Page 30 of The Kiss Connection

“There’s ibuprofen and water on the nightstand.”

She reaches for the bottle of water, loosens the cap, and then takes a swig, downing the pills.

“Thanks.” Juniper rubs at her forehead and pushes the blankets down to her waist, grimacing.

“Do you need the trashcan?” I ask, nodding toward the wastebasket on the floor.

“No, I’ll be all right. Just a bit of a headache.” Her face tells a different story, her nose crinkling with every slight movement on the bed that she takes. “Why’d you help me?”

“Aside from the fact you kept trying your key in my door? I don’t like guys taking advantage of drunk girls. Your date was a piece of shit.”

She scoffs under her breath.

“You disagree with me?”

Juniper scratches her neck and glances away, refusing to make eye contact with me.

“I don’t know how much you remember about last night, but he had his hand up your skirt, and you were barely capable of standing. You fell in the hallway. When I opened the door, you were quite indisposed.”

Her eyes widen and cheeks burn. “I’m clumsy.”

“I noticed.” I can’t help but chuckle. “Clumsy or not, your date was looking to get laid. He thought that by buying you dinner, he was entitled to sex.” My jaw clenches along with my fists, remembering that bastard’s words. They keep churning through my head.

“For the record, I invited him up for coffee, not to have sex.”

Staring at her, Juniper’s gaze is on the bedsheets, her fingers playing with the comforter, avoiding my stare. I can’t tell what she’s thinking or what thoughts are running through her head right now.

“Well, he took your invitation for coffee to mean he was getting laid.”

“I wasn’t going to put out,” Juniper says, her eyes wide as she glances up at me. “I never do that on a first date.”

Nodding slowly, I’m not sure why she’s telling me this, disclosing this kind of personal information with me. “No judgment from me,” I say, holding my hands up. “I’ve had my share of one-night stands.” That’s not at all accurate. I’ve never had a one-night stand. I’m more of a girlfriend only kind of guy, but I don’t want Juniper learning that.

I’m not sure why, but I feel like it’s another thing she’d mock me for, and I’m a little private about my lack of experience.

Not that I haven’t been laid.

I’ve had lots of sex.

With my past girlfriends.

I just haven’t slept with a ton of different girls, unlike most of the guys on the team.

Her eyes tighten, and I swear it’s like she can read my mind. I clear my throat and point at the door. “I’m going to head home, unless you need anything?”

She shakes her head and winces, clearly uncomfortable from her hangover. “Thank you, Myles.”

Nodding, I head out, back across the hall. I should be grateful to be back at home, but instead, there’s a strange disconnect, a sense of disappointment.

There’s a loneliness that I haven’t felt in forever.

Grabbing my phone, there aren’t any missed texts. Even my dating life is boring. There are no messages on the app from any girls. Although it’s not as though I’ve reached out to anyone in the past couple of days.

Glancing in the direction of her apartment, my insides stir. Last night, as crazy as it was, was the most fun I’ve had in a while. And it wasn’t like we kissed or touched. Just being around Juniper, she stirs something inside of me that I can’t get enough of.

I’m just not sure if that’s a good thing.

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