19. Tori
19
TORI
I rummaged through the kitchen cabinets until I found some muffin tins. Cooking wasn’t really my strong suit—Hailey was much better at it than me—but I wanted to make something nice for our movie night.
So far, we hadn’t come up with a regular plan for meals together. Maybe that was because we were all coming and going at different times—or because half the people in this house hated each other. Which was upsetting, but not something I was going to solve on a Friday night.
My phone was propped up against a can of black beans. I’d paused the cooking video while I browned and seasoned the beef, but now I was ready to continue.
The internet chef’s smiling face came alive as I pressed play, but that wasn’t what caught my attention. Hailey had told me about this guy’s cooking channel, but she’d neglected to tell me that his trademark was cooking while bare-chested, sometimes with an apron and sometimes not.
Despite that distracting feature, he was pretty good at explaining things in simple steps. I only had to pause the video twice as I shaped the wonton wrappers into the cups of the muffin tin. The flimsy sheets were so thin that three of them tore, but at last, I got them all more or less in place.
Ready for the next step, I unpaused the video. But then a shadow fell across the screen. The warmth against my back announced the arrival of one of my roommates, and from the tantalizing, woodsy scented cologne, I knew it was Jayden.
He moved closer, peering over my shoulder at the screen. “Kyle’s not shirtless often enough for you?”
I blushed. “He’s a good teacher. The chef, I mean, not Kyle.”
Jayden shifted around, leaning against the sink with his hands folded. “What is the shirtless dude teaching you to make? Dehydrated muffins?”
“Mini taco cups.”
He raised an eyebrow. “If you say so.” His smirk and the teasing look in his eye made him look as hot as the internet chef. His sleeves were rolled up, and I liked how while his forearms had a light covering of hair, his upper arms and chest were almost bare. It was fascinating—and it made me wonder what the rest of him looked like.
“Do you want to help?”
“Sure.” He straightened up. “What do I do?”
He scooped the seasoned meat into each little wonton cup, and I added black beans. He topped it off with shredded cheddar cheese. “Now what?” he asked.
“We bake it for 10–12 minutes.”
“Sounds good.” He lowered the door of the preheated oven and put one muffin tin in while I put the other two. “Anything else?”
“We can get out the toppings while they’re baking. Are you good at slicing avocados?”
“Passably good, but it’s not like I’m going to major in it.”
I stifled a laugh. Jayden was so easy to be around. I didn’t have to be on my guard, wondering if he was going to say something outrageous like Kyle. Sure, sometimes Jayden pushed at my boundaries a little, but usually he was sending me in a direction I eventually realized I wanted to go in.
He and Lucas were alike in many ways—their intelligence being one of them. But Jayden just seemed to move through life with a little less tension than Lucas did. But maybe that wasn’t a fair assessment. Lucas was a nice man and a good friend. Maybe if Kyle hadn’t blown back into his life like a tornado, he wouldn’t get as upset as he had recently.
Jayden worked on the avocado while I cleaned up. But when I returned from putting the cheese away in the fridge, he met my gaze. “I’m sorry about the other night.”
For a moment, I thought he meant my date with Lucas. Then I realized what he was referring to. “I got my necklace back. That’s all that matters.” We’d both been so busy that we hadn’t had time to catch up yesterday.
“No, it’s not.” His eyes looked serious. “If we’d put that asshole in his place the first time, then you wouldn’t have needed to go back there again.”
None of this was his fault. It was all Todd’s. “I didn’t even know my necklace was missing the night you and Lucas took me there for my journal.”
“I still wish we’d handed him his ass,” Jayden said with a sigh. “I take it that Kyle did?”
“Thoroughly.” I hadn’t seen Todd afterwards, but I’d watched the way Kyle threw him around in the entryway. “I think I’ve finally seen the last of him, thank god.”
“You don’t think he’ll call the police on Kyle?” Jayden looked concerned. “Though I guess if he was going to, he would have already.”
“I don’t think so. I think he’s scared. With good reason,” I added.
Jayden folded his arms, lost in thought. Then his lips twisted into a smirk. “He probably thinks that you have an endless supply of men to send to his house.”
