The Charlie Method (Campus Diaries #3)

Chapter Forty-Nine Will

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

WILL

I’ll sass your fucking face

C ASE AND HIS ROOMMATE , T RAGER, ARE THROWING A PARTY TONIGHT . It’s the last day of spring break and we don’t have practice tomorrow, so it’s prime time to get loaded without repercussions. The moment we step into the house, the music hits us like a tidal wave, thumping so loud I can feel it in my chest. The living room is packed. Random people are sprawled on the couches, sipping from red cups, while some of our teammates play a drinking game in the dining room, everyone shouting to be heard. The air’s thick with that unmistakable mix of cheap beer and perfume, and the buzz of conversation fills every corner.

Beside me, Charlie looks a little tense. She glances around, clutching my hand tightly. I give her a reassuring smile, leaning close so only she can hear me.

“You look amazing, you know that? Like, jaw-droppingly hot.”

She blushes, eyes flicking up at me, then Beckett, who’s on her other side. He grins at her, nodding in agreement. “Larsen’s right. I’d be eye-fucking you if I didn’t already know you were with us.”

“Stop, you guys,” she whispers, a shy grin tugging at her lips.

I can tell she’s nervous, but the compliments are working. She holds her head a little higher.

Beckett and I exchange a quick look, and I know we’re on the same page. Tonight isn’t just a random party at Colson’s house—it’s our first time stepping out together, the three of us, letting people know what we have with Charlie.

I know she’s afraid of how people will react. Not gonna lie—I’m nervous too. The back of my neck itches and I resist the urge to scratch it.

Just then, someone calls my name, and I turn to see Case striding toward us. Trager hears him and ambles over too, greeting me with a clap on the arm.

“Yo,” Trager says. “I got a beef with your stupid dad.”

I snort. “Join the club.”

“What the hell was that hockey segment? They didn’t use my interview! They used Pope’s dumbass frozen-on-the-spot interview and not mine? What the fuck.”

“I had zero involvement in it.” I shrug at him. “Take it up with Coach. Maybe he knows.”

Trager is about to respond when he notices Charlie sandwiched between us. He openly checks her out, and I don’t blame him. She looks damn cute tonight. Short skirt, tall boots, and a black top under her signature cropped cashmere sweater.

“Is this your girl?” Trager asks me.

“Yes,” I say, at the same time Beckett drawls, “Yup.”

Case doesn’t bother hiding his grin. He knows about this arrangement already. I told him weeks ago. But this is the first time the rest of the team is hearing about it.

Trager looks between me and Beckett, visibly confused. “Wait. Who—?”

“This is Charlie,” I say, keeping my tone casual. “She’s with both of us.”

Our teammate’s jaw drops. Then he grins and says, “Nice.”

“Wait, I don’t get it,” Patrick Armstrong says, and I realize he and Nazem have been eavesdropping on us. He steps closer, frowning at me. “How is she with both of you?”

“She just is,” Beckett says, his arm looping around Charlie’s waist protectively.

Patrick’s eyes narrow, bouncing between me, Beckett, and Charlie like he’s just stumbled into some alternate universe. He sips his beer, then purses his lips, scrutinizing Charlie. “Uh…and that, like…works for you?”

She hesitates, cheeks flushing. “I mean…yes,” she replies. “It works for us.”

Poor Kansas Kid looks like he’s trying to do mental gymnastics, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Hold on,” Patrick says, raising his hand like he’s still trying to process this. “So, if she’s your girlfriend…or yours…then, like…who buys her flowers and stuff?”

I put on a super solemn expression. “Both of us.”

The two underclassmen glance between us again, skeptical. “You’re messing with us,” Patrick finally says. “You don’t have the same girlfriend.”

“No, they do.” Charlie surprises us both, lifting her chin confidently as she looks at our teammates. “And they’re both great boyfriends.”

“I’m sorry, you’re telling me you’re dating both these losers?” a new voice says, and I roll my eyes as Shane strides over with Diana at his side.

Charlie’s face fills with relief at the sight of Diana. “Oh my God. Estrogen. Thank you. I need you.”

Diana throws her head back and laughs, then pulls Charlie in for a hug. “Are these dumbasses bothering you?”

“Not really.”

Meanwhile, Patrick is still staring at her like he’s processing the world’s hardest math equation. “Okay, so if she’s your girlfriend, Beck, or, wait…no, Larsen’s girlfriend too. How does that…” He stops and regroups. “Who decides when you do boyfriend stuff?”

Beck and I both shrug like it’s no big deal.

