by Angel Lawson
He sent back a series of emojis and I tried not to roll my eyes.
A party wouldn’t be so bad, but a semi-date? That was a complication. The logical thing was to let the boys know. I looked down at the field and watched Jackson swing the bat. His shoulders flexed and his biceps strained and I imagined him cracking Noah in the head with it. Okay, so maybe that was logical but also potentially dangerous. Then I imagined my father finding out what happened and why.
Nope. None of that would work.
There was no way I could tell them about Noah, and I would just make it clear to this guy that I wasn’t interested and be done with the whole situation. Surely Noah would feel the same, right?
As predicted, Anderson didn’t make it to class on Thursday. He’d always been a dedicated student and athlete but the obligations to his sport had tripled since arriving at the University. He swam for the school team, which won the National Championship last year, and he’s also on the Olympic Development track, which means that his times and scores in each race are being monitored.
I’d noticed the strain it was taking—school, swim, training, friends, us. Finding time to do it all was increasingly challenging and I felt like at least I could help him with his test tomorrow. Ease a little of the stress.
After class, I got the extra study guide from the TA and turned to leave the auditorium. Ruthie blocked my path. A small frown marred her mouth. “What’s that for?”
I held up the guide. “Oh, my friend Anderson had training today for a big competition starting tonight. I told him I’d get his copy.”
“He’s lucky to have a friend like you.” She smirked. “Although I don’t think he’d have a problem getting someone to bring him his school work, if you know what I mean.” When I didn’t reply she rolled her eyes. “He’s freaking hot, Heaven. I swear you’re so used to those guys you don’t even realize how genetically superior they are.”
“I notice,” I said, casually. Damn. I noticed.
“Well, Samantha told me Oliver’s gay so that takes one out of commission. What about Anderson? Would he be interested in a different study date?” She flipped her red hair over her shoulder and batted her eyelashes at me.
Wait what? Was she trying to boot me? Hell no.
I swallowed back my annoyance. “Anderson and I have been study partners in science since the 9th grade. We sort of have a system.”
“A fresh set of eyes isn’t a bad idea.”
“He’s also like, the biggest pain in the ass ever. Grumpy as hell.” Not a lie. “And he’s super particular—like totally anal about his work.” I flashed her a semi-fake grimace. He really was OCD about it all. “Not that you’re not meticulous, I’m just saying, studying with Anderson is a chore—not a pleasure.”
“Yeah, but his shoulders…”
“Are as broad as the side of a barn, I hear you girl. I hear you.”
“Well, if he’s that bad, what do you get out of it?”
We stopped outside the building, where dozens of students milled around. I clutched my bag to my chest. “Loyalty. Laughter. Friendship.” I held her eye in case she wanted to challenge me. “Anderson and I have been through a lot and we’re really close. We’ll always be close.”
Her eyes narrowed and she placed a hand on her hip. “Seems like you’re a little territorial over these boys. You’re ‘sort of’ dating Jackson and occasionally see Hayden. Oliver is suddenly gay and off the market and now no one is allowed to study with Anderson? What’s really going on here?”
I wasn’t sure what her accusation was about. Did she just think I was a jealous friend? Or a loser that clung to these guys?
Anger rolled over me. “The relationship I have with these guys is none of your fucking business, Ruthie. If you want to make a play on one of them, be my guest. In fact, go after Anderson. You have my blessing.”
“You don’t have to be such a bitch.”
“Well, you don’t have to leave your hair products all over the bathroom counter, either.”
She drew back and laughed. “Are you calling me a slob? Your pile of laundry is the size of a mountain.”
I sighed, knowing this was a stupid argument—although the bathroom thing had been bothering me for a long time. I rubbed my temple. “I’ve got to get this to Anderson before he leaves for his swim meet.”
She blinked at me and then stormed off, leaving me in the middle of the walkway alone. Okay, maybe I didn’t handle that well and maybe I did have some territory issues with the Allendale Four that were being revealed now that we were in college.
I tucked the study guide into my bag and walked across campus. I knew juggling four boyfriends was going to be rough—I just didn’t realize how much.
13
I walked through the quiet halls of Anderson’s dormitory relishing a moment of peace after the argument with Ruthie. Knowing Anderson was already stressed about his upcoming meet and the test tomorrow, I didn’t want to unload on him about something as trivial as two girls fighting over hair products and men. Anderson had lightened up a bit since high school, but he still had little patience for drama.
I knocked on the door. When he didn’t answer, I pushed it open and found Anderson sitting at his desk with headphones clamped over his ears. His wide shoulders bounced a little with the beat and I heard the tap of his pencil following along.
Closing the door, I dropped my bag on the floor and walked over. He still didn’t notice me, but I couldn’t stop watching him in this unguarded moment. Standing behind him, I lightly placed my hands on his shoulders and he jumped, startled at my touch, and spun around in his seat, already removing the headphones.
“Jesus Christ,” he breathed. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“Sorry,” I said, not really sorry at all. I pushed my fingers through his hair and he closed his eyes. I couldn’t help but notice the tension in his jaw and shoulders, along with the slight strain tugging at the corners of his eyes. “You okay?”
