My eyes snap up.Zayden didn’t admit to anything?Is that because he’s embarrassed of me?Is it because of the agreement, and since none of this is real, it doesn’t mean anything to him, so there’s no point in telling anyone?My mind spins out with a bunch of different thoughts.I spiral easily.A trait of mine I wish I could erase.
I don’t have to say a word, my reddening cheeks betray me.
‘I knew it.’Cami smirks.‘C’mon.Give us the goss.’
Sitting here, with the girls expectantly staring at me, I can’t admit to them that we entered an agreement to help each other out.It just sounds so … pathetic.I feel the same pressure that I felt when my parents were grilling me.The words climb up my throat and spill through my lips before I can stop them.
‘Yes … something happened.’
Cami squeals and Anya grins at me.‘It’s okay, you can tell us anything you’re comfortable to share.I don’t care that it’s about my brother.I’m just so happy he’s met a nice girl.He deserves that.’
‘It’s fine,’ I say.‘We shared a few kisses and maybe some other things.’
‘Some other things,’ Cami repeats, flashing her straight, white teeth in my direction.
‘Yes …’ I trail off.
‘Did you bang?’she asks, voice blunt.
Anya screws her nose up, making all of us laugh.
‘No, thank you very much.’
‘Oh, you should,’ Cami says.‘He’s hot as fuck.’
Anya shakes her head, but she has a small smile on her face.It’s good to know that the thought of us together doesn’t make her upset.She’d already told me this before anything of the sort happened, but it’s nice to have the reassurance.
My stomach tightens when the front door opens.I peek over the lounge and see Mason stroll inside.He’s dressed in casual clothes, meaning he changed at the fields.I’m guessing the grounds are quite muddy, since we’ve had so much rain over a short period of time.Mason greets us, coming over and planting a kiss on the top of Anya’s head.
He stays for a bit, making idle chit chat, and I keep peeking at the door, waiting for Zayden to appear, but he doesn’t show.I glance down at the time and then open up our message thread.He saw the message I sent and liked it over an hour ago.Doubt fills me.I hope leaving him the presents wasn’t a dumb idea.I just wanted to thank him for his hospitality and also show him how proud I am of how hard he’s worked.He’s proving that he’s trying to better himself.
‘Are you sure you guys don’t mind me staying here for a bit?’I ask, looking between Anya and Mason, assessing their reactions.‘I don’t want to crowd your space.’
‘Of course not!’Anya exclaims.‘Stay as long as you need to.You definitely need to try and get out of that apartment.Those girls are awful.’
‘I wish we could get one for just the two of us,’ Cami sighs.‘That would solve all our problems!’
‘I’m on the waitlist for the dual rooms, but people reserve them years before they’re even due to study.It’s a joke.’
‘They’re more expensive, too,’ Cami says.
‘Like Zayden said, there’s a room for you to rent if you’d rather come here,’ Anya says.
‘You’re sure?’I ask, studying their faces, just in case they’re lying to be polite.‘Like super, one hundred percent positive?’I check again, chewing my lip.
‘Extremely sure,’ Mason confirms, giving me a genuine, warm smile.
‘Thank you.I appreciate it.’
‘Any time,’ he says.
Cami leaves shortly after, needing to get to work, and Mason and Anya head out to stock up on groceries for the week.I’m in Zayden’s shower when the door to the room opens and he enters.I quickly turn, meeting his emerald eyes through the steam.Slowly, he pulls his shirt over his head and kicks off his shorts.I inhale sharply, hardly daring to move as he opens the shower door and steps inside.
‘Hi,’ he murmurs, eyes drinking in my naked body.
‘Hi,’ I return, doing the same thing.
Sliding his hands over my hips, he pulls me closer.Our bodies slip against each other and the feel of him sends tingles through me.
