“Why are you trying again?” I grab the zebra-shaped cushion when the ball one isn’t big enough to cover her effect on me. “You’d prefer to eat sticks of fried shit than be in Pi Beta Epsilon.”
“Firstly, ew. Secondly, ewwww. Thirdly, what is with your shit obsession? Fourthly, Mom asked if I’d give it one final shot.” Her shoulders round, making the neckline sag and— “She was crying, Zach.”
Honestly, she and Mel have the strangest relationship. They bothadore indie music and have gone to shows together for as long as I can remember.
Until today and the revelation she has breasts, Denny’s one girly thing was getting her nails done—a monthly mother-daughter tradition that she doesn’t keep up with as religiously now that they’re far apart. Which, honestly, tells me it’s a bonding thing for Denny. Then there’s how they both love hockey and devour junk reality TV.
But aside from those hobbies that unify them, they’re so opposite.
Mel’s Malibu Barbie. She primps and preens and flirts with anyone and anything. No one’s safe. She works out more than I do and her diet makes a ballerina’s look lax.
“You sure she was crying and not pulling your leg?” I nestle my head into a cushion and get tickled by one of the hairy throws she has over the back of the couch.
This is the kind of convo a man needs to be comfortable for.
“No! You know how important this shit is to her. I’m already a failure in her eyes because I’m a tomboy?—”
“That’s harsh. She doesn’t think you’re a failure.”
She toys with an earring. “You didn’t see my grades last year.”
“So this is a distraction?”
Mel might be a blonde bombshell but she’s sharper than a tack.
“I figured dressing up for a night wouldn’t kill me.” Her eyes narrow. “It’ll killyouthough if you mention to Pecan you saw me in a dress.”
Pecan, or Peeks, is our mutual best friend and roommate. Though he’s barely been around since he hooked up with Hailey last year, for the first time since I moved in, I’m not hating it because if both of us were drooling over Denver, I’d probably have to break his nose.
And jaw.
Then his dick.
“I won’t say anything to Pecan,” I tell her and mean it.
“You swear?”
My lips curve but before I can make a life vow that I won’t tell him anything, she’s yanking up her skirt, plopping onto my lap, then startswrestlingme!
My eyes bug outagainas she does, all that gorgeousness wrapped up in silky velvet on top of me. Sliding over me. Her body caressing mine?—
In less than thirty seconds, she has me pinned beneath her.
Hands over my head, hers locking my wrists in place.
I have never lost a tussle so easily, but the distraction was worth it.
Only the zebra pillow between us keeps her from feeling the full effects of this match.
I’m not sure if I’m sad about that or happy.
Until…
“You say anything and I’ll tell him about the time you and Denise?—”
“Hold up! We agreed never to speak those words out loud.” I yelp.
Her smug smile deepens. “We have an agreement?”
