JT: Because I’ll never steal your snacks. Stick with me, and you’ll have twice the brownies when I’m around.
Maggie: Hmmm…I hadn’t thought of it that way.
JT: See? That’s what I’m here for.
I read his text, and my imagination chases his words. I canthink of a lot of things JT is here for, and none of them fall into the friends-only category.
And that’s not good.
Viv is scooping the warm brownies into bowls, so I join her and start doling out ice cream.
I need a distraction from JT. His combination of humor and sexiness is lethal, and I can’t get caught up in a web like that again. I won’t make it out this time.
JT and I are friends, nothing more.
If I repeat it enough, maybe I’ll remember it.
CHAPTER 16
JT
Our first gameof the season is just over a week away, which means my time hasn’t been my own this week. That’s just the way it is once October hits, and I should be used to it by now. For the next five months, I’ll spend my days running from one end of campus to the other in an endless cycle of playing, eating, studying, and sleeping.
Right now, I’m hauling ass to Drip for a protein shake because I’m so hungry I could eat my own arm. I scarfed down lunch a couple hours ago, but the two grilled chicken wraps I inhaled aren’t doing much for my energy level, so I need a little pick me up.
My schedule’s been so hectic that I haven’t seen Maggie at the caf since last week when she felt like crap. When she texted me this past weekend and wanted to know if I was going out? I was tempted to swipe the keys to Mickey’s car and give him an explanation later. His little brother whooped my ass at Warlords II mostly because I spent the majority of my time wondering what Maggie was wearing for her night out at the LAX house. When she messaged back and explained that she and her friend were staying in, well…I was fucking ecstatic. That probably makes me an asshole, but I can’t deny that I’ve been thinking of Maggie as mine since I first held her in my arms. If she happened to choose a movie marathon with her best friend over a night of partying with drunk guys, then yeah, I’m not about to start complaining.
As I make my way through the quad, a flash of blonde hair catches my eye. At first, I’m sure my mind’s playing tricks on me. Maggie is not the only blonde beauty on this campus. But when I hear her laughter, I slow my pace.
And when I hear her say the wordsbroken vibrator, I come to a complete stop.
She’s got her back to me, but I can see her phone pressed against her ear.
Making a beeline for the bench she’s sitting on, I soak up every word of her half of the conversation.
“I’m serious, Viv. There’s no substitute on Earth for JT the Hottie, or the gift he was hiding under those gym shorts. But I figured the Pleasure Wand 360 was a good place to start.”
I swear, it’s like there’s a magnet leading me right to Maggie’s bench.
“I know. It’s supposed to be otherworldly. But Viv, it doesn’t work. They sent me a defective model. It’s literally as limp and lifeless as a drunk guy’s dick…Right? Totally unfair.”
My sneakers eat up the few remaining feet between us and I hold back a laugh as I take a seat, slide up next to her, and ask a logical question. “Is it fully charged?”
She does this little jump scare thing and I should feel like an ass for startling her, but I’m preoccupied by the fact that, according to Maggie, my dick is irreplaceable.
“What?” she asks, turning toward me. “Oh my god, when did you get here?”
“The phrase ‘literally as limp and lifeless as a drunk guy’s dick’ will live rent-free in my brain for years to come.” Relief colors her features when she hears my little white lie. I mean,that phrase will stick with me, but it’s not the first thingI heard her say.
She’s rattled, but doing her best to hide it when her icy blue eyes fix on mine. “Um, excuse you. This is aprivateconversation.”
It’s the middle of the freaking day and we’re smack-dab in the center of campus, but damn, I want to kiss that prissy expression right off her beautiful face. “Is it?” I ask. “You’re sitting on the quad, recording a fucking TedTalk about a faulty vibrator.”
She huffs and mutters something to Viv about needing to get to her study group. After disconnecting the call, she slips her phone into her backpack and slips it over her shoulders.
Inching a little closer, I say, “I can help you with that, you know.”
Her blue eyes meet mine again. “You want to help me with my broken vibrator?”
