Fuck, is he hurt? Or pissed off?
“Caden,” I yell when I get out. That fucker is fast. I catch up and grab his arm. “Wait.”
“Why don’t you talk to your best friend?” Caden rounds on me, towering over me. A week ago, I would have cowered from him. “He’s the only one you talk to.”
I step back and my eyebrows cave in. Is that true? “You and I have talked.”
“No, little nympho. I told you some stuff, but we haven’t talked. Even at lunch, you zone out like we aren’t worthy of your attention unless one of us has our hands or mouth on you.”
I feel heat gathering inside me as the others join us and stop around me and Caden. “I?—”
I don’t know what to say. They took charge of my life, and I went along. Eventually, I submitted like the good little girl, but yeah, I don’t really talk to them.
“Maybe that’s all we are to you. A bunch of cocks.” Caden’s eyes burn as he looks down at me.
Well, fuck me. Maybe that’s what’s been missing. I don’t really know them. I’ve been worried about them wanting me for me, but what have I actually shown them of who I am?
I could pick their dicks out in the dark possibly, but I couldn’t tell you what any of them want out of life. I couldn’t tell you their dreams, their desires, or even something as simple as their favorite color.
But they haven’t really tried to get to know me either. Someone has to give a little.
“I’m sorry, Caden.” I step forward and put my hand over his heart.
He huffs out a breath but doesn’t pull away.
“I really am. I made assumptions about all of you based on what I’ve been told for years.” Swallowing, I take a breath. “I was afraid to talk to you all. Afraid to give you every piece of me. But I also don’t know where I fit in. At lunch, you guys talk about football. When we’re alone, usually my clothes are off rather quickly.”
Caden smirks. “We do like you better without clothes.”
Smiling, I shake my head. “How about this? I’ll try harder to get to know you guys and be more open about myself.”
Caden’s green eyes find mine and he softens. “We can probably find something besides football to talk about.”
“Can we eat now?” Jack asks. “Because I need some meat.”
“Yes, we all know you like meat too, Jack.” Caden wraps his arm around my shoulders and drags me into his side as we all walk into the diner.
Besides a slight scuffle to sit beside me in the booth, ordering goes off without a hitch. The server brings out coffees, sodas, and a hot chocolate for me. I’ll switch to coffee afterward.
“Okay.” I sit up straight, and they all eye me warily. “Plans for the future? College, workforce, occupation choice, military?”
“Can’t this just come out organically?” Jack sits directly across from me. He’s still sore about not sitting next to me. And probably from the bruise forming on his arm from Caden hitting him for trying to take his spot.
“This is how we get to know each other.” I look around. “Hey, you guys kept me from making friends?—”
“Not me.” Nico raises his hand beside Jack. Jack punches him in the arm. Nico rubs his arm and scowls at Jack.
“As I was saying, I’m not exactly the best at making friends or starting small talk, so if you want to make this a game—” Their eyes perk up. “Then make it a game to break the ice.”
“Fine,” Luke says next to me. “A game requires rules and prizes.”
“What would you suggest?” I take a sip of my hot chocolate and lick the whipped cream from my lips. “What kind of prizes?”
“Alone time with you.” Nico clears his throat. “For every answer we give, we get five minutes alone with you.”
The guys are all nodding, but Luke looks pensive. “Not until her virginity is gone.”
Ah yes, the stumbling block of my virginity. “You don’t trust the guys to keep their hands to themselves?”
