I groan as I stretch out my limbs, reaching to retrieve my glasses from my nightstand. Why am I so sore?
“Fuck, Jude, where’s my bra?”
As soon as my glasses are on, I take in Nikki’s perfect topless form standing at the foot of the bed, and I can’t suppress the grin spreading across my face. Heat pools in my stomach as a memory of last night's activities flashes through my mind.
Oh yeah.That’swhy I’m sore.
“Jude, I’m serious,” Nikki pleads. “Help me find my bra, please. I have to go.”
“Yep, sorry,” I reply, shaking off my horny daze. I switch on my desk lamp, and together we scour my tiny dorm bedroom for Nikki’s hot little push-up bra. It’s black and lacey, and god, it’s one of my favorites. Nikki kept it on most of last night until?—
“A-ha, found it!” Nikki shouts as she retrieves the article from the tangled sheets of my twin-sized bed. “Help me put it on?”
“With pleasure,” I say eagerly, happy to help. Despite my grogginess, I still manage to get it fastened. “I’m surprised they’re making you come in this early on the Sunday before classes even start. Which class is it for?”
“Marketing Management,” she grumbles as she finishes dressing. “I have to kiss a lot of ass this semester if I’m going to get the internship at Delta.” She scoops up her silky black hair with one hand, piles it on top of her head, and effortlessly ties it in a bun. Aside from some smeared eye makeup, she already looks more put together than I ever do.
“I have no doubt you’ll get in,” I say, watching her adjust her makeup at my tiny vanity. “You’re literally one of the most competitive and driven people I’ve ever met.”
“We’ll see,” Nikki mutters. Before I can reassure her further, she disappears from my room and into the bathroom.
I fall back onto the bed with a contented sigh. I'm not sure how I landed someone as amazing as Nikki Barnes. She’s a junior—one year ahead of me—majoring in Marketing. She’s smart, confident, and strong. She knows what she wants and is willing to work for it. She frequents the gym, and it shows—from her toned arms to her flat stomach, down to her perfect ass and legs. She’s fucking gorgeous, head-to-toe. Long, lustrous hair, dozens of artsy tattoos, and flawlessly soft skin—she’s the complete package.
Meanwhile, I’m nothing special. Seriously, if you take all the traits of an Average Joe and mix them with a Plain Jane,you’d get me. The most unique thing about me is probably my androgyny. Most people can’t tell if I’m a man or a woman right away, and that’s exactly how I like it. I naturally fade into the background, avoiding judgmental stares and unwanted attention.
At least, that’s how I used to feel about my appearance. But now, standing next to Nikki, I’m forced to acknowledge precisely how out of my league I am. She’s a striking, tattooed model who’s sleeping with the human equivalent of buttered noodles.
To be honest, it doesn’t make any sense. But here we are.
“Sorry to rush out like this,” Nikki announces as she reenters my bedroom. “I just can’t risk being late to this thing.”
I have to do a double-take when I see her. Nikki washed off all traces of last night’s makeup and is fully dressed to impress in her academic best—a trendy pencil skirt, a black button-down blouse, and a lightweight slate-blue cardigan. She’s achieved a look that’s somehow both cool and professional in under five minutes, and I can’t stop staring.
She shoves a few more belongings into her solid faux-leather black backpack, then turns to me. “Last night was really fun, though, Jude. Thanks for letting me crash here.”
My cheeks start to burn, and I clear my throat. “Oh, yeah, of course! Anytime.”
Nikki smiles, then leans down to kiss my lips, which I eagerly return. Her floral perfume and minty-fresh breath are intoxicating, and all I want to do is drag her back down into bed with me.
But before I can, she pulls away and stands up straight, retrieving her phone from the front pocket of her cardigan. “Text me later?” she asks, her eyes trained on her phone as she turns to leave.
I nod. “Yeah. Yep, I will.”
And with that, I watch her step out of my bedroom, leaving me alone once more.
Well, not completely alone.
“Morning, Nikki!”
“Oh, shit, sorry, Celeste,” Nikki swears from the hallway. “Did I wake you up?”
“No, no, I’m an early riser, you’re fine. Can I get you something before you go? Tea or coffee or anything?”
“No, thanks. I’ve got to run. See you around!”
“Oh, okay. Bye, girl!”
The front door slams shut, and after a moment of silence, I hear Celeste mutter something under her breath.
