Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Devyn
I’m over at Riley’s watching a basketball game. He decided to live off campus this year and rented an apartment with his friend, Josh. I mostly hang out here because I’m still stuck in university housing. Thankfully, I got a small single this year that has a private bath so it’s not awful, but it’s really cramped. Between you and me, Rye asked me to take the other bedroom in this place before he considered Josh, but I didn’t have the budget for it. My brother and I sold our parents’ house last year, and I only had enough money to get me through all four years of school with dorm housing. I decided living on campus was the more responsible thing to do. I’d rather not have to get a part-time job that could potentially sacrifice my study time, and I definitely don’t want to take out student loans if I don’t have to.
“That’s BULLSHIT! Get your head out of your ass and put the damn ball in the basket!” Riley yells. “Jesus fucking Christ!”
I give him a cheeky grin. “Aw, what’s the matter, Rye? Afraid of losing to a girl again ?”
Riley’s a huge LA Waves fan. I’m a Portland Pioneers girl. My guys are up by twenty points at the bottom of the fourth quarter. The loser has to buy pizza next time, and I plan on ordering an extra-large with the works since he’ll be paying.
He pulls me into a playful headlock and yanks on my ponytail. “Watch it, Summers. I know your weaknesses.”
I punch his leg. “Ha! I have no weaknesses!”
He maneuvers me so I’m now lying across the couch on my back with my head in his lap. “You think so?”
I lift my chin and stick my tongue out at him. “I know so.”
He raises his eyebrow and gives me a panty-dropping smile. “You think you’re so smart, huh?” He lifts a hand into view and slowly lowers it toward my rib cage. Oh heck no, he’d better not!
I widen my eyes. “Riley, don’t even think about it!”
He wiggles his fingers. “Don’t think about what, Dev? I thought you didn’t have any weaknesses. What are you so worried about?”
I try squirming away, but he moves his big body so he’s now on top of me, pinning me to the couch. He has both of my hands cuffed above my head with one of his, and his other hand is hovering above me threateningly.
“Riley, don’t you dare! ”
“Don’t I dare, what ?” His fingertips brush my ribs.
I squeal as he begins his tickle torture. I am so ridiculously ticklish, it’s embarrassing. I buck, scream, and laugh so hard I’m crying. “STOP! Please stop! You’re going to make me pee my pants!”
Josh laughs and gets up from the recliner to answer a knock at the door. “Man, don’t make her pee. I like that couch.”
Riley steps up his pace. “I’ll have it cleaned. This is too much fun.”
“Aaah! Riley please! STOP! Seriously! My bladder is about to go all geriatric on you!”
He stops and presses his body into mine holding me in place. He tightens his grip on my hands and says, “Remember that next time you want to talk smack about my team.”
His body is stretched over mine, and he’s staring at my mouth. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he wants to kiss me. He shifts slightly, and I can feel something hard against my thigh. Oh my god, is that his ? —?
“Riley,” a pissy female voice says, “what are you doing?”
Riley jumps off the couch. Oh wow! Do you see that penis-shaped bulge in his pants too? He catches me looking and winks while he adjusts himself. Winks! What the heck is going on?
He walks up to the tiny brunette and pulls her in for a kiss. “Hey, Megan. We were just playing around. You remember Devyn, right? ”
She crosses her arms over her giant boobs. “Uh-huh. How could I forget? What’s she doing here?”
I get up from the couch and walk over to the attached kitchen, grabbing a beer out of the fridge. I hold one out to Rye’s flavor of the month as a peace offering. “Megan, do you want a beer?”
Her face twists in distaste. “Ew. I’ll have a wine cooler though.”
I laugh. She may be kind of bitchy, but at least she has a sense of humor. “Ha! Good one.”
She glares at me. “What’s so funny?”
I twist the top off the bottle and take a swig. “The whole wine cooler joke. It was funny. Like anyone really drinks wine coolers anymore.”
Riley clears his throat. “Uh, Dev?—”
Megan suddenly turns beet red. “You bitch ! First, I find you all over my man, and then you insult my choice of beverage? What the hell is wrong with you? Why don’t you go find a man of your own to hang out with, you little slut?”
