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I was shocked by the offer. My dad was hardly someone who encouraged underage drinking, but it went to show how he had different rules for his team than for me.
“What harm is it going to do? One beer…I think we all deserve one after today.”
My ears perked up. “Does that include me?” I teased my dad.
The tension in the room was heavy.
He pinched my cheek on the way past. “No way, Lil.”
“Unfair.”
I became aware of a hot feeling on the side of my face and turned toward it. Cayden looked away before our eyes could meet.
“I’m good, Coach. I’m not much of a drinker,” he said quietly.
“You’re a better man than me,” my father continued and sat.
I helped my mom carry the serving plates over to the table and sat across from Cayden. “So, what happened today that was so terrible?”
“Let’s not talk about it at dinner, okay? Let’s just enjoy our meal,” my mom said firmly, squashing any further questions.
We ate in uncomfortable silence. I felt Cayden’s eyes on me time and again, but when I looked at him, he glanced away. It was starting to make me nervous, considering the last time I’d seen him, he’d kissed me on the forehead outside the diner while his cum was still damp on my thighs. Was this what guys were like after sex, or was it something else?
Wait, did he know about California? No, it couldn’t be. How could he? My thoughts whirred through my brain, desperately trying to puzzle out his odd behavior. If he did know, why would he be acting like this? If wasn’t like he really cared where I went to college. The only thing he cared about was the leverage that the secret gave him over me. I’d thought we were past that after the other night. I’d thought we didn’t need to threaten each other anymore. A lump lodged in my chest. I ate sparingly and left the table as soon as I could.
Cayden stayed behind, helping to tidy like he always did. I hung about in the hallway outside his room. His shadow slid along the wall toward me before I saw him. He stopped as soon as he saw me.
“What do you want?” His cold question hurt a little after what we’d shared.
“I just wanted to talk to you. Am I not allowed to?” I was aiming for bright and breezy with my voice but failing miserably.
He was quiet for a moment. “I don’t have anything to say to you.” He made to push past me.
“Cayden, stop,” I reached out and grabbed his arm.
He stilled, looking down at the place where our skin touched.
“What’s going on with you? I thought after the other night…I thought we’d made peace.”
“Are you really asking me that?” His voice was cold.
He towered over me, and his anger seemed to wrap around us both, stealing my breath.
“I don’t understand.” I took a deep breath and tried to face my fears. “Did you find out about me getting into California?” It was a long shot, but I couldn’t think of anything else that had changed between us.
He stared at me, not answering.
“Why do you care where I go to college?” I pressed. My heart was beating hard, a foolish kind of excitement running through my veins. After the other night, my first time, all these tendrils of feeling kept leaving me and latching out toward Cayden. I couldn’t help it. I was getting attached. It was so predictable. Now, my heart was looking for any sign that he cared about me further than the other night. My first time.Ourfirst time.
“I mean, it’s not like we’re really friends,” I trailed off. My fishing for some kind of reciprocal emotion from him wasn’t going well. I was acting awkward as hell, and if the floor decided to swallow me up at that moment, I wouldn’t have minded.
Cayden was silent for a painful second. “What are you playing at, Lily? What do you want from me?” He sighed, sliding his hand over his short dark hair, battling for control.
“I-I don’t know,” I admitted.More, the voice in my head whispered.Everything.
“I’ve got homework to do,” he said dismissively and moved toward the door of his room.
“Are you – will we talk again tonight?” I asked, breathless. Suddenly, the thought of him sleeping next door, upset about something while I wasn’t able to help seemed unbearable.
