitting across from me in the booth, talking about her morning sickness while we waited for Nash to join us for dinner. I was excited for her and my brother, but if I was being honest with myself, I was also jealous. Kaelynn had found her happily ever after, and I seemed to be stuck in the past. Why was it that I could help other people move on when I refused to follow my own words?

I smiled, but she must have seen it was forced. She took my hand in hers.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Yes! My patients were exhausting this week. I’m just emotionally drained.”

She must’ve seen right through my lie, because she didn’t let go of my hand. “Are you still thinking about Mike?”

I squeezed her hand. “Sometimes. It’s always hard around this time of year.”

She took in a deep breath, then slowly let it out. “Have you thought about going on a date?”

With a halfhearted laugh, I shook my head. Little did she know. I imagined my best friend would be shocked to find out I had asked Blake to sleep with me. Casual sex with no strings attached. What had I even been thinking? Would I honestly have been able to sleep with him and walk away? After the way I had felt with him that day, I was even more confused than ever.

“I’ve been on dates,” I said defensively.

She frowned. “Maybe you need to . . . you know. Have some no-strings, fun sex with someone.”

My eyes jerked up to her, and I almost confessed.

Her mouth dropped open. “Oh my gosh, have you? Had no-strings-attached, hot sex with a guy you met at the grocery store aisle as you both looked at what type of cereal to eat?”

I stared at her. “What?”

“Sorry.” Kaelynn shrugged. “It was in a romance book I read the other night.”

Rolling my eyes, I laughed. I would be mortified if she knew the irony of what she had suggested, and I could feel the heat building on my cheeks.

“Oh my gosh, Morgan, have you? Have you had fun sexy time?”

“No, I wish.”

Kaelynn’s body sagged. “Well, darn, I thought maybe you had, the way you blushed.”

I buried my face into my hands and groaned before I dropped them and looked at my best friend. “God, I’m so embarrassed. Kaelynn, I asked a guy for no strings sex, and he turned me down.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “You asked a guy for casual sex?”

I nodded.

“And he turned you down? Is he gay?”

With a chuckle, I replied, “Nope. He’s very much straight, but I guess I’m not his type.”

She pulled her brows in tight. “Who is it?”

“No one who matters.”

Reaching for my hand, she gave it a light squeeze. “Screw him, then. Morgan, you’re a beautiful, intelligent, amazing woman. Any man should want to give his left nut to spend a night with you.”

I stared at her for a few moments before we both dissolved into laughter.

“What’s so funny?”

Glancing up, I saw my brother, Nash. He leaned down and kissed Kaelynn sweetly before sliding into the booth next to her.