"Hmm... you're annoying. I want a goodnight kiss, then," she demands, and I press my lips together to keep from laughing.
"Okay. Goodnight," I say and kiss her forehead gently. She lets out a satisfied little sound now and unsticks from my neck, rolling to the side and grabbing a pillow. It doesn't take even a second for her to be completely out again.
I laugh quietly and leave the room, leaving the door ajar behind me.
It wasn't exactly how I'd dreamed of getting her into bed, but life had funny ways and I wasn't going to complain too much. It was even... nice taking care of her too.
As long as I didn't start liking it too much, everything would be fine.
Chapter 21
Ethan
I let the strong shower water relax my muscles after the last practice before tomorrow's game against Harvard. I use the time to think about everything that's happened lately.
We got used to Charlie's presence really fast. During that week off from classes, we basically slept, watched the damn telenovela or other shows, and Logan and I trained. We took turns cooking, and I loved Charlie's days, because she was way better at it than us. Must have been from watching so much Gordon Ramsay.
The university managed to relocate only twenty girls from the other dorms, and it had to be by lottery, so no one would protest. Madison was one of the lucky ones, but another sixty were desperately hunting for spots in sororities, off-campus houses, and apartments to share. And Charlotte finally accepted that she was going to stay with us, but not without a huge fightabout the household bills, where Logan and I had to let her pay the water and internet.
That weekend's game was a disaster and we'd lost 41-34, which had left the coach ten times more stressed and taking it out on us in practice. I didn't blame him, though, we really did need to improve on several points if we wanted to go far this season. And I needed that to happen if I hoped to catch the attention of scouts and teams interested in drafting me next year.
As soon as classes came back, the chaos in our lives set in at full force. Charlie often stayed late in the college computer lab doing assignments and studying, since her computer was still waiting for some parts to be replaced. Logan and I took turns picking her up, since it wasn't safe to take a rideshare at those hours.
She slept with me most nights, and we made an effort to be as quiet as possible so as not to bother Logan, but as the days went on, I was more and more worried about the way he looked at her when he thought no one was noticing.
There was a lot of desire in that look. And affection too.
Hell.
I didn't have time to compete over a girl with my friend, especially over one I didn't even know what I was feeling for.
I knew it had gone past just a casual thing, but... I wasn't ready to label anything. Much less her, with all the trauma from Johnny.
And speak of the devil...
Jonathan appears in the shower next to me and turns on the water. Since the locker room dividers are all low, I can see him from the torso up and there's no pretending he isn't there. I greet him with a typical nod.
"What's up, man." The other player breaks the silence and I avoid a sigh. I already didn't like him even before finding out what he'd pulled with Charlie, but I had to stay polite for the good of the team.
"What's up, Johnny."
"Ready for tomorrow's game?"
"I always am," I assure him succinctly and start soaping up so I can get out fast.
"I imagine fucking my girlfriend every day is helping," he fires off out of nowhere, and I clench my teeth instantly.
"You mean ex, right? And be careful how you talk about her," I warn, narrowing my eyes at the idiot. The rest of the locker room goes silent to watch.
"She's going to be mine again. I just switched it up so I wouldn't get bored," he says, totally shameless, making me want to punch him. Out of the corner of my eye I know Logan is coming over to us, towel wrapped around his waist.
"I don't think so, Lil Johnny. She found something better," I mock, and he growls.
"I thought this team had an agreement not to go around hooking up with each other's women!" he exclaims, and I laugh.
I turn my head to Logan.
"Do you remember signing any contract about that, Logan?" I ask, and my friend pretends to think.
