6. Chapter Six
Maya
“ L et’s go! First rounds on me!” I yelled to my friends as they walked into the hole-in-the wall bar in Rockwell. The Squirrel Cage was a local townie bar that we had found when Arturo and Karma had bought a house in their hometown of Rockwell, located about an hour from the school.
So many weekends we found ourselves out in the country, enjoying the small-town life around Arturo’s and Karma’s.
The Squirrel Cage also didn’t card, which was great for Kara and Stephanie, who were in their second year of college—only nineteen years old—and couldn’t get in most bars we went to.
The bar was also down the road from our friend’s house, so we could walk back and pass out on the floor or couch, or if you were lucky enough, the guest bedroom.
After drinks were ordered, Stephanie, Karma, Terri, and Arturo hit the dance floor, leaving Kara and I behind to sip our drinks and watch our friends’. “Hey, Marcos mentioned he hadn’t heard from you in a while. Everything OK?” Kara asked.
I glanced over at her, trying to gauge her thoughts on things. Shrugging, I sighed and said, “l dunno. It’s fun talking to them, but I don’t want to lead them on. Like the sex is good, but I don’t plan on being in Mourningside long term.”
“So tell them that! So they leave me alone!” Kara gave me an annoyed look.
I laughed. “They’ve been that bad?”
“Girl, you have no idea. Like fucking whooped.”
My heart sunk to my stomach. “Fuck.”
“Yeah. Girl, I told you I don’t care either way. You do you, boo. My brother and his friend’s obsession aside—you have plans for yourself. Don’t let a little dick get in your way.”
“The dicks aren’t little,” I shot back, smirking.
“Oh gross!” Kara yelled and reached for her drink. “I need to wash out my ear drums!”
I laughed and tossed back my own drink, feeling great. Summer break had been long and grueling, and having my friends back with the fall semester was just the rejuvenation I’d needed. School had been back in session for two months and it was quickly nearing the Thanksgiving break.
Marcos, Nico, and Jason had been texting me all summer, randomly or nonstop at times.
I enjoyed talking to them, but I never made it home over the summer break like I planned, instead I headed to Chicago and spent my time off with my sister.
I’d only gotten three weeks before and after summer school, and I wanted to soak up as much time with my sister as I could.
The guys seemed to understand, but they weren’t dating either, so I didn’t feel the need to explain it to them.
Dorm move-in day had fallen on a Tuesday, and I was working at the clinic as a CNA—certified nursing assistant—so I had missed Marcos, Nico, and Jason when they helped Kara move into the dorm.
Marcos:
Where are you?
Maya:
At work, why?
Jason:
Cause we’re here, and you aren’t.
Nico:
We were hoping to see you.
Marcos:
What time you get off?
Maya:
clinic closes at 8.
That had been the extent of their conversation, and I hadn’t heard from them since then, and that had been two months ago.
I hadn’t been bothered. Life was busy. School, work, and clinicals took up most of my time.
When I wasn’t studying, I was squeezing in as much of the college experience as I could with my friends.
It was my final year, I’d be graduating in the spring, and I just needed to buckle down and concentrate for a little bit longer.
I hit the dance floor when Arturo came back to our table.
He’d watch our drinks while I had fun with our friends.
I fucking loved nights like these, where everyone was together.
There was a loud cheer from my friends when Kyle and Travis walked the crowded bar.
They had another man with them, one I hadn’t met yet, but by the looks of him, I was hoping to.
Hunter was his name, and he was lean and muscular, with black shaggy hair and piercing green eyes. He had a rugged jawline covered in a hint of a beard. He was pre-med and had met Travis and Kyle in biology.
It was all I needed to know to wind up in Karma’s guest room with the dude, after the evening spent drinking. The sex had been decent, hard and fast, and he’d gotten me off—which was better than most of the guys I’d slept with—but something had been missing.
It was good enough for me though. We met up a couple of times after that before we both agreed that life was too busy for anything more than casual, but we also didn’t feel the need to see other people. So I felt it was only fair I gave the guys a heads up.
Kara:
I met someone.
It didn’t surprise me when I didn’t hear anything back from them.
Kara had invited me home for Thanksgiving again that year, but I had to decline. My clinical hours were ramping up, and I was working every day during Thanksgiving break. I wouldn’t have time to go home for the Holiday.
Instead, Hunter threw some turkey legs in the crock pot, and heated up some Stove Top, and we did our own low-key version of Thanksgiving together in his dorm room. The food had only been alright, and the company decent. I sorely missed Lita’s homecooked meal, and the company more.
I was surprised though when the group chat had lit up, late that night.
Marcos:
You should have been here.
Jason:
Don’t think you’re not in trouble.
Nico:
We’re cooking up your punishment.
My heart had hammered in my chest as I read their messages. Even after telling them that I was seeing someone, they still wanted me.
Playing with fire, I texted back.
Maya:
Yes, sir.