“Are you asking or telling?”
“It was a one-time thing, right?” His eyes locked onto mine, as if he needed me to agree with every fiber of his body, and I wouldn’t have put it past him to log onto his Amazon account and make real on his threat just to prove he meant business.
Bastard.
“You know?” I got up and stretched. “I think I will.”
He stood, towering over me. “You got drugged last night.”
“I’ll be more careful next time.”
“Next… time.” He said the words slowly as if he was tasting, waiting for the bitterness around them to fill his mouth. “You’re impossible!”
He gave me his back.
“Thank you, though, for last night,” I said in a small voice. “I’m equal parts embarrassed and ashamed that I was so stupid to take a drink from someone I barely knew. I must have turned around or something. I guess it only takes a few seconds, huh?”
His shoulders relaxed as he slowly turned around. “Seconds, and a life could end. Yes.” His eyes were wild. “I want it to be me. I need it to be me, but if you can’t get ahold of me, take Leo, Finn — hell, I don’t even care if you take Slater. Just make sure you have someone with you. Anything can happen. You’re too pretty for your own good.”
He thinks I’m pretty! I tried not to smile too wide.
And failed.
He just shook his head and smiled. “I’m impressed with your restraint.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He smirked. “Lies.” Knox opened the door and called over his shoulder. “The last girl I called pretty passed out into her birthday cake — so yeah, the restraint is admirable, also pretty tempting.”
“That’s my goal. Tempt you until you can’t handle it anymore.” I laughed.
He didn’t. Instead, he walked tensely across the room, and I could have sworn he said, “It’s working.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Knox
I ran my hands through my long hair and stood in the middle of the room. A feeling of nostalgia hit me so hard and fast that I had to lean against the wall before I could catch my breath.
Leo and Finn were sleeping with their mouths open.
And Slater?
Slater was spooning the damn unicorn.
Maybe if I was still enough, the universe would right itself again? Maybe she wouldn’t be dead. We would all still be friends? Maybe it would be different.
I sighed.
It was enough for Slater to jolt awake; he always was a light sleeper. His green eyes zeroed in on mine. “She okay?” His voice was gravelly from sleep.
I nodded. “She’s embarrassed, still swears up and down she only had two drinks. I think someone saw an opportunity and took it.”
Slater gritted his teeth.
I knew that look.
He wanted to pummel whoever thought to drug her.
Get in line.
“I, uh, told her she needed a buddy to go with her next time she goes out. You know, like a sober sexless buddy.” I added in the sexless part just in case Slater got it in his head he was a suitable candidate.
“Sexless,” he repeated. “So, you three are out then? Is that what you’re saying?”
Somehow, Finn had picked up on the conversation and held both hands in the air with his middle fingers high.
Leo yawned and said, “My dick’s bigger than yours.” Then turned over on his side and went back to sleep.
I wondered if he missed it.
Slater looked away then slowly started getting out of my bed. “Thanks for letting me crash and for taking care of her.”
Finn was watching us with wide eyes as Slater sidestepped me and went across the hall, dragging his giant unicorn across the carpet with him.
“No bloodshed?” Finn asked out loud. “You sure he wasn’t drugged too?”
“Shut it,” I groaned. “Both of you pay attention. Shawn needs anything, you give it to her, all right?”
Leo grinned seamlessly.
“Anything but that,” I said through clenched teeth. “Look, I like her…” I grumbled. “I mean, we’re friends.”
If Leo’s and Finn’s smiles get any bigger, I am tossing them out the window.
“You mean you like-like her?” Leo joked.
“He super likes her a bunch,” Finn said in a giddy voice. “Think she’ll come play Legos later?”
“Out.” I pointed at the door. “Both of you, dead to me.”
“Hey, we just like seeing boss man happy.” Leo winked. “Don’t we, Finn?”
“By Legos, I meant your penis. Sorry if that was confusing.” Finn slapped me on the back as he grabbed a towel and his flip-flops. “But seriously, the friend-zone plan only works for so long.”
“Come again?” I hissed. “What do you mean the friend-zone plan?”
Finn shook his head. “Don’t play dumb. You can only friend-zone for two months before your balls fall off. It’s been documented to happen—”
“To Canadians.” Leo nodded slowly. “But maybe it’s just because they don’t have big packages, and all their police are Mounties?” said the actual Canadian of the group. The guy even had a flag on the wall.
I groaned. “It’s too early for you two.”
Somehow, I was getting led to the chair and pushed into it. The minute my ass hit the seat it rolled backward, only to be stopped by Finn a second later.
“Rule number one.” Leo cleared his throat and grabbed the armrests, leaning in. “Be the trustworthy TA, be the friend, friend her so damn hard that when she looks up friendship in the dictionary, it’s your face with a heart around it.”
“Friend her hard,” Finn repeated from behind while Leo placed his hands on my shoulders and continued.
“Once the friendship and trust are established, she’ll find it easy to touch you, a light jab here, a playful kick there.” He laughed then said in a high-pitched voice, “Knox, you’re so funny. Stop it, Knox. That tickles!”