My eyebrows raised as I thought it over. “Yeah. You three, and Hailey’s roommates.” At his questioning look, I elaborated. “They came to pick me up when I first found the camera. So that’s six guys.”
“Seven,” Jayden said. “Don’t forget about Roger.”
“Oh yeah.” I couldn’t help grinning. “No wonder Todd didn’t call the police. He probably thinks you all will just keep coming.”
“Like your own personal army.” Jayden grinned. “And how was the rest of your evening?”
“It was nice.” I opened the oven door and peeked inside. The cheese wasn’t melted all the way, but it smelled really good.
“Just nice?” Jayden asked when I closed the oven and straightened up.
“More than nice. Lucas took me to a lovely restaurant, and we talked and had a good meal.”
“But?” Jayden prompted.
“Well, the evening didn’t start off very well, with the whole thing with my necklace. And then… I don’t know, it was weird. It was almost like Lucas and Kyle were working together.”
“That would feel weird,” Jayden said. “But they both wanted to help you, so maybe not too surprising.”
“Yes, I know.” What I didn’t know was how to explain it better. “It was just a bit unsettling, like cops and robbers on the same side.”
Jayden nodded, but he was staring past me, his gaze unfocused. “I sometimes think that if the thing with Natalie hadn’t happened, and if their parents hadn’t gotten married, maybe they would have—” He cut himself off with a sigh. “But they didn’t get along even before all that.”
“High school students aren’t exactly known for befriending kids who aren’t like them.”
“And yet you still want to teach them.”
I smiled. “Yeah, I do.” Because maybe, just maybe, I could teach students both what they needed to know to become good writers—and how to be a little kinder, and more tolerant of each other.
“You’ll be good at it. Should we check the taco cups?”
“Yep.”
He opened the oven, and I was pleased to see that the cheese had melted evenly. I took the trays out and set them on the counter to cool off.
“Something smells good.” Kyle entered the kitchen, a six pack of bottled beer in each hand.
He put them in the fridge and then came over to the counter to explore. I slapped his hand away when he reached for one of the mini taco cups. “They need to cool down.”
He still looked like he was going to grab one, so I pushed him away. God, his stomach muscles were firm. He looked amused at my attempt to move him out of the way.
“Okay, but when they’re ready, I’m going to have one for quality control.”
“You can have more than one,” I told him. He had on a navy t-shirt that fit snugly over his chest—and brought out the blue of his eyes. His tight black jeans emphasized how long his legs were. “No game tonight?”
“Nope.”
“Or frat party?”
Kyle grinned. “They can do without me for one night.” He leaned against the counter next to me. “I had a long week. This uptight chick who’s tutoring me wouldn’t let me rest until my damn paper was done.”
“You actually got it uploaded before midnight?” I was pretty sure I was beaming with pride.
“Sure did. Did you?”
“Yep.”
“Then I’d say you both deserve a beer,” Jayden said. I turned to him guiltily—for a moment, I’d forgotten he was there. “I’ll text Lucas and tell him it’s time.” Lucas was sorting through more of his great aunt’s stuff in the basement.
“Time for what?” Kyle asked.
“Movie night,” I said. “That’s why I made these.”
Kyle rolled his eyes. “First it was study group. Now it’s movie night. Can’t you people plan an evening without naming it first?”
I shot him a smile. “I’ll tell you on Random Questions Night.”
Jayden laughed. “Lucas will be up in a minute. Are you joining us?” he asked Kyle.
Kyle cocked his head to the side, thinking it over. “Will I like the movie?”
“Do you like science fiction?”
“Oh god,” I said with a giggle. “It’s already Random Question Night.”
They both laughed. Then Kyle said, “Sci-fi’s not really my thing.”
“Come watch the movie with us anyway,” I urged, suddenly hoping he would. “We deserve to celebrate.”
He held my gaze for a long moment. “All right.”
A few minutes later, we were in the living room, each of us with a bottle of beer and the taco cups on the coffee table. Jayden was sprawled out on the couch, his legs crossed at the ankle. Kyle was in the nearest armchair, his beer already halfway finished. Lucas was messing with his phone, trying to get the movie to stream to the TV. From the look of frustration on his face, it wasn’t cooperating. Wi-Fi was sometimes spotty in this house.
