As far as I knew, Coop hadn’t been aware of the fight I’d had with Jonah before he died. However, he did know our entire relationship had been a secret, and Coop and I both understood how much it took a toll on Jonah every day to be in the closet. I wouldn’t make the same mistake with Coop as I had with Jonah by pushing him. If he wanted to come out, I would support him in any way I could. If he wanted to just tell me to get it off his chest, then that was okay too.
“I understand, and you call me anytime you need to talk.”
“I will.”
“Let’s get out of the freezing cold.” He started for the door.
Once inside, we walked straight back to the bar and got another round of negronis before going back to his friends. Coop cracked jokes with the guys and I couldn’t help but notice he was smiling bigger and brighter than he had been when I’d first arrived.
While the group talked about how the Bruins were probably not going to make the playoffs, I thought about my own secret—the one I had kissed in a dim hallway. The mere thought of Tyler’s tongue in my mouth and how his body had pressed against mine was enough to stir my dick. With the gin flowing in my veins, I took out my phone, logged into the cloud where I stored my files, and got his number from the info Isabelle had collected on the first day of class and sent Tyler a text.
Come over
I saved his number under a nickname and took a sip of my drink as I waited to see if he would reply. Finally, he did.
Who is this?
Me: Who do you want it to be?
Another swallow.
Bracelet Guy: I don’t know who you are but you can stop fucking with me
Me: I’m not fucking with you. Well I did fuck you once
And another gulp of my drink.
Bracelet Guy: Oh yeah? When??
Me: Do you have that many guys fucking you?
I finished my cocktail as I waited for his reply.
Bracelet Guy: That’s none of your business and if we did fuck then tell me when
Me: You left your bracelet at my place
There were no dancing bubbles on the screen for what seemed like forever until finally he responded:
Yeah I’ll come over
Me: I’ll be home in an hour
9
Tyler
For a split second,I hesitated to accept Hayden’s invitation, but I quickly caved and told him I would come over. He’d been quick to run off after our encounter at Chrome the night before, and while I was excited about seeing him away from campus, I was also curious what had happened in the last twenty-four hours that made him go from freaked out about kissing me to sending me what could only be described as a late-night booty call text.
I raced upstairs to the second floor and hopped in the shower. No way was I going to show up at his house sweaty from my workout. After quickly drying off and getting dressed, I took a step toward my bedroom door to leave, but then turned and went to my bedside table. Despite Hayden having condoms the last time I ended up at his house, one could never be too prepared. I rummaged around in the drawer before grabbing the foil packet I sought. I tucked it into my pocket before deciding to snag a few more just in case the night went in the direction I wanted it to.
I checked my phone to make sure Hayden hadn’t texted again, and while staring at the screen, I almost collided with Fallon at the base of the stairs. “Where are you off to in such a rush?” he asked.
“Uh … I’m meeting a friend from my music class for drinks.”
“Cool. Don’t forget about our chapter meeting tomorrow.”
“I won’t,” I called out as I left.
