AllFreeNovel
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I’mholdingthephoneout in front of me as it rings. When I’m ready to hang up, the call picks up. The screen remains black, but I can hear loud music. It takes a moment for the video to load and my best friend’s face to appear.
“Cooper,” Ace shouts at the top of his lungs, and I yank the phone back slightly. As if there was a giant echo, a swarm of people yell “Cooper” in the background.
Ace is clearly drunk. His black sunglasses are slightly lopsided, perched on his face, and his skin is more flushed than usual. Most likely an outcome from hours of day drinking in the sun.
The video cracks, and the sound breaks up. “Can you hear me?”
Only about every three words come through, but I’m able to make out “I’ll call you back” before the call disconnects.
Well, alrighty then. Hours have passed when my phone finally rings again.
I answer the video call and instantly bring my hand up to cover my eyes. “Dude, what the fuck?” On the screen is Ace, his chest bare and a fluffy white towel wrapped around his waist and slung way too low on his hips for comfort. “Put some fucking clothes on, will ya?”
Ace’s loud laughter echoes in his hotel room as he sets the phone down. Thank fuck the view is now of the ceiling. “Don’t act like you don’t miss my dick,” he teases. “You know it misses you.”
I huff and run one hand down my face.Jesus fucking Christ.I change my mind—if I thought I was going to be a bad influence on the kids, Ace Sullivan is a new level of trouble.
“Still talking about your dick like it has feelings, I see.”
Ace finally picks up the phone, and I can’t help but laugh. Well, at least he’s no longer in a towel but in a white robe, this time with the hotel emblem on his chest. With the white material of the robe, his sunburned skin sticks out like a sore thumb.
“You look ridiculous.”
Ace fluffs the collar of his robe. “Look, Graham, you either see me naked or get this version. But hold up, wait till you see this view.” The camera flips around as Ace walks toward the open balcony doors.
“Much better view than yours, I bet.”
I look up at my parents’ backyard.Yeah, definitely not paradise.
“You’re missing out, man. This resort is the shit.” He plops back onto the bed, and the phone bounces. “So, what’s up, fucker? I assume you didn’t just wanna FaceTime to talk about my dick.” He smirks. “I mean, I know it has its own fan club, but you missed the monthly meeting.”
Why the fuck had I called him again?Oh, right.
“Look, I got a gig for ya if you’re interested.”
“Ooh, a gig, huh?” He sits up straighter against the headboard. “You gonna make me an offer I can’t refuse?” he says in his best godfather voice.
“How would you like to come help with the team?”
“If it means I get to see my BFFFL, then sign me the fuck up.”
What the fuck is a BFFFL?I quirk a brow in question.
“You know, best fucking friend for life. We met this group here for a bachelorette trip, and this girl, Becky, kept saying that her BFFFL was getting married. The group of hotties was standing at one of the oceanfront bars, playing a game called hide the pickle. Wanna guess what Becky and I played later in my hotel room?”
Fuck me.I run my hands over my face.Please don’t say—
Ace interrupts my thoughts, singsonging, “Hide my pickle!”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I laugh, shaking my head.
“Nothing, what’s wrong with you? Besides clearly needing to get laid.”
I open my mouth to tell him to leave my sex life out of his mouth, but the back door to the house opens and Ma appears. “Cooper, sweetheart, dinner is ready.”
I wince, feeling like a child.
Ace bites his bottom lip to stifle a laugh.
