I have zero regrets about what went down between me and Reeve in my bathroom, but the longer he goes without mentioning it, the more I wish he would. Because despite my better judgment, that night has me feeling something for him that goes beyond appreciation for his fingers. What is it? I don’t know. I’ve never had trouble separating sex from emotions before. But the heady mix of memories—his touch, his lips, his voice, the feeling of safety when I’m in his arms—has me missing him hard. And when I force myself to push away thoughts about his future, my future, and even the steamy memories of us together, what’s left is that feeling of longing ... to know him, to connect with him, to let him know me. I don’t know what to do about that. I just know I have no room for it in my life.
Wednesday evening,five minutes after our designated meeting time, I knock on the front door of the football house.
Cam opens up.
“Hey,” I say. “Is Reeve here? He was supposed to meet me.”
“Yeah, he’s in his room.” He opens the door to let me in.
“Is he okay?”
“He’s fine, just moody. Did he ask you to come over?”
“Do I care?”
His eyebrows go up. “Bold move.”
“What’s the big deal? What, is he transforming into a werewolf or something?”
“Find out for yourself.”
I move past him toward the stairs and catch sight of a near-empty pizza box and a couple of used plates on the table. “He ate already?” I ask Cam, who puts his hands up in response.
“Staying out of it.”
Upstairs, I march toward Reeve’s room and knock on the door. Music is booming through the walls, so I bang my fist a few times. The door opens and Reeve sighs when he sees me, giving me a look like I’ve exhausted him already.
“Yeah, that’s right, time to deal with me.”
He braces his arms on either side of the doorway, blocking me out but softening the blow by offering me a sweet, sweet view of his cut biceps. “What’s the problem, Jade?”
“We’re supposed to study and you stood me up.”
“I didn’t stand you up. I texted you I couldn’t meet.”
“And then you didn’t answer when I asked why not.”
“Can you give me five minutes to respond? You don’t need to hunt me down.” He looks tired and humorless, which is not a look I’ve seen on him before.
It occurs to me he might have a girl in his room, a thought that sends hot, fiery jealousy coursing through me. My jaw tightens, and it takes all my strength not to peer over his shoulder and try to see around the corner. “Are you alone?” I try to sound indifferent, but my dark tone is anything but.
Reeve’s usual arrogance makes a brief appearance in the form of a smirk. “Yeah, I’m alone.”
The amount of relief that comes over me is concerning. “Are you mad at me? About the other night?”
“Huh?”
“When I left you with your dick in your hands?”
He snorts. “Seriously?”
“I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Hell, Jade, I know that. Even if you did—I mean, I wouldn’t be mad at you.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I had a shitty day.”
