Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
MAYA
On the first day back at campus in January after winter break, I’m curled up on the couch with half a bag of potato chips and some leftover chocolate chips I found in the freezer, watching a Korean romcom series Hana recommended.
When another wave of cramps hits, I wrap my comforter tighter around me.
Reagan commiserated with me for a while before she had to leave for class. We huddled together beneath a cocoon of blankets while watching the first episode. Now I’m starting the third one, but things are about to get dire because my snacks are running low.
I grab my phone, ready to say fuck it and order delivery so I don’t have to go out. A knock at the door interrupts me. Sighing, I leave the comfort of my blanket to answer it.
Easton leans against the frame with his forearm when I open the door. He holds up a packed grocery bag.
“Hi,” I stammer in surprise.
He slips past me, dropping a quick kiss on my lips before taking his stuff to the kitchen island. I close the door and watch from the other side as he unloads everything.
“I wasn’t sure what you were in the mood for, so I figured it was best to cover the bases. Salty, sweet, savory.” He shakes the box of nuggets before setting them on the counter. “And I brought this heating pad from the house.”
Tears prick my eyes. Stupid hormones.
“You got me all this?”
He gives me a soft smile. “You said you had your period and were dying from cramps. Of course I’m going to take care of my girl.”
A lump forms in my throat. “I expected not to see you for a few days when I texted you that. Guys typically run in fear of a girl on her period.”
He stops unloading the snacks in the kitchen and gives me an insulted look.
“I’m not afraid of blood.” Stalking around the island, he backs me against it, trapping me between his arms. “And it doesn’t make me want to be around you or have you any less.
I don’t care if you’re on your period, because I find you hot as fuck when you’re all done up shaking your sexy ass on the bar and when you’re wearing those cute little fuzzy socks.
You make me want to earn my red wings with you over and over again. Okay?”
“O-okay.”
He takes me by the waist, eyeing me up and down with a smirk that makes my insides twist pleasantly. “Want me to go down on you? Lay down on the couch. I’ll suck on your clit and finger you while you watch your show.”
I rub my forehead, torn between the arousal pulsing through me and the urge to sit around in a burrito blanket all day. “No, you don’t have to.”
Guiding me back to the couch, he sits me down and plugs in the heating pad. I set the lukewarm hot water bottle I was using on the coffee table, then spread the pad across my abdomen with a relieved sigh as the heat starts to kick in.
“Thank you,” I mumble.
“I told you, Maya. You need me? I’m there.” He sits down with me, wrapping the blanket around both of us. “I have something else, too.”
“A magic way to scoop out my uterus?”
He chuckles. “No.”
I wave a hand. “Sorry. I’m just being dramatic. I hate suffering through cramps every month.”
“Let it all out. Rage as much as you want, baby. I’m here for anything you need.” He kisses my temple and rubs my back.
I shift to curl against his side. “This. I just need this.”
“Me too. Missed you over break.”
My face presses into his neck. “I missed you, too.” A small laugh slips out of me. “I thought Ryan was going to catch us every time you called me.”
“Worth it.”
Any moment I wasn’t with Grandpa and Easton wasn’t playing hockey or with his family, we talked.
He called almost every night of winter break.
Sometimes it was over Facetime with a wicked gleam in his eye, lighting me up with desire from his dirty mouth.
Other times it was just because he wanted to hear my voice while we fell asleep.
I draw in a deep breath, closing my eyes at his calming scent. It feels good to be back in his arms.
“Here, this is what I got you.” He takes my hand and slips something into it. “I’ve noticed you like to move around when you get anxious or stressed. I went to this holiday market with my mom on Christmas Eve and saw these at a stall. I thought of you—thought that you might like them.”
The gold ring loops in a coil to create three rings with a set of matching beads that can be spun or moved freely around the loops. I slide it on my thumb, tracing the beads. It’s soothing to roll them.
My heart climbs into my throat at his thoughtfulness. “Easton. This is…“
“Is it okay?”
I give him a soft smile. “Yes. I love it.”
His arms loop around me, kneading the aches out of my lower back. I groan pitifully in appreciation.
“Did you spoil all the girls with this treatment? You’re being the perfect boyfriend. If anyone finds out, I’m going to have to fight to keep you.”
He scoffs, his embrace tightening. “No. This is all for you and only you. Forget the guy you might’ve heard about or think I was before we met, because I’m not him anymore. The only thing I am now is yours.”