Kyle glanced over at where I was perched on the arm of the sofa. His gaze was assessing as he took in my oversized sweatshirt and leggings.
“What?” I asked, feeling a little self-conscious.
“Why don’t you put on that dress, the one from the other night?”
I almost spilled my beer. “Why?”
“Why not?”
“I can see why neither of you were on the debate team,” Jayden teased.
Kyle pointed at him. “That’s why. Jay hasn’t seen you in it.”
“Dude, she’s not a tourist attraction.”
Kyle winked at me. “If so, she’d be the best one in the tri-state area.”
I laughed, thinking the matter was settled.
It wasn’t.
“There ought to be a dress code for movie night,” Kyle continued.
“Leave her alone,” Lucas muttered from across the room, but he seemed distracted, still trying to get the movie to stream.
“What’s the dress code?” I asked, smiling a bit. Kyle always kept me on my toes.
“For women, it’s a dress. Specifically that dress you wore on Wednesday.”
“If it’s worth all the fuss, now I kind of want to see it,” Jayden said.
“What’s the dress code for men?”
“It’s much more relaxed for men.”
Jayden laughed. “Such a shame that these double standards persist, even in this day and age.”
I giggled. It was fun joking around with them. If only Lucas didn’t have that scowl on his face. He’d been really sweet on our date. We’d shared a nice Italian meal and good conversation—once the shock of what had happened at Todd’s house wore off. It had been a good date, and I didn’t have to worry about him ghosting me—that would be a bit hard to do since I was staying in his house.
“Come on, Victoria,” Kyle said. “Respect the dress code.”
“Why do you get to make the dress code?”
“She’s got a point,” Jayden said, but I could tell he was having fun, too.
“My house, my rules,” Kyle said smugly.
“Our house,” Lucas corrected.
“Right,” Kyle said. “Our house, my rules.”
I laughed—I couldn’t help it. Kyle grinned, but there was a challenge in his gaze, and in the way he cocked an eyebrow.
And suddenly, I was considering it. I’d felt very pretty in that dress. When I’d found it at my favorite thrift store, I’d been amazed to find something that pretty at an affordable price. Lucas had complimented it, and Kyle had too—though at the time, I’d been devastated about my necklace.
I turned to Jayden. “Do you want to see me in it?”
He leaned back, his hands behind his head. “I wouldn’t say no.”
“All right.” With cheeks heating, I pushed off the couch, trying to avoid what would undoubtedly be a smirk on Kyle’s face.
It took a lot less time to get dressed this time around. I didn’t bother with extra makeup or fixing my hair, but I did take it out of the ponytail, letting it unwind around my shoulders. Once I had the dress on, I pulled a large swath of hair to the front, letting it brush across my chest.
I didn’t put on the high heels. No way was I punishing myself by wearing those two nights in a row. Instead, I stepped into some beige flats.
There was nothing left to do, but I hesitated for a moment, wondering if this was a good idea. These guys were my friends, yes, but I’d shared something with each of them that pushed the boundaries of friendship. I’d been on the date with Lucas. I’d talked about sex with Kyle in his truck. And Jayden and I had spent at least half an hour in that hammock, our bodies pressed against each other. My fingers tingled as I recalled the feeling of his chest under my hand.
And suddenly, I was ready. I liked hanging out with them, but more importantly, I trusted them. Kyle seemed like the only one who might push me a little bit further than I wanted, but he’d provided me with a safeword precisely for that reason.
Squaring my shoulders, I walked into the living room. A football game was on the TV, but all three of them turned their eyes to me. Which was kind of an intoxicating feeling, if I was being honest.
Jayden gave a low whistle. “Damn. You’re beautiful, Tori. I approve of the dress code.”
I rolled my eyes as I stepped closer. “Because it doesn’t affect you.”
He grinned, a mischievous look in his eyes. “Oh, it affects me all right.”
Kyle chuckled from his spot in the armchair, and Lucas stood from his position on the sofa.
He gestured, and I slipped past him to sit in the middle between him and Jayden. I’d sat in the middle in Kyle’s truck last night, too. Apparently, that was becoming my spot. I couldn’t say that I minded very much.
