We’ve played cards a few times, which is fun, but usually we just sit around the table and talk about whatever is going on that day. I’m the quiet one of the group, but Felix has made it his mission to pull me out of my shell. I’d hate him for it if not for the fact I don’t even realize it’s happening. It’s like he has strange voodoo powers that loosen my tongue and lull me into a false sense of familiarity. There’s no proper way to explain it.
If Julio is what I imagine a big brother would be like, Felix is that annoying younger one you give in to just to get them to leave you alone and go away. Though it is also endearing in a way.
“No. Not today. I have an appointment after my last class.”
The guys have practice every day of the week in the late afternoon and train most mornings and weekends. Since Gabrielstill refuses to let me head straight home, insisting I get out and people more, we’ve come up with a sort of compromise. While he’s at practice, I go for a swim or hangout in the library and study or work on my homework.
The library has been my more frequent stop with preseason training for swim starting. The pool is a lot more crowded in the afternoon now until dinnertime, so I try to get my laps in then, once most of the team has called it quits for the night.
“What appointment?” he asks.
Our professor walks in, which should save me from answering, but Gabriel isn’t one to be deterred.
“It’s nothing. I’ll be busy for an hour and then you can go right back to hovering.”
He scowls. “I don’t hover.”
I rub the furrow between his brows with my thumb until his face relaxes. “Sure you don’t.”
Grumbling something incoherent under his breath, he plays with my hair for the rest of class while I try to wrap my head around our professor’s lecture. Fifty minutes later and with six pages of notes, my biggest takeaway from his lesson is, fuck the patriarchy.
I tell Gabriel and he laughs, tugging on my hair until I tilt up my chin. “Sounds like a plan, as long as I still get to kiss you.”
Leaning in, he does exactly that, only this time, it’s not a quick peck on the lips. The bell rang a few minutes ago, and the class has mostly cleared out, but we’re not alone and our professor was most definitely still in the room. Not that it deters Gabriel in the least. He cups the side of my neck and angles his head to deepen the kiss. His tongue strokes against mine and he—or is it me?—groans.
Someone clears their throat. We ignore it. Whoever it is does it again, this time louder, and Gabriel reluctantly pulls away. Ichase his lips before reigning myself in. Oops. Got a little carried away there.
Gabriel chuckles and, whispering against my hair, says, “I could kiss you all day.” Mmm. That sounds nice. “Want to let me?”
“Have a good day Mr. Herrera. Ms. Russo.”
“You too, Mr. Arndt.” I force out the words with fake enthusiasm. “See you tomorrow.”
Gabriel grabs my bag and, lacing his fingers with mine, leads the way out of class. “So, this appointment…”
“You won’t let this go, will you?”
He stops in the hallway and tugs me into his arms. “Nope.” Leaning in, he tugs on the neck of my oversized sweater before pressing his lips to my collarbone. The scruff on his jaw scrapes against my neck, causing me to shiver.
“What time is it at?”
I sigh as he kisses his way up my neck. “Two o’clock.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“No.”
He kisses my cheek. My chin. “I’ll drive you.” He still hasn’t learned that repeating the same words twice won’t make them true.
“You have practice. Besides, I can drive myself to one stupid appointment.”
Gabriel draws back, a flash of concern washing over his face. “What’s the appointment for? Is everything okay?”
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
He’s not convinced. So much for privacy.
“It’s a therapy session. There. Happy?”