“It’s just this test and then the race tonight. I’ve got a lot on the line.”
“You do and you’re handling it really well.”
He chuckled. “You think? Because I don’t feel like I’m under control at all.”
I ran my hands down his neck, feeling the tight cords of muscle. “Turn around,” I told him. He raised an eyebrow but spun the chair with his feet. Starting with his head I massaged and rubbed his scalp, working my hands down to his neck. I felt the sharp line of his jaw, the hard muscles of his shoulders. It took a minute, but slowly, inch by inch, he began to relax.
“I read this article once about how the Olympians deal with pre-competition stress,” I told him, taking a peek at his face.
His eyes were closed but he replied with a soft, “Yeah?”
“There were a lot of different theories. Some coaches were super strict—like no one was allowed out past midnight. No fraternization with the other sex. Complete and utter focus on the games until their event was over.”
“Sounds reasonable. My coach is always giving us techniques for focus. He’s big into meditation.”
I had a feeling my massage was barely making a dent. My hands were small compared to Anderson’s broad shoulders but I kept working anyway, kneading with my thumbs and knuckles. “Then there were the others that channeled their energy elsewhere, hoping to take off the edge. Like having sex before a big event.”
He stilled and the tension returned, although not the bone-deep kind, this was more of an attentiveness. “Did that work?” he asked, slowly.
“I think it probably varies on a case-by-case basis,” I replied, appealing to his nerdy side. “They cited lack of sleep and focus to be the biggest negatives.”
Anderson spun, facing me and catching me by the waist to pull me between his long legs. His green eyes were hooded and intense. I bent over and kissed him, continuing my desire to ease the tension from him.
“You’re awfully distracting,” he said, brushing my hair over my shoulder. His eyes flicked d
own to the V of my shirt. “I don’t feel like this was what we agreed on for a study date, Ms. Reeves.”
I smirked. “I’m happy to get back to business, Mr. Thompson. Let me go get your study guide.” I turned to go to my backpack but his fingers dipped under the waistband of my shorts and he tugged me back.
“Not so fast. You can’t actually bring up pre-event sex and then walk away.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I can’t? You were the one worried about being distracted.”
He pinned me with a hard, heated look. “You’ve been distracting me since middle school, Heaven. If you were going to be the downfall to my success, I’d be back in Allendale lifeguarding and going to the community college instead of here.”
I dropped my hands to his shoulders and trailed them down his chest. I felt the hard muscles and the points of his erect nipples. I knew his body and exactly what he needed to settle down.
He stiffened again when my fingers lowered to his red and black sweat pants. His name was etched over the school symbol on his hip. “Hey,” I told him. “Just relax.”
His jaw tensed. “Easier said than done, with you teasing me like this.”
I pushed at his waistband and kissed him long and leisurely. “Lift up.”
“Heaven.”
“What?”
“You really don’t have to—” Guilt mixed with hunger flashed in his eyes.
“It’s okay to let me do this for you. Remember? We talked about this.” Old habits died hard with my guys. Protective to the bone. “You’re not over-protecting me anymore. You’re not babying me.”
He touched my chin. “I don’t ever want you to feel uncomfortable, to feel demeaned or something.”
I licked my lips, refusing to cave to his ridiculous notions. “Anderson, it’s empowering to know I have this kind of effect on you.” I blushed admitting it, but I was also determined. “When you suggest that it’s anything different, it takes away a little bit of my choice. If I want to suck your cock it’s okay, got it?”
A weird noise came from his chest but he stopped stalling, lifting his ass of the seat. I moved quickly, scared he’d change his mind, and lowered his pants, pulling them off his bare, sexy feet. His manhood bobbed between us, bouncing with unbridled excitement. To know I did that to him made me proud and I licked my lips.
Every moment was a new one with these guys. Every encounter something bold and exciting. I knelt between his knees, feeling his hand weave in the hair at the base of my neck. His grip was a little tighter than I expected, rougher than I expected, and I fought back a smile. I reached for him and our eyes met, burning with the connection that had always been so strong between us.
“You tell me if it’s too much,” he whispered.
I shook my head. “Don’t hold back. Don’t you fucking dare, Anderson.”
He nodded and hot want flickered in his eyes. I may regret that last request.
With the flick of my tongue I did what I could to help ease a little of his stress and prove to him that I could love him on my own terms, in my own way. I proved this and more when he leaned back in his seat and let me take control, allowing me to enjoy his body as much as he enjoyed mine.
14
Following our activity (AKA: “best blow job ever”) Anderson crashed for a nap. I did rouse him long enough to get in a solid thirty minutes of studying before he had to head down to the gym.
“I hope I didn’t screw up your night or the exam tomorrow.”
It was a quiet moment outside his dorm and he took a chance and kissed my puffy lips against the wall by the front steps. “Not a chance. If anything, I think you may just be my good luck charm.”
I laughed. “I doubt that. Hard work and a killer level of commitment don’t need luck.”
He kissed me once more before pulling away and brushing my hair out of my eyes. “See you later?”
“I’ll be there,” I said. Then flinched. “I may have to leave early, though. My dad asked me to run an errand for him.”
