I have two sisters and two brothers.
My sisters and I always gave each other a warning if we were jumping in the shower.
My little brothers rarely did, but they also took five-minute showers… At least, until they hit puberty.
Ugh.
Men.
The only positive to being surrounded by guys is that they don’t leave hair stuck to the shower walls like my sisters.
It was crazy when Riot and Creed were on the same bus as us. It’s a little better now, but I seriously have to pee. They have no shame, coming in while I’m in the shower.
Glancing around at the bunks, I notice Damian’s and Declan’s curtains are closed, while Ravvi’s is open. That must mean he’s the one in the shower.
I’m not sure I’m ready to face him, but I should apologize and try to make peace. I think he just wanted to check on me, but I got defensive, then it spiraled into something ugly.
That happens a lot with us lately.
I knock and wait, bouncing on my toes.
There’s no response, and my bladder is becoming an emergency. Ripping open the door, I slide inside and freeze dead in my tracks.
Declan reaches out of the open shower door to grab his towel. Since the hook is on the back of the door, he’s stretched over my head. He snags the towel while I’m frozen in place, and water drips from his outstretched arm onto my cheek.
I squeak. “That was bad timing. I thought I could pee and be out before you were finished.”
I swallow thickly, trying to force my eyes away from his strong chest. It really doesn’t help, considering his abs lead down to his slender hips and…
Oh my god, woman.
Get yourself together.
Declan is way too old for me, but damn, he’s sexy. All those years he spent in the military show in his physique.
“You plan to keep gawking?” he asks, pulling the towel to block his chest.
“You were supposed to be Ravvi,” I say, even though I have no idea why.
He scoffs, finally standing upright instead of leaning over me. “Go on, then, use the toilet. I’m about to cut off the water, but I’ll dry off in here.”
My nose wrinkles. “You’ll be able to hear me pee.”
“You saw my dick.” He laughs. “Seriously, princess. I don’t know what you want from me. Either use the toilet or get out.”
My eyes narrow.
He’s such an asshole, but I really do need to use the bathroom… After that, I’ll escape back into my room and not come back out until tomorrow.
The next morning, it becomes clear that Ravvi was never actually on our bus last night, and the thought makes my stomach wobble.
“I mean, did you even want him to come back?” Damian asks, sitting across from me in the living room area on the bus. He’s busy rolling a blunt. Declan doesn’t smoke either, so I can’t help but wonder if he plans to smoke that thing on his own. “Because just from your energy, it seemed like you didn’t.”
“We got into a fight,” I admit, grimacing as I pick at my cuticle a little too deeply. It starts to bleed, and I bring my finger to my lips.
“Stop that,” Declan grumbles, stretching over to grab my hand. “You’re making yourself bleed.”
I roll my eyes.
