Home / Romance / Choosing You / Chapter 23

Share

Chapter 23

Author: Jaycee Leigh
last update Last Updated: 2025-05-01 08:17:34

ETHAN

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s a girl. Just one girl. But somehow I can’t stop trying to figure her out. Literally. Because how could I have gotten this wrong? I stare at the ID. The one fucking clue that made me feel so sure. And now… I’m fucking confused. It was there in that basement after my encounter with the girl I’d been with once before. And it wasn’t there when I’d entered. I would’ve seen it.

Seated on my bed, sneakers on—because I feel like getting out of here at any second—I hold the damn thing between two fingers then rotate it so it’s upside down. The girl in that library basement was the same as the girl from a week before. The same as the girl from a week later. And none of them is Paisley Sullivan. That was proven last night with my hands on her. I turn the ID again, still wondering how I got this wrong, while trying to figure out how I could’ve been so stupid. The signs were all there. Paisley in person is nothing like the girl I’ve been looking for.
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • Choosing You   Chapter 24

    PIPERFirst thing this morning, Sabrina and I went to breakfast. What she failed to mention was that she bought a swimsuit for me yesterday when we were out shopping. So it doesn’t take long for us to get ready. I look down at the way my boobs look in the top with little red cherries on it. They jiggle with each step I take across the field. Even wearing my denim short shorts, I feel almost naked. And worried that everyone is going to stare. They’ll see me. All of me, and I still don’t know what to expect from that. Judgement? Assumptions? I’m way out of my element here.“Stop fidgeting you look fine,” Sabrina says.“I’m just nervous.”“Obviously,” she replies. “But you’re hot. You must know you look hot. And you aren’t wearing anything less than anyone else.”She points ahead of us, and I glance around. I try to see if anyone notices us—notices me. But no one is really paying attention. The guys are staring at all of the girls. And the girls are staring back. Amongst them are bikinis

    Last Updated : 2025-05-01
  • Choosing You   Chapter 25

    ETHANPiper’s friend flees as I approach, leaving her standing there all on her own in that damn bikini. Her hips even more pronounced. Her skin is smooth, appearing so soft, I want to reach out and run my hands all over it. From her evenly tanned arms, down her silk, toned legs. I want to see them wrapped around me. I need that like I need to stand next to her and dissuade anyone else from trying to talk to her. I see the looks on the faces of every guy out here. They have ideas that I can’t allow, even if I also can’t partake myself. Won’t. I won’t. Because this shit is fucking madness. I was curious, but I don’t want Piper.My eyes don’t give a fuck about that declaration. They roam up those smooth legs to the curve of her ass. An ass I want my hands all over again. Fuck. How did this happen? I was supposed to be steering clear of her today. Of all things Piper so I can forget the girl I’ve been secretly hooking up with. Pining after like I’m fourteen again and desperate for a litt

    Last Updated : 2025-05-01
  • Choosing You   Chapter 26

    PIPER“Admit it. You had fun,” Sabrina says.I don’t tell Sabrina what just happened. Not now. She’s still riding high from the time we had in the quad. And I’ll have to admit, until Ethan went and ruined everything with his mouth, I was having a good time too. Okay, his mouth is also part of the reason I was having so much fun. The way he kisses me has the ability to make my knees weak and my head swim. I like that feeling. God help me, I still like him.Still, I decide to leave him out of it. “Alright.” I roll my eyes. “I had fun.”She claps her hands together loudly, as we enter our dorm. “Ha. I knew it. And seeing Ethan wasn’t so bad. I could only watch for a little while. Then you two got too far away. Did you talk? Maybe clarify once and for all that you were the one he kissed.”“I didn’t have to,” I say. “He figured it out.”Her eyes light up. She’s more excited than I am. “So…?”I open my mouth to reply when I spot Paisley waiting outside my door. She looks like one of those d