I roll my lips between my teeth and a tender glow fills my chest. “Thank you.”
“What are we watching?”
“Don’t you have class today?”
“It’s a short one just to go over the syllabus. I’ll get the notes from Cam and email the professor later. I’d rather stay here with you.”
“What about practice?”
“We had practice early this morning. I skipped weight training when I saw your text, but I can make it up later.” He tugs me back against him. “Now stop worrying that pretty little head about me.”
I huff, battling a smile. “You really want to hang out all day and watch a romcom with me?”
He sighs in exasperation, tipping my chin up to meet my eyes. “Baby, I don’t know how to be any clearer. Every second spent with you is my favorite. Stop trying to put yourself last when you’re number one for me.”
It’s difficult to breathe for a moment, my cycle making me sensitive to getting emotional over something as simple as my boyfriend wanting to be here with me while I feel gross.
He drops a kiss on my forehead. “Catch me up on the show’s plot.”
I give him a rundown of the characters, gaining enthusiasm as I go on. His smile is full of affection at my animated explanation while I talk with my hands.
We put on the next episode and contentment washes over me. He gets as sucked into the show as I am, both of us gasping when drama unfolds to keep the two love interests apart. When the episode ends on an epic cliffhanger, we both scramble for the remote to tell Netflix we’re still watching.
He beats me to it, starting the next episode.
“If they don’t end up together by the end of this, I’m gonna be so pissed,” he mutters.
“Right? They’re so perfect for each other.”
The show puts me through the wringer, taking my emotions on a rollercoaster ride. When the couple has the slightest brush of their hands, I clutch at Easton, feet kicking with excitement.
“Oh my god, look! It’s happening!”
He shakes his head. “Nah, they’re gonna blue ball us some more. Watch. I bet they get interrupted.”
I slump against him when he turns out to be right. He chuckles, clasping my chin with his fingers to angle my head for a kiss.
“They might have to suffer through a slow burn, but we can do this whenever we want.”
My face splits into a brilliant smile. I get the remote to rewind the part we missed so we can read the subtitles.
“Oh, damn. We watched three episodes already?”
“It’s addictive,” he admits.
I smirk, reaching for the snacks he brought me. “Hana warned I would put it on and not stop until I finished watching it. Which is exactly how I wanted my day to go with a nice veg out.”
“I honestly can’t remember the last time I’ve had a day of doing nothing.”
“We’re practicing self-care and resting. It’s good for you.”
“You’re good for me,” he counters.
It amazes me how happy I am with him. And if I hadn’t let my walls down for him, I would’ve ruined this because of my fear of going through another awful heartbreak. I’m glad he never stopped chasing me until I could learn to let him in.
Easton would never treat me the way Johnny did.
I want him to know I trust him. To do that, I need to tell him everything.
Instead of starting the episode again, I pause the show and sit up. He gives me his attention immediately.
Reagan’s the only one I’ve ever talked to about this, but something loosens inside my chest once I have the urge to share it with him.
“You remember the night we thought there was a break in at the end of last semester?”
He grunts. “You reported that asshole to campus security, right?”
“Yes. They have his plates and won’t allow him back on campus.”
“Good.” The tension ebbs from him and he caresses my spine. “I feel better knowing you’re safe from him.”
I sigh. “He’s a total egotistical dickhead who’s obsessed with himself, but I wasn’t in danger. He hasn’t tried to contact me again.”
“Doesn’t make me want to make sure you’re protected any less.”
I toy with the ring he gave me, nudging the balls along the loop. “Johnny’s the one who made me hate hockey players. I wanted nothing to do with any of them ever again after we broke up.”
Easton lifts my chin with a crooked finger. His jaw is set, eyes blazing fiercely.
“He hurt you, didn’t he? What did he do to you?”
I swallow, gathering my courage. “At first, nothing. Johnny had a big personality, and since I was close with Ryan in high school we were around each other a lot. At the end of their season in mine and Ryan’s sophomore year, he came onto me at a party.
I thought it was cool an upperclassmen was flirting with me. ”
The memory makes me frown. Looking back, I now have the clarity to see how much he flirted with other girls at the same party. I was simply the first one to say yes when he wanted me to go with him.
Frustration at my naivety burns in my chest. I rub at it, flashing Easton a thin smile when he soothes me with his own touches while he listens.