“Are you supposed to sound like the creepier version of Tickle Me Elmo?” I wondered out loud.
Leo slapped me across the face.
I almost broke his wrist.
He winced. “Listen up, it’s been a while since you’ve been in the game, so this is how it’s going to go. Eventually, you’re going to have a moment somewhere between the touching and the witty banter. The moment’s going to feel serious. You’re going to start sweating, and that’s how you know you need to go for it. That’s her sign, man. The universe’s tell that she’s ready for more than the friend-zoning.”
I gulped. “You guys are acting like I don’t already know this shit.”
“Oh, you know it, but can you actually handle it?” Leo rolled his eyes. “We do this shit for a living, but you’ve never lived it. Good luck out in the wild, my man. You’re going to need it.”
“I don’t need it.” I needed it. I needed all of it.
Holy shit, I am already sweating. Is this what normal human guys feel like when they like someone? I’ve only had it happen once, and it didn’t feel this strong.
Which just made the fear that much more real.
“I can’t,” I whispered. “Not again.”
“This is different, and you know it is,” Finn said in a serious voice.
I stood. “Maybe.” But my mind was already made up.
I’d protect her, I’d be her friend, but that was all I could offer.
That was all I trusted myself with.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Shawn
I felt sluggish the entire day, and by the time I made it to Human Anatomy, Leo had already saved me a seat and brought coffee. Whatever I’d done in my pitiful life to deserve him, I wanted to do again, especially if he brought me coffee and easy grins that immediately put me at ease.
“Drink up, Shower Girl.” Leo shoved the steaming cup under my nose. I inhaled Pike Place Roast and almost moaned out loud.
Leo immedia
tely reached out and rubbed by shoulders with his large hands, making me lean into him helplessly as the professor droned on about something I could care less about but needed to start caring about if I was going to pass the class.
“So,” Leo whispered. “You were drugged?”
I sighed as fresh embarrassment washed over me. “Can we not talk about it?”
He shrugged, kneading my shoulders harder before tugging my chair toward his so that our thighs were almost touching. “It helps to talk.”
“Ah, how could I forget?” I said under my breath. “You’re the talker.”
“Well, both Finn and I like to use our words more than our mouths — shocking, I know. Don’t ask Knox for words, though. He’s all action, that one.”
I tried to ignore the butterflies in my belly and the way I suddenly felt both sick and excited all at once. “Yeah. I know.”
“Should you talk about it?”
“No.” I clammed up. “It was a mistake. I was trying to let off steam. I’ll be more careful next time. Promise.”
“Next time…” He leaned in until I could feel his warm breath on my neck. “…ask one of us to go with.”
I felt my body tense all over again.
“What was that?” He stopped massaging. “Why are you stressed with the thought of one of us hanging out with you? I can hold back hair while you puke, too, you know.”
I smiled then put my hands over my heated face. “Don’t you guys get paid for that sort of thing?”
“We don’t charge our friends,” he said thoughtfully. “And I’d like to think that’s what we are. After all, I’ve seen you naked and have yet to get you into bed with me. If that’s not friendship, I really don’t know what is.”
“Chivalrous to the bone, aren’t you?” I teased.
He just smiled that easygoing sexy smile as he grabbed my hand and held it, squeezing my fingers like he meant it, as if he really was a friend and not just looking to get me into bed. “That’s why the ladies like me. But Shawn?”
I stared at him — really stared at him. “What, Leo?” Every hint of manipulation I was looking for in his mannerisms, words, his body language, was nowhere to be found.
“It’s nice to have friends who care about you. Just accept it. You’re kind of stuck with us now.”
“And how did that happen, I wonder?”
“I saw you naked in the shower, you saw us pleasing one of the ladies and liked it, and you live in the same suite as we do. Plus, if anyone needs protection from the outside world, it’s you.”
“I’m offended.”
“I know.” He grinned. “I like it when you get all crazy-eyed.”
“And now I’m crazy.”
“Duh, you’re hanging out with guys who are paid to pleasure people on a daily basis. You’re clearly not sane.”
“Then neither are you.”
“Guilty as charged.” He released my hand and scooted away. “Now, drink your coffee. You look tired as hell.”
Friends.
I grinned and took another sip. I hadn’t really had good friends at my last school, mainly because academics and sports had taken up all my time, and I hadn’t thought I needed friends. I was perfectly fine hanging out with teammates.
But now? Now that I knew what it was like?
I never wanted to let the feeling go.
The warm fuzzies of knowing I had people who cared about me for whatever crazy reasons they had, ones who would drop anything to make sure I was okay, safe.
When class finally ended, Leo grabbed my bag like the gentleman he was, and walked me out of class, much to the obvious irritation of the female population. And when Knox met us at the door and did a weird messenger-bag exchange like they were the Secret Service to the President’s daughter, I just followed without complaining.
Leo winked. “Have fun studying, kiddos.”
