39. Cin
Cin
No one said anything when we woke up for classes, finding me in Talon’s bed. I thought there would be teasing, or at the very least a cheeky look, something, but each of the boys went along with their morning routine like normal.
Or almost normal. I doubt they change in bathrooms on the regular.
Slipping out of their part of the room and back into mine, I quickly get changed and pack my bag for today. Waiting for Griffin to meet me and walk with me to class.
Talon peeks his head in, and I give him a smile.
“I’ll be right behind you. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
I smile and nod, but he tilts his head, giving me a look that says he doesn’t believe me but can do nothing about it. Griffin knocks before entering. He’s in regular clothes, and it takes me a moment to gather my thoughts.
“You look normal,” my mouth blurts before my brain can turn it off.
He laughs and nods, “your mother thought street clothes would help me blend in.”
“Cody won’t let that happen.” I scoff at the ridiculous text message chat he sent me.
Talon growls, remembering those texts last night as we settled into his bed. I had to kiss him to get his hands to unclench.
Griff and I leave the room, I guess he cleared the hall prior to coming in. I don’t expect this to last long, especially once Cody finds out. Or one of the girls I’ve seen hanging around the boys.
We’re making our way around campus, and I hear whispers as if it’s my first day all over again. Eyes watch me, lips move behind hands, and I pause, prompting Griffin to stop, too. Looking around, Griff nudges my shoulder, and I crack my eyes open to see whatever it is everyone is looking at.
There’s a banner strung up above the doors, and Talon stands under it with his arms crossed, leaning against the entrance.
This one I read, and my lungs fail to operate.
It’s an apology, written in red above the door for everyone to see.
‘I’m sorry for all of it. -Talon’
Shaking my head, I can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips. Walking up the steps, he dips his head and says, “do you forgive me?”
Patting his chest I laugh, “you’re getting closer, Fish Boy, definitely closer.”
Mrs. Lynx is in rare form this morning. Her face is stern, voice harsh. I guess she wasn’t thrilled with our midterm essays. She dismisses us early, and Cody takes the opportunity to corner me. Talon left the room already, and everyone else is clearing out.
“What’s yours look like?” He asks, holding his paper riddled with red lines and comments.
I haven’t had the guts to look, “I’m afraid to look.”
I don’t really want to make small talk with him, I want to go to the library and look over her remarks.
“Are you and Talon…” he trails off, and my face contorts into a questionable look.
“Excuse me…” I exclaim, because, of course, that’s what he wants to know. He doesn’t care about the paper. He wants a reason why I don’t want to hook up with him anymore. “I’m not engaging in this conversation.”
Getting up, Griffin walks to my side, and Cody sneers but arranges his face when I glance his way. The fuck is going on? Griffin helps me gather my things, and we head off to the library, where I can look over Mrs. Lynx’s critique and hopefully get Cody’s strange reaction out of my head.
I find a table in the back, pull out my essay, and place it face down. I stare at the back. I know my work is good, and I know I did it to the syllabus standard, but since we had the conversation about cheating, I’m worried she took that and ripped my essay to shreds.
“Looking at the back of it isn’t going to change what’s written on it.”
Griffin is looking at me like I’m being ridiculous, and maybe I am, but I want to be the best–on my own.
Flipping over the paper, I squint my eyes, opening one, and see the red-inked ‘A’ circled in marker. I squeal, jumping out of the chair and pumping my arms.
Griffin laughs from where he’s standing, and I hug him, unable to contain my excitement.
“We’re celebrating?” A voice comes from the stack behind Griffin.
“Correction, I’m celebrating,” I peek around Griffin so Talon can see me, “Griffin was just an unfortunate bystander.”
“Not so unfortunate,” Talon says, stepping up beside Griffin.
“Are you…” I fake a gasp, “jealous?”
He steps up into my space and bends down so his lips brush my cheek, “you bet I am, Spice. You’d do well not to forget it.”
“Mhmmm,” my lips purse and I nod my head, “or what?”
He looks sideways to where Griffin still stands and ushers me over to the table. “Or I’ll drag you behind one of these stacks and make you cum on my fingers with your panties stuffed in your mouth.”
“Don’t tempt me with a good time,” I whip back at him.
“You’re trouble,” he says, wrapping an arm around my waist and bringing me in for a kiss. I can’t help the growing attraction between us. Talon is a big softy on the inside, and with every little thing like this that he does… it makes me forgive him more and more.