Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 95019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
In the meantime, I hang with my crew—Ty, Keegan, and Jaxon—but I keep glancing over at Marty, who’s with his buddies. Since Lance reminded us of how little time we have left of the semester, with finals looming in only two weeks, we have to take advantage of these final days with our buddies. Which means less fucking.
Not that either of us has gone without sex for very long. Hell, I’m pretty sure I’m drained from what we got up to last night.
Marty chats up Angie, and I must admit I have a bit of a jealous streak. Although, he doesn’t look at her the way he used to—all doe-eyed, mouth hanging open. I try to keep from looking too much, but I can’t help myself, and when he catches my gaze, a visceral relief moves through me. It really shouldn’t feel as good as it does. Like, him winking at me shouldn’t make me smile, but there I go. It’s the sort of moment that reminds me Ang ain’t got nothing on me.
“Keeg, what do you think of her?” Jaxon asks, displaying his phone to Keeg. He’s always showing us some guy or girl he’s checking out on the apps.
“I think you’re surrounded by plenty of options,” Keegan says, “and maybe that’s where you should focus your attention.”
“Okay, so that’s a no? Swiping left.”
“That is not what I said.”
“Too late.”
“You seem even more anxious than usual,” I tell Jaxon. “Someone not been laid for a while?”
Jaxon chuckles uncomfortably. “I’ve had a lot to do at work and school. And this one keeps me up all night.” He indicates Keeg.
“Oh, really?” I ask.
I never would have imagined the two of them fucking around, but if Mart and I are, I guess you can never tell…
Keegan quickly says, “Playing video games.”
“Oh…” I’m kind of disappointed. Would have been cool as fuck if we had all been hooking up all night, but if all they’re doing is playing video games, sucks for them.
“You’re one to talk,” Ty says, which catches my attention.
Why would he say that? Does he know something about Marty and me? Did I say something obvious? Am I the bastard who accidentally outed Mart because of my idiot mouth?
“Yeah, telling Jaxon he needs to get laid,” Ty explains. “When was the last time you got laid?”
Last night, thank you very much. Of course, I can’t tell him that without him being suspicious about who it was with, but I’m relieved he’s not onto me and Mart.
“I’m just giving you a hard time, man,” Ty says, patting my arm. “We all know what’s going on.”
A rush of panic rises up my spine. “You do?”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Keegan says. “You think you could keep this from your best friends?”
Sweat beads across my forehead.
It’s not that I think my friends would give two shits about what we’ve been doing, but no one should know what’s up unless Marty wants them to.
“Listen, you guys, you need to keep this—”
“Relax,” Jaxon chimes in. “We’re not gonna run around telling everyone you’re crushing on some girl you’ve been sneaking around with.”
Girl? I’m so stunned, it takes me a few seconds to get anything other than that word out of my head.
“You think your best friend isn’t gonna recognize that you’re catching feels?” Ty asks.
“I’m not catching feels,” I spit out, earning glares from my whole crew. Suddenly, I realize what’s up. “You all talking about me behind my back?”
“Only stating the obvious,” Ty says. “You’re terrible at keeping a secret. And you can’t wipe that big-ass smile off your face every time I see you, the way you usually look after someone’s given you the best night of your life.”
I’ve been grinning more—Marty seems to have that effect on me—to the point that some days I’ll even notice my cheeks starting to hurt, especially if he got me laughing a lot that morning.
Marty McGovern making me grin and laugh… Who would’ve guessed?
“Also, when you survived probation and didn’t collect from us,” Keegan points out.
I only brought it up once I succeeded in passing the probationary period without incident. I deserved to rub it in, but I wasn’t gonna take their money, especially when it feels like I got a lot more out of the deal than some cash.
“Hey, I was doing you a favor,” I tell Keeg. “Didn’t you tell me you were trying to save money while we’re at Alpha Theta Mu?”
“Does that sound anything like the Ryan we know?” Keeg asks Ty.
“Hey!”
“It’s not just that,” Keegan goes on. “We never see you flirting with anyone at parties or formals anymore.”
“Yeah, a lot of red flags,” Ty affirms.
“Didn’t realize how obsessed my friends were with—”
“Your love life,” Jaxon teases, barely glancing up from his phone.
First feels, now love?
“Stop it, or I’m gonna go through that app and swipe left on the hottest people I can find.”