“For example,” Patrick says, “back to the flower dilemma—”

“Why are you so focused on flowers?” Nazzy demands.

His friend ignores him. “Do you both get her flowers? Like on the same day?”

I sigh.

“No, this is a great question,” Shane says, grinning behind Patrick’s head. He’s clearly toying with the kid. “Is there a staggered flower schedule?” he asks Charlie with a grave look. “Beckett one week, Larsen the other? That way you always have fresh flowers in your room? Or do they double up on the flowers so your room is always overflowing with them?”

“I don’t really care about flowers” is Charlie’s response, and I swear Patrick’s brain implodes.

“And what about Valentine’s Day?” Shane pushes. “That’s gotta be a war zone for you guys.”

“Yeah,” Case says with a grin. “Do you have a Google Calendar or something for this whole setup?”

“Don’t get her started about her calendar,” Beckett groans.

“Dude, I’m out,” Trager says, gulping the rest of his beer. “This is giving me an anxiety attack. I feel pressured when a chick even asks me what my favorite color is. You two assholes are over here on next level relationship mode.”

“Go away, all of you,” Diana orders. “You’re putting Charlotte on the spot.”

Thankfully, Diana succeeds in shooing everyone away, until only her and Shane remain.

“See?” Beckett says to Charlie. “That was easy.”

“What are you talking about!” she huffs. “I’m exhausted from that grilling.”

“Nah, that went better than I thought it would,” I admit.

The five of us drift into the other room, where Charlie and Diana huddle together talking, while the boys and I talk hockey. Eventually, Diana drags Shane to dance, although I don’t know if there’s much coercion involved. Dude can deny it all he wants, but he totally likes dancing now.

Charlie returns to tuck herself between us, and Beckett leans down to brush his lips over hers. Then he nudges her toward me, and I draw her back against my chest, kissing her cheek.

A few girls nearby glance our way. I notice they’re giving Charlie looks, and not the good kind. Raised eyebrows, thinly veiled annoyance. Whispering to each other behind their drinks.

Charlie notices too, and she shifts a little closer to me, uncomfortable.

Beckett gives her hand a gentle squeeze. “Ignore them,” he says.

She nods, but I can tell she’s still uneasy.

Fortunately, Diana struts back toward us at that moment, platinum ponytail swinging, confidence on full display. She frowns when she clocks Charlie’s expression. Then she notices the girls glaring in our direction and bursts out laughing.

“Oh my God,” Diana tells Charlie, tossing her ponytail over her shoulder. “You’ve got half the women in here fuming. You snagged the two biggest catches on the team.”

I wink at her. “Aw, thanks, Di. I didn’t realize you think I’m a catch.”

She grins at me before linking her arm through Charlie’s. “Seriously, though, ignore those looks. They’re just jealous.”

As if on cue, one of the glaring girls, a tall blond in a too-tight dress, walks by us. She’s with a couple of her friends, who all exchange a glance, and as she passes, she sneers loud enough for us to hear.

“Guess some girls just can’t stand being alone, huh?”

Charlie’s face flushes red. Before any of us can say anything, Diana steps forward, arms crossed and voice ice-cold.

“Excuse me? You got something to say?” Her tone is as sharp as glass, and I see the blond girl falter, her eyes widening as Diana stares her down. Or rather, up. Diana is all of five feet, yet she’s still cutting this much taller chick down to size. “Or are you just salty because you couldn’t handle one of these guys, let alone two?”

The blond looks between Diana, Charlie, and us, her confidence wavering. “Whatever,” she mutters, rolling her eyes as she tries to play it off. “I just think it’s…desperate.”

Diana scoffs, rolling her eyes right back at her. “Desperate? Honey, it’s called knowing what you want and actually being happy. Try it sometime, maybe it’ll make you less of a Bitter Betty.”

The girl’s mouth falls open, and her friends grab her arm, tugging her away before she can respond.

Charlie looks at Diana, wide-eyed, before breaking into a smile. “Thanks for that. I wasn’t sure what to say.”

“Hey, if you’re gonna be with these two, you better be ready to ignore a lot of jealous jerks. It just comes with the territory.”

I search Charlie’s expression, looking for any sign that she’s more shaken by that exchange than she’s letting on, but she seems fine.

I am too, shockingly enough. The last time I was in a position to reveal this unusual relationship, I chickened out and introduced Charlie as Beckett’s girlfriend to Tessa Diaz. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel tonight, having so many people privy to my personal business.

But this…wasn’t bad at all.