Knox groaned and eyed me up and down before clearing his throat and looking away. “Feeling better?”
“Yeah, Leo gave me the best back massage.”
He stumbled a bit.
“Are you okay?”
“Perfect,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Knox! Shawn!” Finn jogged toward us, two coffees in hand. “Thought I’d catch you before you started studying. Mind if I join you?”
“No,” I said at the same time Knox said, “Yes.”
Finn just winked and looped his arm in mine. “Thanks, sexy. I brought you coffee ‘cuz Leo said you were still tired.”
I sighed and leaned into him. “You’re the best.”
“I know,” his answer.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Knox
Two pencils…
One marker — I know, I know.
And three pieces of gum later…
And I was still about one minute away from ending Finn’s life. I even had seven different ways I could stab him with my pen, all of them vividly graphic and life-ending.
Because he was flirting.
Turning it the hell on.
And making her laugh.
I was sitting right there, yet he commanded every second of her attention. Each time I gave her an assignment or words to study, he’d lean over and find something funny to say that had her throwing her head back and giggling so loud we were getting stares from people around the room.
Not that I minded.
I wanted them to know she was with me.
But not us.
Not him.
I wrote STOP on a Post-It, folded it, and flung it at his face when Shawn started her next notecard.
He picked it up, read it, and then ripped it slowly into thirds.
Fine.
I grabbed my phone.
Knox: Team meeting.
Leo: What up?
Finn: Knox’s jealousy is showing.
Leo: So it’s working?
Knox: Come again?
Finn: You need to come at least once before you can come again, amateur.
Knox: You have two seconds before this pen ends up in your jugular.
Leo: Damn it. I wish I didn’t have calculus right now.
Finn: He’s turning red.
I clutched my hands into fists, released them, and typed again.
Knox: Out with it, now.
Leo: You like her. A lot. And with the pace you’ve been trying to seduce her, you’ll be eighty before you can cop a feel, and nobody wants to see that dude. Nobody.
Finn: Agreed. Saggy boobs are still boobs, but why wait that long?
Leo: If he has a boner right now at the thought of it, the friend-zone really is getting to him.
Finn scooted his chair and stared at my crotch.
I gave him the finger and blocked myself from view as I adjusted my pants. Damn it. Just talking about it…
Just sitting next to her…
It was physical.
Nothing more.
It was the mixture of her perfume, and her sassy attitude, and that hair. God, her hair was so damn pretty.
I was staring.
Finn coughed.
I looked back down at my phone.
Leo: Finn said you were just staring at her with your mouth open. Show some decorum. You’re better than that shit.
Knox: What did you guys do?!
Leo: We’re reverse-reverse hareming you.
Knox: Huh?
Finn: This is what it’s like when other girls see us with clients. They get insanely jealous, break up with their boyfriends, and hop on for a very non-sexual ride. We’re making you want her even more than you already do. And from the looks of it, you’re like two minutes away from snapping.
Leo: I say one.
Knox: Could you guys just leave it?
Finn: True friendship means you deserve true happiness. You took the fall for everyone freshman year. You deserve to be happy, man.
I looked away from the screen and took a moment to ride out the hurt.
Knox: I don’t want to talk about it.
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Leo: All right, Finn. Time for Stage 2.
Finn: On it.
The text messages stopped.
Finn dropped his phone onto the table then leaned in to Shawn. “Hey, you should come over tonight.”
Shawn smiled but was still writing on her notecard. “You mean make the long trek across the living room?”
“Aw, baby, if it’s that long, I can give you a piggyback ride. Just let me know what time to pick you up.”
I rolled my eyes.
She laughed. Is she really buying his shit?
“I can walk.” She shook her head and highlighted the few phrases on her card. “What’s the occasion?”
“Friend Day,” Finn announced, making me want to drown myself in the nearest cooler of water. “We’ll watch movies, eat junk food, you can even invite Slater if he promises to leave the unicorn in his bed.”
I tensed.
She frowned. “He’s actually gone tonight and tomorrow, something about going to visit his parents.”
I tensed even further.
His parents.
I saw two once-laughing individuals.
And then no more smiles.
Just tears.
“Good.” Finn’s smile became tense and forced. I could tell he was thinking about it too. “What do you say to eight?”
“Count me in.” She smiled up at him.
“Perfect.” He stood, grabbed his bag, and left.
Thank God.
I was just opening my mouth when Shawn checked her watch. “Shoot, I have practice. Do you think we can finish up tonight?”
“Uh…” I almost stuttered. “…yeah.”
“Thanks, Knox.” She leaned down and touched my shoulder.
My. Shoulder.
Then gathered her stuff and walked off.
My phone buzzed.
Finn: Trainwreck: See Knox Tate
Me: Ex-best-friends: See both Leo and Finn; see also dickwads.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Shawn
I wasn’t sure how to explain it. And the problem was I didn’t really have anyone to explain it to. It’s not like I could call up Mom and Dad and be like, “So there’s these three guys…