Oh, no she didn’t! I don’t know about you, but I cannot stand a woman who puts another woman down. We have enough challenges in life, don’t you think?
I set my beer on the counter and lunge for her, but Josh steps in and holds me back. “ Excuse me? Who the heck are you calling a slut?”
“You!” She’s clawing at Riley’s forearms while he holds her back. “But you might as well give up. You’re never going to get a boyfriend with the whole Amazonian Plain Jane thing you have going on! ”
I lunge for her again. “For the record, I already have a boyfriend! I swear to God, Riley, if you don’t get her out of here, I’m going to punch her in the throat.”
“Dude, this is so hot!” Josh says excitedly.
Riley tightens his grip on her. “Megan, calm the fuck down. Devyn is going to be here whether you like it or not. Do I need to ask you to leave, or are you going to behave?”
She breaks away from his hold and lets out a big huff. “Fine.”
Josh looks at me. “You good, baby girl?”
He releases his hold on me when I nod. “I’ll be good.”
Riley leads Megan toward the couch. “C’mon, babe, let’s watch the rest of the game.”
She trails a finger down his chest and hooks it under his waistband. “I don’t want to watch basketball.”
“Of course you don’t,” I mutter.
Megan glares at me and leans into Riley, whispering in his ear.
Riley smiles at whatever she’s saying. “Uh, if you guys need me, I’ll be in my room. But really, don’t knock unless the building is on fire.”
With that, Megan jumps on his back like a monkey, and he carries her off to his bedroom, slamming the door behind them.
I roll my eyes. “Ugh, why is he dating her? They don’t seem to have anything in common.”
Josh shrugs. “Maybe. But from what I hear, her rack is to die for, and she has a mouth like a Hoover. ”
I make a puking gesture. “Gross, Josh! Way too much information!”
He laughs and grabs a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet. “C’mon, baby girl, let’s watch the end of the game and get sloppy drunk. If you’re lucky, I might get so wasted, I’ll let you take advantage of my hot body.”
I nudge his shoulder as I join him on the couch. “A girl can only hope.”
Moaning filters out through Riley’s bedroom. I glare at the closed door and grab the TV remote to increase the volume.
Josh looks at the door, then back to me, and hands me the bottle of Jack with a strange expression on his face. “Here, darlin’, you look like you could use this.”
I grab the bottle from him and take a giant swig. Wiping my hand across my face I say, “Thanks, Josh.”
Riley
The smell of coffee wakes me up. When I walk into the living room, I see a makeshift bed on the couch. I glance over to the attached kitchen and find Devyn standing in front of the coffee maker, tapping her fingers on the counter. I can’t help but check out the mile long legs peeking out of the oversized T-shirt she’s wearing. I frown as I come closer and notice that it’s Josh’s shirt. What the hell? Okay, fine. I know I have no right to go all caveman here, but that doesn’t stop me from grunting like one under my breath .
We make eye contact as I reach over her head to grab two mugs out of the cabinet, setting them in front of the pot. “Here ya go.”
“Thanks.” She pours some coffee into both mugs.
We stand there in companionable silence for a minute while Devyn loads her cup with milk and sugar. She closes her eyes and moans upon taking her first sip. My dick jumps toward the sound.
I shift a little to conceal my burgeoning hard-on. “Hey, I’m sorry about the thing with Megan last night. She gets a little crazy when she feels threatened.”
I know, I know. Quite the irony we have going on.
She shrugs. “It’s fine.”
Before I can argue, Josh steps out of his bedroom and joins us in the kitchen. He ruffles Devyn’s hair and takes a sip from her mug. “How’s my favorite girl this morning?”
She takes her mug back and continues drinking like it’s no big deal they’re swapping spit right now. When did they get so damn cozy?
“Tired,” she answers. “Your couch sucks. I slept like crap.”
He winks at her. “Hey, you were the one who refused my big, comfy bed. Don’t say I didn’t offer.”
My free hand clenches into a fist at my side.
“Ah, but here’s the problem with that. You were in said big, comfy bed, and I didn’t feel like fighting off your drunken advances all night.”