“At night?”
I shrugged. “It’s with the University Church group. Pretty tame crowd.”
“Ah, right. Make one of the guys go with you, okay? You don’t need to walk around campus at night, even if it’s to church.”
I nodded and pushed him in the direction of the gym. He was going to be late.
“Go. Kick some ass, or swim fast. Or whatever the hell the right cheer is.”
He winked and finally left.
When I returned to my suite, loud music thumped behind Ruthie and Samantha’s door. I wondered how pissed Ruthie was about our argument after class. I knew better than to let jealousy get to me, but sometimes it was hard. Those boys made me as territorial as I made them.
“Hey,” I said to Amber, who was sitting on her bed, focused on her laptop. I hooked my bag over my desk chair and flopped on the bed.
“Any chance you’d be up for a church social tonight?”
“What? Is that code for fraternity party or something? Or is this like a cult thing? Because I am not sure I’d fit in,” she said, pushing her glasses into her hair. She’d recently cut her bangs super short. I was envious of her ability to pull off such a dramatic look.
“Nah. My dad wants me to go to this thing and meet a guy named Noah. Dad has some connection with his father. I’m supposed to go meet him—play nice.”
She tilted her head. “Just meet him?”
“Well, I don’t think it’s an arranged marriage introduction.” God, I hoped not.
“I’d love to be your wing-woman but I’m meeting Ginger tonight.”
I sat up. “Ooh. Again? Things are getting serious?”
Amber smiled. “I really like her.”
“Have you told Ben?”
She nodded. “The only way an open relationship will work is if we’re honest with one another. I think he’s been on a few dates at his school.”
“And you’re good with that?” Her kind of open relationship was way different from my relationships with the boys. We didn’t fool around with outsiders and we were totally committed.
“Yeah, I am. We’re going to meet up when he comes into town for the game in a few weeks.”
“Are you going to introduce him to Ginger?”
Another small smile ghosted over her lips. “If everything keeps progressing, then yep, definitely.”
“And then?”
“We’ll see, I guess. I’ve never been in a relationship like this. Juggling two people seems hard.”
I rolled my eyes. “Tell me about it. Try four.”
“Oh, about that. I heard the news about Oliver.”
I furrowed my eyebrows. “What news?”
“About him switching to the other team?”
I stared at her for a minute. “Oh, crap. You talked to Samantha.”
She threw her hands over her chest. “She was heartbroken.”
“I panicked,” I admitted. “Then to make it worse, I got super territorial over Anderson today with Ruthie.”
“She made a move on Anderson? Girl is lucky to still have her hair.”
We both burst into giggles. “I’m not really good at this ‘down-low’ stuff or you know, making new friends.”
“Yes, you are, but you need to go about it a little different,” she said. “Since I can’t go tonight why don’t you invite Samantha, as a consolation for bursting her dreams about Oliver. Maybe she’ll meet someone new.”
“I’ll ask.” I glanced at my closet and frowned. “Now I have to figure out what to wear to this party. Church social isn’t really my style.”
“Ha! Nope, that’s not your bread and butter.”
“My dad told me to get attention like I did to become Winter Princess. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I had to fake sleep with the whole school to get that title.”
“Stop. That’s not why you won and you know it.”
I sighed. “I know he’ll check up on this, so I need to play the part. I knew there would be stri
ngs—this is one of them.”
She didn’t look happy. At all. “What’s the theme?”
“Team spirit—for the game this weekend.”
“That’s not so bad. Jersey and jeans?”
I twisted my bedspread between my fingers. “I hate letting him win, you know? Hiding myself for my father’s beliefs that I don’t agree with.”
“Something in the middle. Chaste but cute?”
“That may work. I don’t want to lead this guy on, even if I have to play nice.”
“And the guys? Do they know about this?”
I gave her a face—one that said, hell fucking no, they don’t know.
Amber sighed and then stood, walking to the closet we shared. “Girl, you’re playing with fire.”
“What else is new?”
I was caught between my father and secret boyfriends—my funding and the integrity of my relationships. It was stupid, but I’d warned them. My father was nothing but trouble. The best thing to do was to play his game and then hope for the best.
“So you need to straddle the line.”
“Yep.”
Amber pulled a red school jersey out of the closet and tossed it on the bed. She moved to my top dresser drawer and rummaged through, pulling out a plain, white bra and threw it my way. I caught it with a raised eyebrow. “Go invite Samantha. We’ve got a lot of work to do to make you a convincing church girl with enough sex appeal to make this kid, Noah, feel good about himself. God, I can’t believe I’m involved with this.”
I’d played this game before—with disastrous results—but this was just once—one night and one party. When it was over, I’d tell the guys and apologize.
At least that was what I told myself as I walked across the suite. What could go wrong?
15
I knew my outfit for the night was going to hit the mark the second I walked into the aquatic center. Three sets of eyes shifted in my direction, taking in the tight-fitting football jersey and cut-off jean shorts. Hayden’s eyes lingered on the two French braids hanging over my shoulders. Jackson’s were glued to my legs, and Oliver, he scanned me head-to-toe, eyes lingering over his favorite spots.