Page 146 of Their Naughty Student
When I stepped into Starbucks, my gaze swung around the room, landing on my friend sitting at a two-seater at the front.
“Caramel macchiato, upside down with an extra shot,” she said, nodding toward the cup waiting for me.
I smiled.“Have I mentioned how much I love you?”
“Not lately.”She sipped from her cup.“But you can make up for it by telling me what’s going on.”
I frowned, not sure I was on the same page.“What do you mean?”
“I was high the other night, or I would’ve given you the third degree,” she said simply.“What’s going on with you and these two men?”
I watched my friend, trying to determine if she was genuinely frustrated or merely trying to get me to spill my guts.I couldn’t read her, which said a lot about my state of mind.
I sighed, savoring the first sip of sweet foam and caramel.“It’s complicated.”
“I’d say,” she huffed, leaning in.“Two men?”
Unable to look her in the eye, I focused on my cup, picking at the paper ring around it.“Do you think it’s possible to love two people at the same time?”
Her hand stilled mine.“You’re in love?”
I immediately shook my head.“No.”I giggled.“No.That’s not what I’m saying.Hypothetically.”
“Right.”Tiffany did not sound convinced.“Well…” She appeared to consider it.“Sure.It’s possible.”
My eyes shot to hers.“Really?”
“Yeah, why couldn’t you be?I mean, the heart’s as much a decision-maker as the brain, right?”
“Definitely.”I felt the tug of a smile.“And it’s not the smartest, at that.”
“So, this is serious?”
Although I was confused about damn near everything that had transpired over the last few weeks, I had no doubts about that.“It’s serious.On my part, at least.”
“How do they feel about you?”
A one-shoulder shrug was all I could offer.
“Have you slept with them?”
I shook my head.“Not yet.But I want to.”
“What’s holding you back?”
I stared at my best friend for a second before I decided to go all in.There was no one in the world I trusted more than Tiffany.Well, besides my brother, but I couldn’t very well have this conversation with him.
“Nothing’s holdingmeback,” I admitted.“It’s them.Well, Edge more specifically.I think he likes me, or he wants to, but he won’t completely let himself.”
“How so?”
I settled in for the long haul, explaining what had happened at the training class.The way Edge had given me away, the argument we’d had about it, how he had claimed me as theirs in front of everyone last night.
“Wow.”Tiffany’s eyes were wide.“That’s intense.So, he’s claimed you as his submissive.Where’s the problem in that?”
I gave a furtive glance around, ensured no one was listening to us.“I’m not a submissive.”
“No?”Tiffany leaned back, assessed me.“I’d have to disagree there.”
