Page 9 of Friends to Lovers


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“So, you ended up falling asleep. Was that after you fucked him?” Violet asked as I gave her a sharp look.

“There was more to it than that. We were studying and had dinner. We just got tired and fell asleep.” I denied her insinuation and went to sit on my bed. “I already have to prepare for my family dinner later.”

“Family dinner?” Violet asked as I nodded. I thought that Sterling probably had the same dinner with his own family, but we didn’t talk about that. It wasn’t like we’d ever visit one another.

“Yep,” I replied as I dropped back to my pillows. I missed the feeling of being wrapped in Sterling’s arms, but I’d never admit that. I relaxed for a while in silence before I got dressed to drive to my parent’s house. I wore some new black slacks and another cashmere sweater in a maroon color. I had all my underthings on this time and loosened my hair, looking in the mirror. It was kinky curly, and I rolled it into a low bun to secure it with a pretty clip. Mom was into more formal dinners and I lined my lips with some matching lipstick before I grabbed my purse.

“Hang in there.” Violet told me from her closet as she turned to smile at me. I assumed that she was going out to dinner with someone.

“I’ll try,” I replied as I opened the door. I headed to the parking lot and unlocked my green Range Rover, slipping inside slowly. I glanced across the street to see Sterling headed to his car dressed in slacks and a button up shirt, spinning his keys in his hand. I smiled and started my engine as the radio filled the cab, listening to the words. Why did music always have to resonate with me so much?

I backed out and headed to the house, noting that Sterling was a few cars behind me. I turned the radio up and tried to think about my family in a positive way. I was strong with my siblings and cousins, but my parents were the warmest of people. Dad always thought about business and making more money while Mom seemed to focus on my meeting a rich guy that would marry me and allow me to birth and raise his children.

I wasn’t opposed to the idea of getting married, but I wanted my own career. I didn’t want to be barefoot and pregnant for the next ten years of it. I wanted to have feelings for somebody. I thought briefly about Sterling and knew that would never be accepted.

I took the freeway for a few miles to their neighborhood that overlooked the water, turning the several streets before I parked in their long driveway. It curved around and offered room for a lot of cars and plenty of space for anyone to leave. The brick house was sprawling and single story with ten rooms that housed the four people that lived there. Dad had a gym in the basement and the other rooms were set up for guests and a family office. It was a beautiful home, and the view was stunning, but I didn’t feel warmth here. I got out of the car and walked to the front door, smiling as my little sister Sabrina opened it.

“Hi, bug. How are you?” I asked as she wrapped her arms around my waist. She was nine while my you

nger brother was turning twelve in a month and I adored them.

“Good. Thanks for coming over. I missed you,” she told me as I smiled.

“I go to school really close. You know that, right?” I asked as she sighed.

“You don’t live here.” She had a point.

“I know but soon I’ll have my own place and you can some stay the night with me. We can do all kinds of fun things in the city!” I told her as I glanced up to see Mom coming through the living room. “Hi, Mom.”

“Hello, sweetie.” She hugged me, kissing my cheek the way that she always did. “How are you?”

“I’m good. Dinner smells good.” I told her as I walked inside of the house with Sabrina attached to me. My mother was the one with the Spanish heritage and I had her eyes and hair. She was feisty where I was a bit more easygoing though I didn’t know where that came from. Dad was always worrying about his companies. My brother looked like him while Sabrina looked just like Mom and had her spirit. She made my favorite spaghetti and I could smell fresh bread from the kitchen.

“I’m sure that you appreciate home cooked meals. I imagine that the cafeteria isn’t the best food.” I laughed and nodded.

“You imagine it properly though I can’t say they don’t offer a variety. There are a few good restaurants nearby, but I can’t cook anything in the dorm room. I miss it.” We walked into the huge kitchen where I saw sauce simmering on the stove along with a pot of boiling water for the pasta. Mom made her own, giving in to dad’s Italian heritage. There were two loaves of bread cooling on the counter and a large salad that looked just tossed.

“Did I hear you say that you’re getting an apartment after graduation? Why not stay here in your old room and save some money?” She gave me a concerned look, and I realized they had a say in my next place to live, at least until I started working.

“It’s not like I have anything lined up yet. I was just thinking aloud.” I walked to the fridge and pulled out a La Croix, cracking it open and taking a sip. “Violet is planning on moving back to Texas, anyway. Her dad isn’t doing well, and she wants to be closer to him.” The very thought made me sad. Violet had asked me to come with her and start over there, but I knew that my family would hate the idea. I also didn’t want to leave Sterling.

Sterling. I took a bigger sip of the drink and thought about the night before. There was so much heat and attraction between us that it was overwhelming to me. In addition to the friendship that we’d started again, it could be so perfect. He liked having me in his bed in the morning but admitted that it wasn’t his thing.

What was I supposed to think about that?

I’d chosen to just walk away. I needed to think about graduation and what happened next.

“Rosalind?” I blinked and looked up at my dad. “Are you with us here?”

“Just thinking,” I replied with a shy smile as I walked over to hug him. He was a hardworking man that supported his family well. I appreciated that, but I wish that he’d been around more when I was growing up. There were a few family trips that we’d taken but he was always out doing business. Sabrina and Paul had him around more, though not much. Mom just had the money now to have hired help for mostly everything in her life.

“How’s the car running?” He asked as I pulled away.

“It’s great.” I didn’t ask for something so nice, but it was a deal through a friend of his. “I don’t drive it too much as I’m just sticking around the campus. Everything is so close.”

“I wanted you to have the best for these trips. He gave me a hell of a deal on it. It’s a safe, sturdy car.” He looked me over and I forced a smile to my face.

“Thank you. It’s a great car.” I glanced over to see Paul walk in, typing on his phone. “Hey, Paul. How are you?”

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