“A skilled MUA can do a lot,” Jules said primly.“Clearly, you’ve never watched any before and after makeup transformations on YouTube.”
I rubbed my face. The conversation was getting more surreal by the minute. “No, I haven’t, because I don’t wear makeup.”
“So? You’re not an astronaut but that doesn’t stop you from watching videos about rocket launches.”
“Yeah, because rockets are cool.”
“So’s makeup.”
“Not to me.”
She rolled her shoulders in a shrug. “You’ve always lacked taste.”
“I’m fucking you, aren’t I? What does that say about you?”
Jules stretched her arms over her head and yawned. “That I’m a lovely, generous human being who’ll throw you a pity fuck when no one else will—”
A squeal cut off her words when I lifted her and delivered a sharp smack on her ass before sitting her on my lap. Her back pressed against my torso, and I reached around to spread her thighs.
“Don’t make me spank your pussy next, Red.” I rubbed my thumb over her still-swollen clit in warning. “I won’t be as gentle.”
A shiver rolled through Jules’s body, but she sank against me and fell quiet as I caressed her.
Yes, this was supposed to be sex only, but I would be an asshole if I kicked her out without some post-sex downtime, right?
I smoothed my palm up her thighs, over her stomach and to her breasts. It was more comforting than it was sexual, and I loved how fucking soft she was. Soft and warm and perfectly tailored for me, her curves fitting my hands like pieces of a puzzle I never wanted to finish solving.
“What are you doing tonight while we’re out?” She made a small, contented noise as I gently squeezed and kneaded her breasts.
“Grab a drink. Explore the city.” I had no clue. “I’ll figure something out.”
“Alex will be staying behind too.”
My hand stilled before I dropped it to my side. “Don’t see what that has to do with me.” The lightness of my tone contrasted with the sudden stiffness in my shoulders.
A sigh floated from Jules’s throat to my ears. “All I’m saying is, it’s painful watching you guys avoid each other. I can’t imagine it’s fun for you to hold onto your grudge either. Being angry at someone is exhausting, and it’s been almost two years. Maybe…” Her voice softened, taking on a far-off quality, and I wondered if she was talking about herself as much as she was me. “Maybe it’s time to forgive, even if you don’t forget.”
I leaned my head against the headboard and closed my eyes. “Maybe.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to. It was that I didn’t know how to. Every time I tried, the past reared its ugly head and dragged me back.
How could I let go of something that refused to let go of me?
“It would be—”
A knock on the door cut her off. “Josh?” Ava’s voice drifted into my room.
Jules shot up straight and twisted her head to look at me. We stared at each other with wide eyes.
“Can I come in? I think you have my backpack,” Ava said. “It has my laptop.”
Fuck.My gaze strayed to my black backpack. We’d bought the same one during a holiday sale a few years ago.
I gently extricated myself from Jules, climbed off the bed and unzipped it. Yep, there was Ava’s laptop sitting snug in between her notebook and a blue folder. Double fuck.
I must’ve grabbed hers by mistake at the airport.
I gestured at Jules to get into the bathroom, but she sat frozen on my bed, looking like a wax mannequin of herself.
“Can you get it later?” I called out. My heart slammed against my chest. “I’m, uh, busy.”
I would open the door and hand Ava’s backpack to her, but there was no way to do so without her seeing the bed.
“I need my laptop. I have to get some work done before the bachelorette tonight.”
Double fuck.