Page 153 of Veiled

He rolls his eyes, clearly not believing my bullshit any more than I do.

Despite washing my bedding and Sasha spraying perfume all around my room for the last week, the smell of Aiden’s woodsy cologne hadn’t gone away—until today. I walked into my room after class, already braced for the scent that once made me feel safe to smack me in the face, but instead, I smelled…nothing. I should have been happy, I’ve been trying in vain to get rid of it so I wasn’t constantly reminded of him, but now it left me, just like he did.

“Ohhhh, you’re tired. Well, then I guess we definitely shouldn’t go race on the obstacle course.” Matt says, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.

“Seriously?” I ask, instantly more excited for this than I have been for anything else all day. Maybe all week.

“Yup! We haven’t gotten to go against each other all year, so I thought it would be fun. Plus, your class has to be a bunch of amateurs since you keep coming in first. Thought you might like some real competition.”

I’m grabbing clothes and rushing into the bathroom before he can goad me anymore. I’m down to just my underwear before my brain catches up.

“Wait, it’s getting dark,” I say, already deflating.

“Nothing gets past you,” he laughs, shaking his head, “Gods, it’s a good thing you’re pretty.”

I throw the pajama pants I just took off at him, “I meant that we can’t see if it’s dark.”

“Okay, I was joking before, but now I might mean that. How have you not noticed the lights all around the course?”

I’m already back in the bathroom, changing into my sports bra and leggings. “Probably because I’m too focused on having the best course time, unlike some people I know that consistently come in second and third.”

Before I know what’s happening, I’m upside down, looking at my best friend’s ass in his sweats as he carts me out of my room.

*Bang*Bang*Bang*

“Sasha, come on, open up. We need someone who won’t cheat to come keep time for us.”

I assume Antonio opens the door because I hear him laugh before calling out to Sasha, “I can already tell we’re not gonna want to miss this. Grab a jacket.”

Apparently, someone invited James and Josh too, because by the time we get out to the course, they’re already there waiting. The latter pulling me into the biggest hug, “I’m sorry he turned out to be such an asshole. Guess it’s time we make a ‘if we’re not married by thirty’ pact or something.”

“We are here to not think about that piece of shit,” Matt barks, then catches himself and his voice turns joking, “And you don’t like girls anymore, so how, exactly, would that pact work?”

“I didn’t say we had to be faithful. Hell, maybe we’ll find a guy we both like, and we can take turns dating him,” Josh says to me with a wink.

My stomach flutters as I remember the couples that brought in a third on my Swingers Weekend mission, but then I’m flooded with the memory of Aiden and me in the voyeurism room later that night, and I’m as turned off as I would be with a bucket of ice water thrown on me.

“As tempting as that sounds, I’m going to have to pass. Ideally, I want my husband to like checking me out.”

James snorts, “Might need to up your marriage criteria, Lee. I’m pretty sure half of the guys at academy would fit that bill.”

“That wasn’t my only—never mind.” I look to Matt, “You ready to get your ass handed to you?”

“Ready to see you try. What are we doing for the pit? Waiting and facing each other twice?”

“I’ll fight you guys,” Antonio says with a smirk.

We are definitely in for more than we bargained for, but I don’t voice that thought out loud. What I say is much, much worse: “You mean you’ll try,” damn my stupid inability to keep my mouth shut. “I didn’t mean that!” I shout as he starts down to the pit. “I was kidding!”

“No. Broken. Bones. You hear me?” Matt calls out, but I’m not sure if it’s to Antonio or me, so I just nod.

“Ok, I’m flipping a coin for who goes first. Tongues or tails. Lee, you call it in the air.”

“What kind of coin—”

“Tongues!” I call out, interrupting Matt when the coin starts to fall.

We all circle around where the coin is spinning on the ground.