“Then why don’t you just keep it grown out?” Cody asks.
“You get more excited when it’s a rare thing than when I just keep it grown out.”
Cody laughs, grabs a piece of his cake, and tosses it into Seth’s mouth.
“Yeah,” Matteo says, “I’ve been struggling to keep up with schoolwork, and the facial hair snuck up on me. Here, I got you…” He fishes into his jacket pocket and retrieves an envelope. Cody opens it to find a birthday card and a gift card, and after his thanks, Matteo grabs a Meat Lovers’ slice and takes a bite. Then a much bigger one, which makes me wonder if maybe, along with the other shit he’s been neglecting, he hasn’t been eating right.
“So what were you doing at the library?” Brad asks.
“I was thinking I was gonna meet someone there.” He shoots me a quick glare.
No, shit. That’s why I’ve been avoiding the library for the past few days, along with any place Matteo might find me.
“Looking for someone?” Brad says suspiciously. “That’s a first.”
“Not like that. So, Alexei, what have you been up to?” He didn’t even attempt a segue there.
“Oh…same old, same old,” I drag out.
He looks so annoyed, I’m wondering if he might say fuck it to discretion and just blab about what I’ve been up to. No, he wouldn’t do that, but it’s another reminder of my disingenuous relationship with the guys.
We’re only there for another ten minutes before we wrap things up and head back to the dorms.
“Why don’t you guys take advantage of a few minutes alone in Luke and Alexei’s room,” Matteo tells Brad, draping his arm over my shoulders. “This guy and I have some things to chat about.” He can’t disguise the irritation in his tone.
“I mean, we’re obviously fine with having a little alone time,” Luke says. “Alexei?”
I don’t think I have much of a choice since Matteo’s bound and determined to talk, even when there’s nothing to discuss.
“Yeah, that works.”
When we reach our floor, we part ways, and Matteo finallygets me alone in his room.
“What the hell, Alexei?” are the first words out of his mouth. “You couldn’t answer my texts?”
“What for? You know what I’m planning to do. You know I’m not in a cult. And I might not even have to do it. Preston’s having a meeting tonight, and they’ll find out if they can help me with this, and then none of this even matters.” Even as I say it, given how things have gone so far, I doubt that’s how it’ll play out, but I’m holding out hope.
“And if it’s a no, then what’s the plan?”
Damn, he’s sexy with this scruffy look. Kind of wild, feral. Even his frustration is hot. I shake the weird-ass thoughts away.
“Have you even thought about what it means to go through with this?” he presses.
Now he’s pissing me off. “Are you fucking kidding me right now? It’s all I’ve been thinking about.”
“Then tell me what you’re planning to do. Where are you gonna find this guy who’s gonna do these things to you?”
My cheeks are warm. This isn’t something I’m proud of or want to get into, but now that he’s brought it up, I realize it wouldn’t hurt to brainstorm with someone who might help me come up with a better plan.
“I downloaded Grindr, and I was thinking to post a torso shot. And then say I’m into a very specific kink…”
His eyes widen. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“I wouldn’t do it near campus. I’ll drive to Buford or Snellville.”
“This is your big plan?”
“There are sites online too.”
