Beck growls low in his throat. “When, how long ago?”
Tate finally looks up at us and I see guilt swimming in his eyes. “A couple days before we made the deal.”
Jude narrows his eyes at him which is scary as fuck because when Jude stops joking it usually means someone’s going to bleed.
“You’re telling me she was untouched, a virgin, two weeks ago?”
Tate nods, looking even more guilty.
“And she gave it up to Hunter of all people? Was it consensual? Did that walking meat sack…”
“No!” Savy says from behind us and we all turn to look at her. Her hands twist and her mouth trembles a little but her voice is firm. “Not that it’s any of your business, but it was consensual. I, I just wanted to get it over with. I’m going to be twenty-one soon and it’s ridiculous that I waited so long. So yes, I was with him. He gave me a roughly four-minute introduction to un-ecstasy and now it’s done. Can we please play a different game?”
I turn around and pour myself another drink and drain it. Fuck, she really is an innocent and I hate how much that makes me want to be the guy to show her exactly how good it should be.
TATE
Ifucked up. I never should have said that. I don’t even know why I was pissed at her. She was right to try and keep the lines of our deal clear but it felt like she was rejecting me in the moment and I’ve been punishing her for it all day long. It’s not fair to her. I’m not looking for anything more with her than the deal we have and even that might be in jeopardy now thanks to my fragile ego.
I push up from the table and go take her hand and pull her out of the room and up the stairs to my bedroom. I go sit on my bed and rub my hands over my face while she stays close to the door.
“Listen, I’m sorry…”
“I think we should end…”
We speak at the same time and I already know how she’s going to finish her sentence so I bounce back up and rush over to take her hands.
“No, don’t say that. I’m a dick. I never should have said what I did down there. That was fucked up. I’m so sorry, Savy. What happened this morning was great and I…when you said we shouldn’t do that or anything again…it’s stupid, I know, but I felt rejected and Hunter’s been bragging about being with you and I guess it just pissed me off that you would be with him but not me.”
When she doesn’t say anything, I lean over and place my forehead against hers.
“You’re right, I am the second douchiest guy on campus. You shouldn’t be treated that way just because you don’t want to sleep with me. I promise I won’t be like that again. Please stay, please keep helping me?”
She sighs in exasperation and right there I know she’s not going to bail on me.
“Fine, but just until the season is over and stop with the hot and cold routine, it’s giving me whiplash. We can be…friends…you know. I mean, when we aren’t in public.”
I pull her in for a hug and kiss the top of her head.
“Agreed, and again, I’m sorry, and thank you.”
I should let her go but Savy just feels right pressed up against me. I flash to the way her pussy clamped down on my fingers when I made her come this morning and that’s all it takes for me to let her go. Friends and fake girlfriend…that’s all this can be.
“You want some clothes to sleep in?”
She chews on her bottom lip and nods her head. “Um, yes, please, but, I think it would be best if I, um, slept on the couch tonight. Is that okay?”
My hand clenches around the t-shirt I was grabbing for her but I force myself to smooth it out.
“Yeah, of course. That’s not a problem. I’ll grab you some blankets and an extra pillow.”
She takes the clothes I hold out for her and offers me a small smile. “The way we are in public,” she says softly, “the kissing and acting like we’re together? And then what happened this morning - I…it would be really easy for me to develop, um, I mean…” she looks up at me with sad eyes, “I don’t want to get hurt so…”
I reach up and brush the back of my fingers down her cheek. “I don’t want you to hurt either. So, friends?”
SAVY
The house is dead quiet as I snuggle down deeper into the couch cushions but my mind won’t settle enough for sleep. I’m embarrassed that they all now know how much of a loser I am and I’m never playing that fucking game again, never ever. I’m also feeling a little guilty about what I said to Ash. It was mean and even though he was being a dick and implying that I had some angle for helping Tate, I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just as bad as he is with the whole Butterfly fantasy. I need to knock it off and stop dancing for him. It’s a little bit twisted the way my Butterfly and him have been dancing around each other for so long.
