Co-Ed(33)

“Drink up, Shower Girl.” Leo shoved the steaming cup under my nose. I inhaled Pike Place Roast and almost moaned out loud.

Leo immediately reached out and rubbed by shoulders with his large hands, making me lean into him helplessly as the professor droned on about something I could care less about but needed to start caring about if I was going to pass the class.

“So,” Leo whispered. “You were drugged?”

I sighed as fresh embarrassment washed over me. “Can we not talk about it?”

He shrugged, kneading my shoulders harder before tugging my chair toward his so that our thighs were almost touching. “It helps to talk.”

“Ah, how could I forget?” I said under my breath. “You’re the talker.”

“Well, both Finn and I like to use our words more than our mouths — shocking, I know. Don’t ask Knox for words, though. He’s all action, that one.”

I tried to ignore the butterflies in my belly and the way I suddenly felt both sick and excited all at once. “Yeah. I know.”

“Should you talk about it?”

“No.” I clammed up. “It was a mistake. I was trying to let off steam. I’ll be more careful next time. Promise.”

“Next time…” He leaned in until I could feel his warm breath on my neck. “…ask one of us to go with.”

I felt my body tense all over again.

“What was that?” He stopped massaging. “Why are you stressed with the thought of one of us hanging out with you? I can hold back hair while you puke, too, you know.”

I smiled then put my hands over my heated face. “Don’t you guys get paid for that sort of thing?”

“We don’t charge our friends,” he said thoughtfully. “And I’d like to think that’s what we are. After all, I’ve seen you naked and have yet to get you into bed with me. If that’s not friendship, I really don’t know what is.”

“Chivalrous to the bone, aren’t you?” I teased.

He just smiled that easygoing sexy smile as he grabbed my hand and held it, squeezing my fingers like he meant it, as if he really was a friend and not just looking to get me into bed. “That’s why the ladies like me. But Shawn?”

I stared at him — really stared at him. “What, Leo?” Every hint of manipulation I was looking for in his mannerisms, words, his body language, was nowhere to be found.

“It’s nice to have friends who care about you. Just accept it. You’re kind of stuck with us now.”

“And how did that happen, I wonder?”

“I saw you naked in the shower, you saw us pleasing one of the ladies and liked it, and you live in the same suite as we do. Plus, if anyone needs protection from the outside world, it’s you.”

“I’m offended.”

“I know.” He grinned. “I like it when you get all crazy-eyed.”

“And now I’m crazy.”

“Duh, you’re hanging out with guys who are paid to pleasure people on a daily basis. You’re clearly not sane.”

“Then neither are you.”

“Guilty as charged.” He released my hand and scooted away. “Now, drink your coffee. You look tired as hell.”

Friends.

I grinned and took another sip. I hadn’t really had good friends at my last school, mainly because academics and sports had taken up all my time, and I hadn’t thought I needed friends. I was perfectly fine hanging out with teammates.

But now? Now that I knew what it was like?

I never wanted to let the feeling go.

The warm fuzzies of knowing I had people who cared about me for whatever crazy reasons they had, ones who would drop anything to make sure I was okay, safe.

When class finally ended, Leo grabbed my bag like the gentleman he was, and walked me out of class, much to the obvious irritation of the female population. And when Knox met us at the door and did a weird messenger-bag exchange like they were the Secret Service to the President’s daughter, I just followed without complaining.

Leo winked. “Have fun studying, kiddos.”

Knox groaned and eyed me up and down before clearing his throat and looking away. “Feeling better?”

“Yeah, Leo gave me the best back massage.”

He stumbled a bit.

“Are you okay?”

“Perfect,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Knox! Shawn!” Finn jogged toward us, two coffees in hand. “Thought I’d catch you before you started studying. Mind if I join you?”

“No,” I said at the same time Knox said, “Yes.”

Finn just winked and looped his arm in mine. “Thanks, sexy. I brought you coffee ‘cuz Leo said you were still tired.”

I sighed and leaned into him. “You’re the best.”

“I know,” his answer.





Chapter Twenty-Four


Knox

Two pencils…

One marker — I know, I know.

And three pieces of gum later…

And I was still about one minute away from ending Finn’s life. I even had seven different ways I could stab him with my pen, all of them vividly graphic and life-ending.

Because he was flirting.