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“I’ve got an older brother.”
“When’s the last time you spoke with him?”
“Years ago, just like my parents.” Worry creased her cheekbones. I really hoped that she wasn’t comparing my non-existent relationship with my family to her and her mom’s. They were totally different. “Babe, it’s okay. It’s for the best.”
She clearly wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t say anything else about it. “I applied to a bunch of schools and got wait-listed for most, including UM. I slacked big time during my junior year of high school. The admissions counselor I had told me to take at least six credits of foundation courses offered during the summer and a remedial course at my community college to demonstrate that I could handle a college education.” She smiled as I talked and I took her hand away from my face, kissing her palm. “And then the coach told the counselor that if my test performance on the field was satisfactory that he’d put me on the team—if I was admitted as a regular student, of course. When I came here, the coach liked my performance and that I’d stayed in shape.” I sighed. “And I liked it here. Still like it very much.”
Her smile widened. “Enough that you see yourself staying here after you graduate?”
“If I can earn enough to live in my own apartment, or house, then yeah.” She brought her hand back to the side of my face. “You?” I asked
“I wanna stay here. It’s a beautiful town.” She rose from the bed. “I am gonna take a shower.” She tapped her chin as if she was pondering something. “Or we can take a shower.”
“Babe, if we shower, we won’t be seeing your friends today. Especially after last night.”
A ghost of a smile touched her lips and she took one of the sheets from the bed and covered herself. The bottle of lubricant was next to her feet and her cheeks flamed hotter than it had minutes ago.
***
Gavin, Bri, Beth, and I cleaned the house as best we could after we’d had breakfast and had gone to the local mart to get groceries. There were clean pillowcases and sheets to put on the big-ass couch that three of us guys could sit on, and a blow-up bed for Mariska in the event that they slept over. I could tell that Beth really wanted them to. She’d been so excited when both of them had called and texted her that they were ahead of schedule.
“Too bad I am working tonight and tomorrow,” Gavin said as he put charcoal in the bottom of the grill and set the chimney starter. “But we’re gonna have ourselves a nice dinner.”
“And it’s not too hot,” I said. “I am gonna find out if they finished seasoning the meat.”
“
Done,” Bri told us as she and Beth came out to the backyard with drinks in their hands. “And we’ve got the condiments arranged.”
“Thanks, girls,” Gavin said.
“You’re very welcome,” Beth said with a smile, and handed Gavin and I cups. We sipped the homemade iced tea they had made for dinner yesterday. Bri nodded.
“Are Rylan and Joel coming here or meeting us later on tonight?” Beth asked as she sat down on my lap. God, I loved how she didn’t hesitate to do that.
A slight smirk lifted up the side of Gavin’s face. “Joel missing dinner with his friends if he isn’t with one of his girlfriends?” He raised a brow at Beth. “Nah, that’ll be the day. He’s the one who paid for all the meat, the bread, and the corn.”
Beth shook her head at herself. “What was I thinking?” she asked as her phone dinged with a message from Jake.
Jake: We’re here.
She slid off of my lap. “I am gonna let them in.” She jerked her head at me. “We’ll be right out.”
“Okay,” Gavin and I said at the same time.
“Need me to get the meat?” I asked him. Beth gestured Bri to come with her.
Gavin bobbed his head.
The three of us were in the kitchen when Beth opened the door. Mariska and Jake came inside. Mariska had a multi-colored tote over her shoulder that must have had everything she needed to stay over someone else’s house. She was pretty tall compared to most chicks around here, even taller than Bri. She and Beth hugged each other for minutes and then Jake, swallowed up my girl in his embrace. I decided that I could bring the meat to Gavin in a few minutes. He wanted the grill to be steaming anyway. And from the tickled expression Bri gave me, she knew why I wasn’t going to wait for Beth to introduce me to her two best friends in the backyard.
***
Bethany
“How’ve you been?” Jake asked in a whisper, and I patted the top of his head. He was casually put together in his white shirt, blazer, premium jeans, and white and navy blue low-top Nikes.
I pecked him on the cheek. “What does that tell you?” I responded.
