Co-Ed(44)

“Wow!” Finn swept into the room. “Good to know, bro.”

Leo just shook his head. “And to think, I put you in my will.”

I rolled on to my back and clenched my teeth. “You’re early.”

“Yeah, well, Finn drove as slowly as he physically could. A cop even pulled us over because we looked suspicious in that brand new Jeep. I almost told her she had a nice ass then decided you’d be pissed if you had to bail us both out of jail, so we got by with a warning, and I took a mental picture for later.”

Finn nodded, obviously lost in thought. “See? You noticed her ass. I’ll raise you two gorgeous blue eyes.”

Leo squinted. “Touché.”

“Turn around.” I pointed. “Both of you.”

“We’ve seen you naked.” Leo shrugged.

“But you haven’t seen Shawn—” I growled when Leo smirked. “Say what’s on your mind, and I’m going to throw you out the window. We have a rosebush two floors down, so think carefully.”

Leo eyed me with humor then finally lifted his hands into the air and turned around. Finn did the same.

I quickly jumped out of bed, grabbed a pair of sweats and a shirt, and tossed them to Shawn.

Her cheeks were flushed a deep crimson as she pulled on the pants, jerking them over her hips without getting out from under the sheets. She pulled the shirt over her head, catching some of that beautiful hair before pulling it out and flashing me an easy grin. Like this was normal.

As if changing in a guy’s room with two other guys was just how she rolled on a daily basis after having sex.

After being with me.

I was completely out of my element.

Because this was the part where I sucked.

The part where I’d forgotten how to be normal.

I knew how to please women after they’d been discarded, tossed aside, and told they were worthless.

What I didn’t know how to do?

Talk to the woman who already knew her worth and saw it reflected in my eyes.

How the fuck was I going to keep her?

How was I going to stay sane?

And how was I going to make sure she didn’t see the ugly part of my past? I wasn’t stupid. I knew she needed my trust.

And no woman in her right mind would trust me.

They had reasons not to.

Ones I was sure Slater would be more than happy to list then laminate so Shawn wouldn’t forget.

I ran my hands through my hair. “You guys can turn back around now.”

“We were just talking about cutting Knox’s hair.” Shawn pulled her knees to her chest. “Weren’t we?”

“Uh, pretty sure it was barely on the table for discussion.” I chuckled and sat back down on my bed.

The room smelled like sweat, like sex, like us. I inhaled deeply then leaned in and kissed her neck. She shivered under my touch.

“You know…” Finn sighed. “…it’s not often that I’m left out of scenarios like this. I’m not sure I like it.”

“I fucking hate it,” Leo piped up. “I feel like I walked into a candy store, and the dickless manager just told me it was closed.”

“You’re the dickless manager,” Finn said, grabbing a pair of scissors from the desk and pointing them at me.

“Got that, thanks.” I rolled my eyes.

“Just one taste.” Leo sauntered over.

I stood and clenched my fists.

He slow-clapped. “That’s how you know—”

“You love her!” Finn joined in on the singing.

“Hey, I love that movie!” Shawn fell back against the pillows and laughed. “That’s how you know you’re the one!”

“Unbelievable,” I muttered. “It’s like I found the one girl who understands how to deal with you two.”

“It’s a beautiful thing.” Leo shoved me out of the way then sat on the bed, pulled Shawn’s feet onto his lap, and started massaging. “So, I hope he was tender with you.”

“Leo!” I roared.

Finn nodded then moved behind her and started massaging her shoulders. “I mean, when it’s been three years, sometimes a little…” They both turned to glare at me. “…enthusiasm can be a bad thing.”

I covered my face with my hands and wished a swift death on both my best friends just as a knock sounded at the door.

“Guys?” It was Slater.

I took in Shawn’s mussed hair and swollen lips, plus the fact that she looked like I’d just fucked her into the weekend.

“I got this,” Leo whispered and twisted her foot a bit, pressed down first on the middle of it then on her big toe, and suddenly she was shivering as if she was cold.

“Good, Leo! Make her tits show through her shirt more!” I hissed.

“Sorry!” Leo looked and looked again. “Sorry again? I panicked!”

“Wrong pressure point, genius.” Finn sighed then ran over, lit a candle, pulled off his shirt, and rubbed coconut oil down his chest. He did a few jumping jacks and opened the door. “Hey there, sailor.”

Slater backed up, hands raised.

“Oh.” Finn sighed. “Sorry, thought it was Rory. He just got dumped again, wanted to do a little bit of role-playing. You know how he likes the ocean.” Finn flashed him the biggest shit-eating grin I’d ever seen.