Lucas switched over to the movie and Jayden turned out the lamp on the end table. The room plunged into darkness since the opening credits of the movie consisted of silver lettering against a black expanse of space.
I smoothed out the hem of my dress, the silky fabric tickling my legs. The mini taco cups on the coffee table were within reach, but there was no way I’d risk spilling ground beef or salsa on this dress. It was rapidly becoming my favorite, and I’d never even worn it until last night.
The beginning of the movie was okay. Not totally my thing, but I guessed it was engaging enough. By the time the scientists on screen were starting to figure out that the shipboard computer had turned evil, I was so relaxed that I forgot there were two handsome men on either side of me—and a third one close by.
But then Lucas leaned in, speaking quietly. “Can I get you something else to drink?” Even in the dark, I could see his glance at the beer I’d barely touched.
I smiled to myself. Lucas always knew what I needed. “Some water would be great.” When he started to get up, I tugged on his sleeve. “I’ll come with you. I should put the rest of the taco cups in the fridge.” They’d each had a couple, and I silently thanked the shirtless chef who’d shown me how to make them.
“I’ll do it,” Lucas said softly. “Just relax and watch the movie.”
I squeezed his arm once before letting him go. He picked up the tray and disappeared into the kitchen.
Jayden took that opportunity to rest his feet on the coffee table. “Enjoying the movie?” he asked me.
“Yes.” The sofa shifted on my other side, and I wondered how Lucas had put the taco cups away so quickly. But then another pair of long legs swung up on the coffee table.
Kyle.
I turned to him. “Wow, you move fast.”
On my other side, Jayden snorted.
“You should see me run the bases,” Kyle said.
Actually—I kind of did want to see that. “Do you have any more games this season?”
“Just one. Sunday afternoon.” He angled his head at me. “Want to come?”
“Sure.”
“Great,” he said, after a brief pause. I had the sense that my answer had surprised him.
Suddenly, the thought of sitting in the stands alone seemed, well, rather lonely. I turned to Jayden. “Can you come with me?”
“Of course.” His answer came quickly and easily, though it probably wouldn’t have if Lucas had been in the room.
Lucas appeared a moment later, stopping dead when he saw Kyle next to me. I felt guilty, but Lucas didn’t say anything as he moved around the coffee table to Jayden’s side before setting the glass of water in front of me.
“Want to sit here?” Jayden asked, but Lucas shook his head and settled the armchair opposite the one that Kyle had sat in.
My eyes were on the screen as I tried to catch up on the plot, but it was very hard to ignore the men on either side of me. They were both sitting close, and they both had their long legs stretched out in front of them, their feet crossed on the coffee table. It felt like their bodies surrounded mine… and I kind of liked it.
I slipped off my shoes and tried to put my feet up on the coffee table too… only they didn’t reach. Kyle chuckled as even my pointed toes failed to reach.
“Lean forward,” Jayden whispered. Once I did, he slid a thick pillow behind my back, and that moved me six inches closer. Before I could try again to put my feet up, Kyle yanked the coffee table closer.
Problem solved.
“Thanks,” I whispered to both of them. My bare feet looked very small between theirs, and the pink toenail polish seemed to give off a soft glow.
I wondered if either Kyle or Jayden had noticed my smooth legs and painted nails, but I didn’t glance in either direction to find out.
Just as I relaxed back against the pillow, I realized that the hem of my dress had ridden up on my thighs when I scooted forward. Not scandalously so, but still, I clamped my hand down on it automatically. When I tugged it down, it stayed that way on the right side but somehow stretched and bounced back on the left. The side Kyle was on.
Uh-oh. Now it was pretty high on my thigh, not that far from the edge of my panties. With a touch of panic, I tried to smooth it down but somehow my hand slid right past the hem, and all I managed to do was to stroke my own thigh.
Which was not what I’d meant to do.
Then a large hand brushed along my leg, deftly capturing the edge of the fabric and smoothing it back into place. I turned to thank Kyle, but he was staring straight ahead at the screen.
And his hand was still on my thigh.
His fingers were splayed wide, half on the dress and half on my bare leg. His hand felt big, and warm, and… surprisingly good.
At least it would have if we’d been alone.
I could’ve slapped his hand away, as I had when he’d reached for the mini taco cups before they’d cooled.