    Last Updated : 2025-05-01
  • Choosing You   Chapter 27

    ETHANI slept like shit last night because of a mix up I still can’t believe I made that led to the date from hell. And I spent most of the morning beating myself up about it. My entire afternoon has been plagued by Piper. Finding out that she’s the one I kissed in that basement. The one I’ve been making out with and wanting for days—weeks on end. It’s Piper. And that little realization has done nothing but make me reevaluate all the times I’ve just stared at her from afar.What was I doing anyway? I’d argue that it was my own curiosity. But now… shit has become a little more complicated. I’ve made a decision to stay the hell away from her. After all, no good can come of this. But that doesn’t stop the thoughts. It doesn’t change the memories of me thrusting between her legs, with my tongue in her mouth. It doesn’t stop the need burning inside for someone that I can’t have. And every time I think of all the ways she hasn’t tried to use me, I get a little more turned on. I can picture

    Last Updated : 2025-05-01
  • Choosing You   Chapter 28

    PIPER“I should’ve gotten a lighter color, “ Sabrina says of the royal blue on her nails and feet. She motions to the bright turquoise I chose.“I like the blue,” I tell her, opening the door to my room and letting us in.“Yeah. It’s nice I guess. I couldn’t make up my mind.”I nod, setting my keys on the desk, as an incoming text hits my phone. My heart skips a beat and I hurry to pull the phone from my back pocket, eager to see if Ethan has texted me again. I don’t even know how he got my phone number. And I’m not going to ask. It may dissuade him from texting back. Disappointment rushes in as I stare at Paisley’s name on the screen along with details for the party she wants to go to.“I guess it’s not Ethan again.”Yeah—I couldn’t keep that information to myself.“Paisley found a party.”“And I see you’re just thrilled,” Sabrina says. “What’s the matter? You don’t like parties?"I sigh, a little frustrated, since I’d hoped Paisley would forget to invite me the way she has in the p

    Last Updated : 2025-05-01
  • Choosing You   Chapter 29

    ETHANI should stop this. I know I should. But, fuck… I can’t remember why I’d want to. You know what it’s like when you have a hankering for something but you don’t know what it is? You can’t figure it out, so you continue to go without it. Then one day you stumble upon that taste that you’ve had in the back of your mind forever, and it’s like damn, that’s fucking amazing. Yeah. It’s like that.Piper’s denim covered pussy brushes my hard-on and that denial slips further away, leaving room for more temptation to sink in. More desire to take over, spurring my actions. I abandon her neck in search of her plump lips again. Hand at her thigh, still hooked around my hip, I lift her onto the countertop, poising her bubbled ass onto the edge. She hums with approval, curving her fingers around my shirt bunching it into her hands. Damn it, I want this. Her body rocking against mine. Her legs wrapped at my waist. And my tongue in her mouth. I want it all. Fuck everything I said before. At least

    Last Updated : 2025-05-01
  • Choosing You   Chapter 30

    ETHANHoly shit. What the fuck just happened? I made out with Piper. Fuck, I ate her out at this fucking party like she was my last meal. Then left her in the bathroom to get dressed like an asshole. What makes it worse is that I’m the one that coaxed her in there. Took one look at the guys circling and got territorial or some shit like that. I might as well have just peed on her leg when I saw Adam getting too close, and I’m still at a loss as to why. I won’t stop thinking about her. I can’t. And I don’t get that either. Piper has always been just some girl. I saw her once and thought she was hot, and immediately shut it down because I could tell she’s not the type my father would want me to bring home. She’s not the type to use and throw away either. Like I just fucking did. But I won’t do it again. I need to stay away from her. I knew that the minute I found out she was the girl in the basement. I can’t sneak away at parties for moments alone just to finger-fuck her in the bathro

    Last Updated : 2025-05-01
  • Choosing You   Chapter 31

    PIPEREthan is an asshole. Big surprise, right? Wrong. I knew what I was getting into when I let him do those things to me last weekend. Why the hell didn’t I care? It’s not like he’s ever been nice to me. Even the way he touched me was intense. Overwhelming. Incredible.I chastise myself for even thinking it. Right after what we shared, he was in the next room, touching my best friend with the same fingers that had stroked me. Brought me to the most powerful orgasm I’ve ever experienced. Truth, I’ve got nothing to compare it to. But it was life-altering just the same. In more ways than one. Ethan’s skills had moved my world. Blinders came off and for once, I couldn’t remember why I’ve been clinging to my virginity. Why haven’t I ever tried going that far with anyone else? I might’ve had few chances, but they were there. And I ignored them all for a guy that wasn’t interested. A guy that didn’t give a damn—doesn’t give a damn about me. It’s just another part of Ethan’s games. He toyed

