Page 115 of Faking it For Summer

“I am,” she says, then she suddenly looks around. “We’re still on the beach, and anyone could come and find us. And, well, I think that sex on the beach is still against the local laws and ordinances, so maybe we should make our way back.”

“You’re going to come back to the hotel with me?” I ask hopefully.

She nods. “Yeah, I think I will.” She grins as she touches the side of my face. “That was amazing, by the way.”

“I think so as well.”

“So, does this mean we’re officially friends with benefits?” she asks me.

All I can do is laugh because the truth of the matter is, I want us to be so much more than that.

chapter twenty-two

Mia

The sound of birds singing outside the window has me stirring from my slumber, and my eyes fly open with a smile on my face. My body is warm and satiated, and I roll over to look at Luke and whisper good morning to him. I frown when I see his side of the bed is empty, and I wonder if he’s in the bathroom.

I lie on my back and stare at the ceiling, smiling over the memories of last night. We finally slept together, and it was amazing. He’s the best lover I could ever have hoped for; it felt special, and I was going to tell him that. I was going to tell him that it was the best thing that had ever happened to me and that, as upset as I had been at receiving Rex’s invitation, I was glad that I had. I was glad he’d written that horrible note because if he hadn’t, this wouldn’t have happened between Luke and me, and what happened was special. I could feel it in my bones. I could see it in his eyes that he felt the same way.

“Are you coming, Luke?” I ask, laughing. “Did you drown in there or something?”

I wait for him to respond, but I realize the room is silent—almost deathly silent. I grab the sheet, wrap it around myself,and waddle toward the bathroom. The door’s wide open, and no one is inside.

For a moment, I think maybe he’s gone to get me breakfast, but then I spy the note card on the table with my name on it. I grab it and pick it up, frowning.

Hey, Mia. Don’t wait for me for breakfast. Had to do some work, but I’ll see you later.

“What the fuck?” I throw the note card down on the table and go and sit on the edge of the bed.

I’m emotional, upset, and I feel like I want to cry.

This is not how you want to spend the morning after sleeping with your best friend for the first time. I expected him to hold me, to cuddle me, to possibly make love to me again in the morning, tell me he couldn’t wait for me to wake up—but he already went to work.

I hate the feeling of abandonment, but I have to be honest with myself. I’m disappointed. He still chose work first after I gave myself to him. I thought I’d been clear that I wanted to be his number one, that I wanted him to choose me, and he still didn’t. Was it too much to ask?

Now I’m confused. Was any of it real? Was it just physical? Was it really just sex?

He’d been upset. He’d been messing with me. We’d argued. Maybe this was his way of trying to make up for the failed lap dance the other night.

I touch my lips gently and think about the way he kissed me, the way he felt when he climaxed inside of me, and I shiver because I’ve never felt a connection like that before in my life.

I grab my phone and call Juniper because I don’t know what to do. I want to cry so badly, but I can’t. I need to be strong. I want to be strong.

“Hey, girl, you on your way to work?” She sounds chirpy, and I’m glad because I need someone happy. I need someone positive.

“Juni,” I say, my voice cracking.

“What’s wrong, Mia?”

“We slept together. We slept together, and it was amazing, but I woke up, and he wasn’t there. I don’t want to say I feel used, because I don’t, but I don’t feel loved or special, and I don’t know what to do. What does this mean?”

“Okay, Mia. Deep breaths.”

“I’m trying. I’m really trying.”

“Did you enjoy it, first and foremost?”

“It was magical, Juniper. It was, like, the best sex of my life—and not just because he’s got a really nice body and a really nice cock, and he knows exactly what he’s doing, but it just felt like my body had been made for him. He fit in all the right spaces, and every single touch did something to my erogenous zones.” I sigh. “Let’s just say, it was great, but maybe it wasn’t great for him. Maybe he has sex like this with everyone.”