A chorus of feminine voices filled the air, and Dunn found it irritating. âDonât push it too far. Be careful with so many partners. You might end up with diseases you donât want.â
Rickey waved him off, unfazed. âDonât worry about me. You need to stop dragging your feet with Aurora. Thatâs your real problem.â
Dunnâs stomach tightened at the mention of Aurora, but he quickly dismissed the feeling. âRickey, I donât want to hear that again.â
His relationship with Aurora was sacredâhe wouldnât let anyone, not even Rickey, taint what he shared with her. âIâm done talking to you. Is there anything else, or are you going to leave me alone?â
Rickey ended the call with a lame excuse. He was watching a rom-com, but his anger surged so suddenly that he hurled his phone at the wall, the crash startling everyone in the room.
âWhat the hell is wrong with you? You nearly gave me a heart attack!â
Rickeyâs voice was ice cold. âGet out.â
âWhatâs going on now?â
âGet out!â
The group didnât dare speak again and hurried out. One of the girls glanced back at him, lingering for a moment.
She was the only one with soft, delicate features, the kind that reminded Rickey of Aurora. He felt like he was losing his mind.
âYou can stay.â
She looked up, surprised and a little flattered. âMe?â
Rickey didnât answer, his fingers absently fiddling with the remote control. His friends pushed the bewildered girl onto the bed.
ððððððð ððððð ðððð: ðâ²ð ððνðð ð⫺ð¼ðð âHey, go easy. Rickeyâs still new to this!â
With a smirk, one of them waved at Rickey. âDonât worry, weâve got someone special for you. Enjoy!â
Rickey flushed with embarrassment and threw a pillow at them in irritation, but it ricocheted off the doorframe, falling to the floor. The girl was too scared to speak, unsure of what to do.
Rickey took a deep breath, the tension in his body easing. Once he calmed down, his presence seemed less intimidating. âWhy are you doing this?â
The girl hugged herself tightly, as though trying to shield her vulnerability. âI donât have enough money for living expenses.â
She quickly looked up, eyes wide with urgency. âDonât get me wrong, Iâm not selling myself. I just spend time with people as a companion. I donât sleep with just anyone.â
In other words, she was still a virgin.
Rickey let out a quiet laugh, the sound laced with something like disbelief. Even if she was untouched, how could she compare to Aurora, whom heâd known since childhood? Aurora was like the moonâdistant, unattainable, but beautiful in her purity.
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