    Last Updated : 2025-05-01

Latest chapter

  • Choosing You   The Final Chapter

    EPILOGUEETHANSeven Years Later“I don’t even know why we came to this,” Piper says.I smirk, and reply. “You wanted to come. I was good with staying home between your legs for the next fourteen hours. It’s been a busy week for the both of us.”“When I made these plans it was because it’s been a busy seven years, especially since graduation and I wanted to do something normal. Now more than ever,” she says.“What’s so great about now?”“It’s our reunion,” she replies.“Okay. But I could’ve easily taken normal to mean my tongue in your pussy for a few hours and spending the night fucking like rabbits.”“Oh. We’re still doing that,” she says with a smirk. “This is just a detour. Plus Sabrina is in town and I haven’t seen her in so long.”“What are you up to,” I ask. She’s got a look on her face that tells me she’s harboring a secret.“What? Nothing.”“No. You’re up to something.”“Maybe. I’ve got news to share and we haven’t been face to face with our friends to share it with them too.

  • Choosing You   Chapter 111

    PIPERWe find Paisley easily just across the courtyard. And it seems we have a little more to talk about besides the beating I sustained right here on these sidewalks.Shaina is beside her, sipping a smoothie that Paisley takes and makes her own for a minute. Seeing Ethan, she hands it back to her friend, licking her lips like lunch has arrived.She hasn’t paid me any attention, until I speak. “We need to talk.”With an attitude, she drags her eyes away from my boyfriend. Though she’s looking at me now, her words are still to Ethan. “I thought you were coming to tell me living with this isn’t working out.”Ethan folds his arms across his chest. “Why would I do that?”She smiles, still looking at me. “Maybe you’d rather live with me instead.”It’s so pathetic, it’s sad.My boyfriend smiles too, only it’s not pleasant. “Given the choice between sleeping in a bed with you, or a bed of fire, I’d rather add more coals to the flames,” he says.Paisley frowns the hopeful tone leaving her voi

  • Choosing You   Chapter 110

    PIPERIt’s the next morning and I’m still reeling from Ashton’s finds and confession. Bryce. Paisley. Well, maybe not Paisley. If I know anything, it’s just how much she truly hates me. At least, by now I think I know. She spent our entire friendship putting me down, keeping me in a bubble that suited her needs just fine. She’s spent our entire lives being jealous of me. I just wish I’d seen it before. No. What I really wish is that I’d pieced it together sooner. Paisley was the one whispering in Ashton’s ear. And ultimately, the one behind my attack. “The catfight gone wrong”.“You ready,” Ethan asks.I look over my shoulder at him, standing in the doorway. He’s got a look on his face that I can’t decipher. He’s just too calm. Nothing like the way he was with his brother yesterday. Or with Adam before. I’m a little worried for the people I’m about to face, but then I think about the hell they put me through, and I know whatever is going on in his head is justified. I’m lucky to have

  • Choosing You   Chapter 109

    ETHANOur first week in the new place goes by fast. Mostly because we spent the week at the beach and hanging with our friends. Then there was a lot of moving stuff to get done, and things to pick out. What’s the saying about time flying? Yeah. That. Most of the furniture has already been delivered, and we’ve unpacked a majority of our boxes. The way I see it, we’re entitled to a break. I drop onto the couch and turn on the TV. The cable and internet didn’t take long to get set up either, which is good, since we’re relying on having wifi for class anyway.“Must be nice,” Piper says from the kitchen. She’s standing at the stove stirring a pot of pasta sauce.“You don’t want my help in there,” I say.“It’d be nice if you offered,” she replies, with her nose in the cookbook.“Okay. Do you want some help?”“Why yes,” she says. “That would be lovely.”With a small chuckle, I rise from my seat and go over to her. Without her sling, it seems like she moves twice as fast. Adjusting the temper

  • Choosing You   Chapter 108

    PIPERIt's not an ideal situation. But it’s not Ethan’s fault whatever happened. It also wasn’t Ashton’s doing, though I’d like to know his involvement. What I’d like more is to know who’s behind the whole thing. That is if Ashton can be trusted. He did try to pay me to stay away from his brother. How high did his offer go? I don’t remember. Something tells me if I was the type to ask for more, he would’ve given me what I wanted to get the job done. So, maybe he is capable of hurting me. Or paying someone to hurt me, though everything in my gut tells me he’s a pawn in all of this. But without talking to him myself, without the whole story, I don’t know what to think.So, I’m focusing on him. Ethan. Sitting with our friends, yet again trying to make plans for our class- free week. Everyone who’s going away for spring break has already began heading down to party central. And we’ve booked nothing.“I say we forgo taking a long trip and make the most out of what’s nearby. Then we spend t

