But I do think that’s something we’ve both known from the start, though what even thatsomethingis doesn’t quite have a definition yet. At least not one we’ve spoken out loud or given a name to.
Two, I don’t think I mind.
I’m going to let him.
I kind of like it.
Okay, that was more than two things, but you get the picture.
But wouldn’t he have already told them if he has a thing for me? Do dude bros talk about this kind of stuff?Doeshe have a thing for me? Am I reading too much into this?
Wishful thinking?
With a loud thud, Kronk bursts into the room and rushes towards me. His paws hit my chest as he jumps, knocking me off balance and causing me to tumble awkwardly onto Jack's lap. I struggle to catch my breath as Kronk bounds onto the couch and smothers me with slobbery kisses all over my face.
I expect Jack to scold Kronk for jumping on me, or at least for jumping on the couch; that would be the normal thing to do. But instead, he throws his head back and laughs, twisting my body toward his and pulling me closer to his chest to shield me from Kronk's playful assault.
I love that he doesn’t mind how doofy my dog can be. Kronk and I have always wrestled around with each other like this, and I love playing with him, so it means a lot that Jack enjoys his crazy energy too.
After a few minutes of wrestling with my dog, who refuses to give up the game, Jack finally convinces him to hop down."That's twice now," he says with a grin, scratching Kronk's neck with one hand while the other stays wrapped around my waist. He's referring to the two times Kronk has knocked me into his lap. "Good boy."
I twist my head to get a better look at his face and the room seems to shrink to just the two of us.
Ezra stands from his place on the couch and pads off to the kitchen. The movement grabs my attention and I come to my senses. Thank god, because I really wanted to kiss him just now. How fucking awkward would that have been?
When I finally peel myself away from Jack, I find Stu leaned against the doorframe holding a freshly poured drink, watching us with curious eyes.
The tinge of embarrassment I should feel for being caught in such an intimate moment with my professor doesn’t come.
I plop down on the floor next to Jack’s feet and wrap my arms around Kronk’s furry body, giving him a squeeze. He’s less excitable now that he’s gotten past the initial sight of me, and he lays down next to me, resting his head on my thigh.
Jack squeezes the back of my neck. “You’ll stay, then?” he asks.
“For a bit,” I reply.
“Good.” He brushes my hair from my face and stands. “I’ll grab you a drink.”
Stu pushes off the wall and follows him into the kitchen, and I am left alone for a few minutes.
It’s nice being here with Kronk, hanging out inside like a normal girl who has a normal living situation with her dog. I wish it could be like this every day.
To prevent myself from thinking too hard about any of this, I pull my phone out and look over an assignment while waiting for them to return.
I’ve checked out when they finally come back into the living room, and I am absentmindedly scratching the top of Kronk’s head while reading over some mock case notes when Jack takes his seat on the couch behind me. He reaches around me to hand me a drink. When I snap back to reality, I find that his thighs are on either side of my shoulders.
Great. How am I supposed to not drool now? Maybe I could blame the drool spot on Kronk.
“Are you seriously doing homework?” He twists a strand of my hair between his fingers and I have to physically restrain myself from leaning into his touch.
“These blood spatter patterns are fascinating.” I hold my phone up to show him, as if he isn’t the one who gave me the assignment to begin with.
“Okay, Dexter. Calm the fuck down,” Stu interrupts, visibly cringing.
Ezra just snorts.
“Stu can’t handle blood,” Jack tells me. “Him’s just a widdle baby. It makes him all queasy,” he says teasingly.
Stu glares at him as I close out the screen on my phone and stick it back in my pocket.
