by Hughes, Maya
My orgasm crashed into me, overwhelming all my senses. He knew my body so well it was like the playbook was seared into his mind. One second I could breathe and the next I was floating, holding on as he tightened his hold on me and expanded inside me. Our collapse was short lived; a timer went off in the kitchen.
He rested his forehead against mine. “That’s the bread.” His breath came out in pants.
“You’d better go get it.” I fell back onto the bed with my chest rising and falling in time to my heartbeat.
“Be right back. Hop in the shower and I’ll wash your back.” He jumped up and darted out of the room, giving me a very nice view of those still incredibly tight buns.
* * *
Fresh from our lightning quick shower, I jogged to the door after the first knock.
Berk and LJ were back in town for training camp. Jules had thankfully stayed in our old place, now hers and Zoe’s, so really hers alone. She’d have to go to an engagement party for her sister over the long weekend in a few weeks, so I was stocking up on booze and hugs. Marisa had worked on campus all summer.
“Where’s Berk?” I peered down the short hallway.
“Said he had something to do.” LJ shrugged.
“Probably to do with the new letter he got. I swear, he squirrels himself away for half a day whenever one of those shows up.” Marisa handed over a container of god knows what, glowing like a radioactive isotope.
Jules chugged her entire drink and held it up even after she was done, inspecting the bottom of the glass and ignoring my gaze. No matter how many times I’d told her to come clean, she was adamant against it.
I got everyone a drink and we flicked through the movies on the screen.
“Guys.” Berk threw the door open and nearly took a chunk out of the wall behind it. He spun around with a letter gripped in his hand and slammed the door shut.
“What the hell, Berk?” Nix came out of the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn.
“She said she’s done.” His gaze was frantic.
“Who?”
He thrust the wrinkled piece of paper and envelope into the air.
“Your Letter Girl?” LJ pried them from Berk’s hand.
“Yes.” He sank into the arm chair by the door.
Jules became fascinated by the thread count of our Ikea rug, tugging at it and keeping her head down.
“What did you say to her?”
“Nothing outside of our normal letters. I got the next one and—” He gestured to the one in LJ’s hand. He passed it over to Marisa, who tried to pass it to Jules. She shook her head and moved onto inspecting the wood grain of our coffee table.
“All it says is ‘I don’t think we should do this anymore.’ Marisa flipped it over. “Why would she cut you off after months?”
Berk sank his head into his hands. “I don’t know, but I put another note in the box when I went to pick this up and it’s still there.”
I tried to keep my gaze from boring a hole in the side of Jules’ head.
“Maybe she’s moving away and doesn’t want a pen pal anymore.” Nix set down another plate of food on the table.
Berk shook his head. “I’m not ready for this to be over.”
Jules’ gaze flicked to him. The corner of her mouth quirked up.
I caught her gaze and tilted my head toward them. ‘Tell him’ I mouthed.
I lifted my eyebrows and tilted my head toward Berk.
She gave me one hard shake of her head.
Marisa handed the note back to him. “Doesn’t seem like you have a choice.”
“What does Alexis think of all this?” LJ leaned against the fridge.
Jules’ half step toward Berk froze and she recoiled like someone had dropped a rattlesnake in front of her.
“What about her?”
LJ crossed his arms over his chest and lifted an eyebrow.
“She’s not someone I can just leave behind, get over it. But she doesn’t have anything to do with Letter Girl.
“She can’t just barge into my life with these notes and then peace out like it was nothing.”
Jules throat worked up and down and she grabbed her beer off the table. Her gaze darted to floor.
“It seems like she can and just did.”
“No, I don’t accept that.”
“What are you other options?”
“I’m going to find her.” Berk’s steely air of determination filled the room.
Jules’s hacking cough drew everyone’s attention. Foam bubbled out of the top of her beer and she grabbed a fistful of napkins to cover her mouth.
“Jules,” Berk called out her name and dropped down to the floor beside her.
She stared back at him like her eyes were about to pop out of her head. A squeak that sounded a little like a ‘yes’ flew out of her mouth.
“You’re in the same class as her. Well, we both are. She’s a senior now too. Can you help me?”
“Maybe it’s better to leave things like she said.”
“It’s not that easy. None of you understand.” His panicked gaze swept over all of us. “Jules, you’ll help me, right?”
Her mouth hung open and she stared into his eyes, nodding once.
Berk’s big, wide smile could practically be seen from space and he dove onto her, wrapping his arms around her, hugging her tight and shaking her from side to side.
She stared at me over my shoulder throughout the rag doll treatment and I shrugged giving her a helpless look.
He jumped up and paced in front of the tv, going over their Scooby Doo investigation options. Jules drummed her fingers on her leg like she was ready to bolt from the room at any second.
“We can narrow things down once classes start and everyone’s back on campus. Maybe I can find a way to get handwriting samples.” He tapped his chin.
Jules hid her hands behind her back like they’d give her away at any moment.
“I’m not stopping until I find her. We’ll turn this place upside down. We’ll be a great team, right Jules.”
Her mouth opened and closed as her eyes widened straight past anime to trapped in the vacuum of space. The word was barely a squeak. “Sure.”
There was no escape now. Berk was determined and it was only a matter of time before the pressure got to her. Let the fireworks begin.
* * *
For a look at Nix and Elle's life post-graduation, I've got a yummy bonus scene for you! You know you wanna! ;-) It's a move in day of another kind for these two. Grab it now!
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And, if you don't want to miss Berk and Jules' story, you can add it to your Goodreads now! It'll be a nice winter book to warm you up!
Author’s Note
Phew! That was a little tense :-) Those two are going to have so much fun in their book! But back to this book. Nix and Elle were another chance for me to dive deeper into the friendships and loves of the Fulton U guys. Their discovery of what's most important to them and finding that in their relationship as well as for what they want to do in their lives.
College is such a crazy time where there are so many things we're expected to do that it can be hard to focus on what we want to do. Even now, with college long past in the rearview mirror, I still find myself asking what I want to be when I grow up.
We're all on a path and sometimes it's hard to jump off that path, even when we know it's not right for us anymore. I've been there and feel free to shoot me a message if this book connected with you in the same way.
Thank you so much for reading and spending time with the guys! I can't tell you how much it means to me that you're on this journey with me. Every book hits home for me with the journeys my characters are going through and I love each one of them.
I have Berk and Jules' story on deck next. After which, we'll be back to the Kings with Colm's book. I know you want it. I've gotten so many messages about his story and it's the beautiful one he deserves. While many of you have figured out who his heroine will be, I still want to
leave that as a surprise until you dive into his story.
Thank you again for reading and feel free to leave a review letting other readers what you thought, if you have a moment.
Maya xx
Want More Maya Hughes?
Here are a few books from my backlist you might want to dive into for even more swooning and laughter!
Want to start Fulton U where it all began?
The Perfect First - Reece + Seph
Looking for another sweet and steamy sports romance read?
Kings of Rittenhouse - FREE
Shameless King - Enemies to Lovers
Or maybe you’d like to jump on a plane to NYC to meet these Manhattan Misters?
All His Secrets - Single Dad Romance
I hope your next book hits all the right spots. Happy reading!