Serina rolled her eyes, blowing out a sigh. “He said some typical Jack bullshit about me being a princess and I deserved a prince, not a pauper.”
I snorted. "Does that mean he'snota prince?”
“Fuck if I know.” She laughed, finally releasing the hold on her shirt, now twisted beyond repair. Sagging into the couch, “He said I need to be sure because he doesn’t want to half-ass it either.”
I shrugged. “Seems fair.”
Serina didn’t look satisfied by that response.
“Idowant him, I know that.”
“But?” I prodded.
She studied the tea bag in her mug. “But he said people know what he likes, and they’ll talk. He’s worried that I’ll change my mind if my sorority finds out or if my dad does.”
Now that I could relate to. I hadn’t spoken to Mom in months. Fuck our selfish parents. We deserved better. Life was too precious to waste.
I discarded my ice pack and mug, scooting across the couch to take her hand.
“Then take it step by step.”
She nodded and tightened her fingers around mine.
“I can’t talk to M about him. He said she knows, I guess she caught him once.” She swallowed, staring at our clasped hands. “I don’t know what she thinks of his interests.”
“What doyouthink of them?” I asked.
A bright flush spread from her cheeks down her neck.
“I- to think of- of watching him with another guy-God,I sound weird,” she stammered. I laughed.
“Not at all,” I assured her.
She tossed her head back. “I swear he makes me crazy. I neveroncethought that I’d entertain the idea of this,” she whined. Both of us giggled, which turned into the ugly cackling kind of laughter. When it died down, she said, “I’m glad I get to know you.”
A bloom of warmth unfurled in my ribs.
“I’m glad I get to know you too.”
44
Ollie
Asmokeringwaftedoverhead, another smaller one followed seconds later, both floating towards the droopy willow we laid beneath. Stiff St. Augustine grass scratched my neck from my spot in the shade while the cushy high chased away haunted images circling my mind.
“Maybe I’m crazy, but I swore she was getting hot when I told her a little about how it all works,” Jack continued around the roach. He wiped a hand down his face. “But who would date a guy that also invites guys to bed sometimes?No one.”
I nabbed the joint.
“You said she wanted to try, give her a chance.”
Jack sighed, ripping a blade of grass and shredding it. Buddy rolled on his back with his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth. I reached over to rub his fluffy belly.
“I don’t even know how to date. Sure, I know how to fuck six ways to Sunday, butdating?” he groaned.
“Think of it as hanging out with a best friend,” I mused, passing him the joint. He shot me a glare and bit the nub.
“Hanging out with you doesn’t result in fucking.”