  • Choosing You   Chapter 107

    ETHANI’m not letting Ashton off the hook that easy. So, Piper’s family has money. And he was wrong. He should apologize to her. If that look in Piper’s eye has anything to do with it, he needs to come clean about whatever he said that sent her running the night of the party and apologize for that too. And I won’t take no for an answer. The kitchen is busy with women working on dessert. The same ones I've known to cook for special occasions since I was probably in diapers. They wave to me and I say hello, with as much of a smile as I can muster while looking for my shitty ass big brother. He isn’t down the hall, in the sitting room, or in any of the downstairs bathrooms. I think that maybe he might be upstairs in his old bedroom, until I come across the den at the foot of the stairs with the door cracked open.“You lied," my brother fumes. “She’s not after his money… Because I know. What else did you lie about?”“Were the two of you even dating?”“Where is the proof that she upload

  • Choosing You   Chapter 106

    PIPER“We don’t have to do this,” Ethan says, as we get closer to his family’s house. Too late to turn back now. Though, he’s probably offered to turn the car around every seven minutes or so, sensing my uneasiness.I disagree. “I want to go.”That much is true. I do want to go, especially if Ethan’s parents are willing to make the effort. Besides, I want to succeed where I think I failed before. And without Ashton there, maybe I can sway them to my side then he’ll be easier to convince that I’m not some gold digger. I can prove once and for all that I only want Ethan. Where did he even get that idea of me anyway?We turn onto a quiet street.“Last chance,” Ethan says. “Are you sure?”Gripping his hand in mine, I nod. “It’s just dinner. And I want to get to know your parents. We didn't talk much at the party.”Bringing my hand to his lips, he nods. “Okay. If anything makes you uncomfortable—anything—you tell me.”I smile, with a nod, as we turn onto what looks like a dark rode. But be

  • Choosing You   Chapter 105

    ETHAN“I don’t care where we go,” Sabrina says. “As long as there’s drinks, sun, and a reason to wear a bikini the entire time.”“Amen to that,” Jordan says slapping her on the ass.I laugh, lacing my fingers with Piper’s as we sit at a picnic table. “Where do you want to go?”She shrugs. “I kind of like Sabrina’s way of thinking.”“Hell yeah,” Jordan says, making me laugh again.“Fine. Everyone is going to Florida,” I say.“We live like thirty minutes from a beach. And I think the flight to Hawaii is closer,” Sabrina replies. “It depends on how wild we plan to get.”“Not too wild,” Piper says, motioning to her arm. She’s still in the sling through spring break. Luckily, she only suffered a dislocated shoulder and a bruised humerus. But she sprained her hand.“Oh sure, go easy now that it’s party time. I don’t think you were complaining when you spent the night on the end of Ethan’s dick,” Sabrina pouts.“Sabrina!”“What? We all know that’s what happened. That’s why you two keep makin

  • Choosing You   Chapter 104

    PIPER“I’m sorry,” Bryce says. “Did I do something wrong?”“No,” I reply, after all it’s not his fault what I almost allowed to happen. Still I scoot away, putting more space between us. “It’s just—”“Too soon,” he guesses. “It’s too soon, right?”“Bryce—”“I just really like you. And I know I can make you happy,” he says.“It’s not going to work,” I reply.“Give yourself some time.”But I’m already shaking my head. “I don’t want to. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to lead you on. But I just realized how stupid I’m being.”“No you’re not. You’re being smart. Actually think this through. It’s only a matter of time before he hurts you. Cheats on you, or worse.”“Ethan would never,” I reply.“You really believe that don’t you?”“I believe him,” I say. “And it took this moment for me to realize I don’t want space. I was just scared and upset.”“You were beaten up, Piper.”“Not his fault.”“And the sex tape? The one in his room?”“That wasn’t on him.”“I can’t believe your judgement is still so

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status