Josh laughs. “Hey, you were just as smashed as I was, so for all I know, I would’ve been fighting off your drunken advances all night.”
Devyn rolls her eyes. “Yeah, in your dreams, pig.”
Josh laughs harder this time, ruffles her hair again, and walks back into his room without another word. Seriously, what the hell is going on with those two? Josh has always been flirty with her, but this feels different. Did something happen between them last night?
“What was that about?” I growl.
You can practically see the steam coming out of my ears, can’t you?
She raises her eyebrows. “What was what about?”
I fling my hand toward Josh’s room. “You and Josh. Since when are you two so touchy-feely sharing coffee? Do you think your boyfriend would appreciate that?”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh geez, Riley. You’re making a big deal out of nothing. You and I normally share the same bed when I stay over, and Brian’s never had a problem with it. He knows we’re just friends, and he trusts me.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Well, I don’t like it. Josh is different.”
She narrows her eyes. “And why’s that?”
We’re interrupted again when Megan steps out of my bedroom. She looks thoroughly fucked, but she clearly touched up her hair and makeup before coming out here. I look back toward Devyn and can’t help but appreciate how good she always looks first thing in the morning with no makeup, bed head, and a wrinkled tee .
Megan glares at Devyn. “What are you still doing here?”
Devyn takes another sip. “I stayed the night. I had too much to drink to walk back to the dorms, and Josh was in no condition to drive me.”
“Ever hear of an Uber?” Megan puts a hand on her hip and looks at me. “Does this happen often?”
I shrug. “Sometimes.” I intentionally leave out the part where Devyn usually sleeps in my room.
Devyn smirks when she sees the fire in Megan’s eyes. I can’t help but mirror her expression.
Megan saunters over to me, pulls my head down and kisses me. Hard. With a shit load of tongue. “I have to get going to psych class. Thanks for the incredible night, baby. I think I’ll be walking funny for a week.” She winks as she walks out the door.
This is awkward as fuck, isn’t it?
Devyn rolls her eyes again. “Incredible night, huh?”
I rub my neck, totally embarrassed by Megan’s over-the-top territorial behavior. I guess it’s time to end things with her. “Uh…I guess.”
Devyn laughs sardonically and says, “Well, Megan certainly seems to think so.”
“Yeah, Megan is actually starting to get on my nerves, so I think I’m going to cut her loose.”
“Does she know that?”
I shrug. “She knew this wasn’t going anywhere when she signed up. We’re just having fun, she’ll be fine.”
“Fun?” Devyn asks. “Is that what you call it?”
“Yeah, fun. That’s all it ever is. These girls aren’t interested in getting to know me. They want one thing from me, and I’m okay with that.”
“Don’t you get tired of it, Rye? Don’t you want a real connection with someone?”
I smile. “That’s what I have you for.”
Devyn bites her lip, looking frustrated, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” As she picks up her folded clothes and heads for the bathroom, she adds, “I have to get going too. I’m supposed to meet Brian at ten o’clock.”
I keep talking to her through the door. “What are you guys up to this morning?”
“We’re just going to grab some coffee and head to the library.”
“Are you sure he’s okay with you staying here all the time?” I ask. “If I were him, I don’t think I would be.”
She comes out of the bathroom wearing her clothes from last night. “I swear. We’ve talked about it quite a few times. He says he’s secure enough in our relationship, and if I say we’re just friends, he trusts me implicitly.”
“And why is it we’re just friends again?” I try keeping my tone light to suggest that I’m joking, but I’m really not. We haven’t visited the subject since we first met, but last night I almost kissed her while we were playing around on the couch. I don’t know what came over me, but I know she sensed it, and I have a sneaking suspicion she might have actually kissed me back.
She pokes me in the chest with her index finger. “Because you, my friend, are a total commitment-phobe.”
I laugh to cover my unease with her assessment. I mean, it’s not like I’ve given her any reason to think otherwise, but it still doesn’t sit right with me.
“Oh, yeah, that’s right. Why do I keep forgetting that?”
Devyn shakes her head. “I have no idea. Lucky you have me around to keep reminding you, right?”
“Right,” I agree halfheartedly.