AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I didn’t know how to feel about that.
I didn’t want to be with Bryan, but we’d had sex and I liked his company. His parents owned this huge house across the river. They had an indoor pool and home theater. It was pretty amazing.
I’d grown up in a trailer until we’d finally moved to a small house downtown, the summer before I started Rixon High. We’d barely had a yard let alone a pool. We’d had a revolving door of men though.
“So, tonight… you in?” Bryan grinned, and my expression softened. He was a hard guy to say no to.
“Fine, I’ll see what Lily and Ashleigh want to do.”
At least if we all went to Bryan’s it would keep my mind occupied. I’d wanted to go back to work, but Cindy had insisted I take the week off.
“Yes.” His brows shot up with excitement. “I’ll make it worth your while.” He winked and I rolled my eyes again, but I couldn’t deny his whole ‘treat Peyton like nothing bad happened’ routine was working for me. I didn’t want to keep rehashing that night or talking about my mom. I wanted to put it firmly in the past where it belonged.
And figure out what the hell I was going to do with my life.
* * *
“So arewe going to talk about the fact you and Bryan are basically FWBs, or we are still pretending that isn’t a thing?” Ashleigh said as she drove us across the river.
Mrs. Ford had been reluctant to let us go, but as Lily reminded her, she and Ashleigh were eighteen now. And Bryan was Kaiden’s best friend. Felicity loved Kaiden. I didn’t blame her. He had pulled Lily out of her shell and given her the confidence to live her life unapologetically. We all loved him for it. Even her dad; not that he would ever admit it.
“FWBs?” Lily asked, glancing back at me.
“Friends-with-benefits.”
“But you’re not, right…?” She frowned. “I mean, it happened like, twice.”
Ashleigh snorted, and I slammed my palm against her headrest. “You promised.”
“Promised? There was a promise?” Hurt flashed over Lily’s face. “But you said—”
“It’s not a big deal,” I said. “We hooked up a few times.”
“Define few.” She gave me a pointed look.
“He picked me up from Cindy’s a few times and we… you know.” I shrugged because it wasn’t a big deal.
At least, not to me.
“Oh wow, I really don’t know what to say to that. My best friend has an FWB, and she didn’t think to mention it.”
“It’s not a big deal,” I repeated.
“So why did you keep it a secret? Although not a secret from everyone apparently.” Her eyes slid to Ashleigh.
“I found out. She didn’t tell me.”
“Can everyone just calm down a second?” I huffed. “I didn’t tell anyone because I knew you’d all make a big deal about it. I don’t like Bryan like that; I don’t. But he’s nice and he makes me feel good and he gets it.”
“Gets what?” Lily’s expression softened.
“That I can’t be with him.”
“But why? You just said it yourself. He’s nice and makes you feel good.”
“I just can’t…”
“Oh, Pey.” She reached between the seats to grab my hand. “You deserve to be happy.”
