Page 170 of Untying the Knot
“Oh, I can see how that would be difficult,” Kelsey says in an understanding tone. “I wish the boys would have said something about you not fully loving California because we could have given you a good introduction. Have you been anywhere yet?”
“Not really,” I say. “With Ryot hitting the ground running as soon as he got here, it’s been hard to have any time to explore together.” As the words come out of my mouth, I realize that’s been one of the problems since we’ve moved. I’ve been stuck in the house, not really doing much, while he’s been running around. That’s one of the reasons I’ve had a hard time since we moved.
“Well, that’s the problem,” Lottie says as she sips from her wineglass. “You haven’t done the proper exploring. You need to stick with us, girl, and we’ll show you all the fun things California has to offer. For instance, we like to go for hikes on Saturday mornings. It’s in the hills, and we’ve found this secret path that leads to a clearing that overlooks this mansion with one of the nicest pools I’ve ever seen. And the owner, he loves walking around naked.” Lottie leans forward. “The penis on that man is exquisite. Granted, not as nice as Huxley’s, but it’s nice.”
“The staring at the penis thing was not my idea,” Kelsey says. “That was all Lottie.”
“Nothing wrong with some window-shopping, you know, in case Huxley ever crosses me.”
“He seems obsessed with you,” I say. “I doubt he’d ever cross you.”
“True.” Lottie smiles over the rim of her wineglass. “He is quite obsessed. Possessive. I love it.”
“Is that how Ryot is with you?” Kelsey asks. “It seems like he always needs to be touching you.”
I nod. “Yes. He is. Very protective. I didn’t have the best childhood, and he knows all about it, so I think he’s made it his mission to make sure nothing ever harms me again.” My body warms from the thought of how protective he has truly been. He’s protected me from me, from my thoughts and fears, from my past, from my mom, and from the media...Oh my God. “The Jock Report,” I say, trying to make sense of it all in my head, not easy after five glasses of wine. “He created that with Penn, to tell a true story, I just . . . wow.” I shake my head. “I just remembered when I was blasted all over social media once during his last season. Ryot was the angriest I’ve ever seen. He went around to all his social media accounts and posted about our love story and then told me how he wished he could control the narrative and not rely on the algorithm to show his posts.” Is that where The Jock Report stemmed from? I know he said it was to tell Penn’s and his story. . .but was it also because of me?
“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay, but what were people saying about you?” Lottie asks.
“Oh, that I was not skinny enough to be with someone like Ryot.”
“What?” Kelsey asks with such galled outrage that it makes me chuckle.
“It stung for sure. I’ve dealt with body issues my whole life, thanks to my mom, so yeah, it took a toll on me. But Ryot has made me feel sexy . . . always. He loves my body.”
“As he should, you’re hot,” Lottie says. “Your boobs alone are what dreams are made from.”
I chuckle and then nod at her. “Speak for yourself.”
She shimmies her boobs at me. “Huxley can’t get enough of them.”
* * *
“Ugh, we have to get going,”Kelsey says. “The rehearsal is in a few minutes.”
“No,” Lottie groans as she rests her head on the table. “I don’t want to leave. I like our new friend.”
“I like her too,” Kelsey says. “But JP won’t be happy if we aren’t at the rehearsal.”
“Have him walk down with the pigeon. You know Kazoo is who he really wants to marry anyway.”
“Kazoo?” I ask right before I hiccup. I cover my mouth, and we all laugh as I set down my finished wineglass. Yup, it’s official, I’m drunk.
“Kazoo is a pigeon JP is in love with,” Kelsey says while rolling her eyes. “The pigeon is great and all, but”—she leans forward—“I don’t see what the big deal is.”
“What are you ladies talking about?” JP asks as he walks up to Kelsey and presses a kiss to her neck. Her eyes widen right before she sinks into his touch.
“Nothing worth mentioning,” Kelsey says as she turns to face him. “Mmm, let’s get you out of your clothes.”
JP’s brow shoots up as he takes in his fiancée and all the empty glasses on the table. “Are you drunk?”
“No, are you?” Kelsey asks right before giggling.
“Wine is yummy,” Lottie says as she clings to a rigid Huxley. “I want to lick it off you.”
I watch as Huxley leans close to Lottie and grips her jaw while whispering something in her ear. She melts right in her chair, and immediately, just like that, I’m turned on. I can’t possibly sit here and watch these men command their women without getting jealous, without knowing there’s a man back in my hotel room waiting for me.
“You girls are in trouble,” JP says as he grips Kelsey by the waist. “How are we supposed to go through rehearsal?”
