The Hazards of Sex on the Beach (Hazards #3)(21)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“Then I’ll text it.”

I could just picture him wriggling an eyebrow. “Call me when you get back to your room or wherever you’re staying. I don’t care how late it is.”

“Won’t I bother your roommates?”

“They always stay with their boyfriends.”

“You sure? You need your beauty sleep.” He didn’t sound like he meant it. He wanted to talk to me again.

“Just call. If I don’t pick up, assume I’m sleeping.”

“One last question and then I’ll let you go.”

“Yes?”

“What do you sleep in? That is when you’re not in bed with me.”

His words had my whole body warming. “Usually a cami and shorts pj set.”

“Are you wearing that now?”

“Not yet. I’m still in jeans.”

“You look great in jeans.”

“I’m wearing the same ones I was wearing that night on the beach.” Those dark jeans were now my favorites.

“Your ass looks good in those.”

“Glad you think so.” I smiled. “Have a good show.”

“Have a good night doing whatever it is you’re doing. If you get a chance, try to have a naked pillow fight with your sorority sisters for me.”

I laughed. Did all guys fantasize about that? “Sorry, did that last week. Tonight I’m going to read for fun and then turn in.”

“Reading, naked pillow fights. Same thing. Sweet dreams—preferably of me.”

“I’ve had plenty of those.”

“You should tell me about them sometime. Maybe they’re like mine.”

“Don’t forget to call me.”

“I won’t. Good night for now.”

“Night.” I ended the call and pulled open his picture. So much for not letting myself fall too hard.

Chapter Eight

“Hey, are you free tomorrow night?” The unfamiliar female voice threw me, and I found myself fumbling around for my glasses. That would teach me to pick up the phone when I didn’t know who was on the other end.

“Uh, do I know you?” I struggled to wake up. It had to have been way past midnight. I’d kept my phone next to my bed waiting for Chase’s call.

“Oh, it’s Rachel. Sorry.”

“Oh, hey.” I situated my glasses on my face. My room was dark, but somehow knowing I could see made it better. My glasses were getting their only real use. I wore contacts most of the time.

“Hey, were you sleeping? I assumed you’d be out or something.”

“Yeah… I’m lame.” It’s funny how easily the words slid off my tongue late at night. I wasn’t usually one to make self-deprecating comments.

“No, you’re not, but to go back to my original question, are you free?”

“Is there a particular reason why you’re asking?”

“You answer first.” There was a rustling sound from her end of the phone.

I laughed. “I might regret this answer, but at the moment, yes, I’m free.”

“Great. Do you like sushi?”

“Yes, love it.” I sat up, debating whether it was worth getting out of bed to turn on the light. I really wished I had a light near me, but the room was too crowded for bed stands. I always left my glasses next to my pillow.

“Perfect. I’m craving it, and Riley can’t stand it. We should go to dinner tomorrow night.”

“And you just thought of this at,” I checked my phone, “one in the morning?”

“Sorry. I forget that not everyone’s up all night. I just thought dinner could be a fun way to bond. We can do drinks after too.”

“To bond?” Rachel seemed more bubbly than I remembered, but then again, when we’d met I’d been more concerned with Chase.

“Yeah. We’re with brothers, bonding makes sense.”

“Yeah… you’re engaged to Riley. I’ve slept with Chase a few times.” Even to my own ears, that felt off.

“Don’t belittle what you have with Chase.”

“It’s still different. Now that being said, I’d love to hang out. I just want to make sure we do it for the right reasons.” I sounded strangely coherent for the middle of the night.

“Okay, I’ll start over. Hey, Cara. I think you’re super cool. Let’s get dinner.”

I laughed.

“So seven tomorrow night then?”

“Sure. What place do you want to go to?”

“The one on Meeting Street, and I’ll swing by and get you. You live at the Delta Mu house, right?”

I knew exactly which restaurant she was talking about. It was one of my favorites. “Yeah, do you know where the house is?”

“I’ll find it. I’ll see you tomorrow night. This is exciting.”

“I’m excited too. I just don’t sound that way in the middle of the night.”

“That’s fine, you’ll get used to my evening chipperness eventually.”

I laughed. She seemed to make me do that a lot. “All right, see you tomorrow.” I set aside my phone.

Moments later, my phone rang again. This time I looked—just in time to watch Chase’s name flash across the screen. “Hey.”

“Hey, you sound awake.”

“Rachel woke me up already.”

“Riley’s Rachel?” Chase sounded surprised.

“Yes, we’re going out for sushi tomorrow night.”

“Oh, nice. I can see you guys getting along.”

I heard talking and laughing in the background. I shouldn’t have been surprised that he wasn’t alone, but somehow it took away from the phone call.

“She’s really nice.” I got out of bed and turned on the light. Talking to Chase in the dark now that I was disappointed just upset me more.

“She is, and I know she’s kind of lonely in Charleston. She moved there for Riley.”

“Oh. That would be tough.” I made a mental note to ask her more about it.

“So I’m sure she’s glad to have met you.”

“It goes both ways.” I sat in my desk chair and pulled my laptop out of sleep.

“Are you typing on your computer?”

“You heard that over the phone?” I turned away from my computer guiltily. Messing around on the computer while on the phone wasn’t the most polite thing to do.

“Yeah… are you all right? You seem kind of distant.” A note of concern entered his voice.