Page 97 of Off-Limits

Throwing herself on the bed, she pulls out a lollipop from her jean pocket, unwraps it and places it in her mouth. Sucking on it, she stares at me for a few moments, before withdrawing it with an exaggerated pop and pointing it at me.

“Well, thatnew necklaceand giant hickey on your neck says otherwise,” she deadpans, with a smug as fuck smirk on her face.

I feel the colour drain from mine and then heat blooms over my entire body as I slap my hand to my neck, rushing intothe bathroom to see if what she is saying is true. Arrie’s laughter follows behind me and I inwardly curse her.

Barging through the door, I stand in front of the mirror, moving my head from side to side to inspect the damage. Deep purple and red mars the left side of my neck, and the hickey isn’t small, it’s fucking huge.

Damnit, Damon!

On closer inspection, I come to realise it is also raw from the stubble on his beard. I’m going to kill him.

I look in the reflection to find Arrie sucking on her lollipop, a pensive look on her pretty face.

“What?”

“I feel like you’re pulling away from me, Dottie, and I don’t understand why. Have I done something to piss you off?”

“Oh god, no!” I say, rushing toward her and wrapping her in my arms. “You could never.”

“Then why do I feel this distance between us?” she asks, her voice breaking at the end, making me feel more like an asshole than I already do.

“I just have so much going on, Arrie. It’s nothing to do with you, babe.”

“Promise?”

“Of course.”

“Will you tell me about this new man?”

“We are taking it slow. I’m not sure if it will last,” I say, the lie singeing my tongue, but I don’t know what else to say.

She goes quiet for a moment, unwraps herself from me, and I hope she will leave it alone, because I don’t know how much more I can lie to her without it killing a piece of me inside.

“Will you tell me if it gets serious?”

“I will.”

“Ok, but Dottie, you can’t keep pushing me away. I need you, Wench.”

“I need you more,” I admit, choking up as a tear falls from Arrie’s eyes.

She swipes at it angrily.

“Ok. Enough of this sappy shit.”

I grin and pull her out of the bathroom.

“So, tell me what’s going on with you, Adam and Connor?”

Her cheeks flush red.

“What?”

“We are taking it slow.”

I raise an eyebrow, remembering the look on Connor’s face when we were at the bar as he watched Arrie and Adam kiss.

“Connor seemed happy watching you and Adam pashing.”