Page 41 of Arctic Titans of Northwood U: Volume 2

Chapter Twelve

AVERY

I found myself in a sprawling position on my bed, my phone pressed hard against my ear so I wouldn’t miss a second of his sweet and sexy voice. He wasn’t talking dirty to me. Not just now. Instead, he was trying to persuade me.

“I swear, Avery, I’ll send a carriage,” he said, chuckling.

“Again with the carriage,” I snorted.

Gray laughed. “It’s my finest idea and you keep saying no.” He was silent for a bit. “You said you loved Nolan’s trilogy.”

It was true. Bale was my Batman. Still, it was awkward to just show up for a movie marathon with him and Spencer and maybe Cole. It wasn’t exactly the gang I wanted to annoy more than I already had.

“Besides, we’re facing off in three days. Who knows if you’ll ever forgive me after I lead my boys to victory.” He laughed at that, but I didn’t bite the bait. We’d have time for banter later.

The door of my room opened and my ex-roommate pushed his head through. He lifted his chin in question and I nodded. Sawyer walked inside and shut the door, then sat on the edge of the bed that used to be his. He mouthed, I’ll wait.

“I dunno, Gray. You can have a night with the boys,” I said. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the gym.”

“I refuse to accept a no, Avery,” he announced, humor still touching his voice. The tone he used stretched my lips into a silly smile. It pulled my gaze from Sawyer to the window and the rose he had given me. Old and collecting dust, I still couldn’t bring myself to throw it away. I saw no reason that it shouldn’t remain dry and intact for the rest of my life. As far as flowers went, that one was the first I had ever received. But Gray kept talking. “I know you’d never guess it, but I’m a very stubborn guy when I want something.”

A chuckle burst out of me. “It’s seriously not a big deal?”

“I promise,” Gray said. “Where I go, you go. That’s the deal.”

I held my breath. And held it. And held it until I couldn’t hold it any longer. Exhaling, I caved in. “Fine. I’ll bring a six-pack.”

“If you want to,” Gray said. “But I got us stocked already. My room. Four sharp. With bathroom breaks, it should take us until…Friday, I guess.” He laughed. He wasn’t too far off. Three movies in a night was something I hadn’t done since high school, but winter days were short and cold, so a cozy night in his dorm room, probably wrapped in his arms in his bed, sounded like a great way to spend time. Even if it involved someone who made it no secret I was intruding.

But maybe I was overreacting. Maybe it was a good way to smooth it all out. Gray would get the best of both worlds, keeping me close as he wanted and spending time with his friend.

“Yeah, yeah,” I said. “I’ll see you then.”

Sawyer was smirking although he was looking at the window rather than at me. When I hung up, his ears perked.

“How’s married life?” I asked him before he could tease me.

“I could ask you the same thing,” he replied. I walked right into that one. “But it’s good. Noah sends his love.”

“He could have sent those cookies he made last week,” I muttered.

Sawyer rubbed his stomach lovingly. “I was just down with the boys,” he said. “But you were missing.”

“Eh…” I shrugged. “Gray wants me to come over. Couldn’t say no.”

“Oh, but you’ll miss Sebastian and Tyler’s one-thousandth table soccer match,” Sawyer said dramatically. “It’s their jubilee.” A chuckle escaped me and Sawyer grinned. “It’s nice to see you laugh, A.” He shook his head. “That right there, it’s the equivalent of bending down and gasping for air, if I know you at all.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. The smile remained on my lips and I knew as well as Sawyer that it wasn’t a common look. Our gazes met and held and Sawyer nodded.

“You’re so madly in love, you can’t even hide it,” he said, laughing. “And you shouldn’t.”

Was I? The words he said sparked the image of Gray in front of my eyes. And the thought of him made my chest flood with warmth. Thinking of him was very much like pulling a thick, fuzzy blanket all the way up to my chin and sinking into a soft mattress with a fluffy pillow under my head. I sucked my teeth. “We have fun.”

“Good,” he said and got up. “It suits you, this look.”

“What look?” I asked, cocking my head.

“Happy. You seem happy, A.” He didn’t hold his smile back as he crossed the room and slapped my shoulder. “I was on my way out. Just wanted to check in.”