Or I could’ve leaned over and whispered my safeword in his ear.
I did neither.
My focus returned to the movie, but I’d lost the plot entirely. It didn’t matter because all I could think about was Kyle’s hand.
And then it slid higher. Just an inch, but I felt the fabric of the flowy dress shift.
I stilled for a long moment and then gulped in a breath of air, my pulse speeding up.
Which was dumb. He was just touching me lightly. It was a little inappropriate, given that Lucas and Jayden were nearby, but it was no big deal. Right?
Except I wasn’t doing a very good job of convincing myself of that. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. He was staring at the movie, a neutral expression on his face. An innocent expression—if such a thing was possible for him.
Breathing deeply and slowly, I tried to get my heart rate to slow. I deliberately relaxed the muscles that had tensed—including the ones in my thigh. And that’s when Kyle's fingers moved again, but not higher on my leg. This time, his long fingers curled around my thigh, sliding a little way in between them.
I gasped softly, and immediately clamped my mouth shut. Had they heard me? Hopefully the noise from the movie—where I hadn’t the slightest clue what was happening—had muffled it.
Kyle was still staring straight ahead, as if he didn’t have his hand high on my thigh, and for some reason, that made it more exciting. Blood pooled in my core, and I had to resist the urge to roll my hips forward.
I took a quick peek to my other side, and my breath caught in my throat. Jayden was staring at me. Or, more specifically, where Kyle was touching me.
Oh, shit. Embarrassment washed through me at having been caught. I expected Jayden to say something about it or give me a confused look, but he didn’t. He just kept staring at my lap. I wished I were able to see the expression on his face.
And then my wish came true. The scene on the TV changed to a white, sterile room. The sudden light from the screen lit up Jayden’s face as he stared at my thigh. And the look wasn’t disapproval or disgust—far from it. He looked kind of… into it. His gaze flicked up to my face and I almost squealed in surprise. The look he gave me was knowing, and almost… lustful, and my arousal level went through the roof.
Embarrassment washed through me, but excitement was winning out. Especially when Kyle slid his fingers farther between my legs. He had a firm grasp on my inner thigh, and his long fingers were quite near my panties. The skirt of my dress hid part of his hand, but I could feel every single inch of where he was touching me.
God, his hand was hot… like his touch was searing my skin. My breathing grew shallow, and I was conscious of the way my chest was rapidly rising and falling. I wondered if Kyle and Jayden had noticed that, too.
Slowly, Kyle’s hand slid higher, and I held my breath, not sure how far he’d go. And not sure how far I wanted him to go. This was new territory for me, to be this turned on in a room surrounded by men… but I didn’t want it to stop.
Kyle’s little finger rubbed against the skin at the very top of my thigh, and then I froze. On my other side, Jayden had his eyes trained on the screen—where the hell had that green alien come from?—but his hand fell between us, the back of his knuckles casually grazing the bare skin of my other thigh.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit… how far were they going to take this? And why the hell wasn’t I telling them to stop? Kyle would respond to my safeword, and Jayden would get the message, especially if I clamped my legs together and pushed down my dress.
But I didn’t.
My breathing was so labored that it practically drowned out the noise from the screen, where there were now a whole family of green aliens.
Kyle’s grip tightened on my thigh, and I sensed he was going to move his hand upwards again. I think he was waiting to see if I was going to stop him.
I didn’t.
I should have, but god, it felt so good. And now Jayden was lightly stroking the outside of my thigh with one long finger. I wondered if Kyle could see that? Jayden’s hand was kind of hidden between our bodies.
Then a dark shape crossed in front of the screen and the coffee table jerked violently to the side with a loud thud.
“Knock it off,” a voice growled.
Lucas loomed over Kyle, who pulled his hand back. I jumped, clamping my knees together.
“Get the fuck away from her,” Lucas thundered. The coffee table moved again, and I realized he’d kicked it. Kyle’s feet thudded to the floor.
Mortification washed over me. Cringing, I squeezed my eyes shut for a long moment, leaning so far away from Lucas’ disapproval that I was practically in Jayden’s lap.
Why had I done that? Why had I let Kyle touch me in front of them? I’d gone out on a date with Lucas just two nights ago, and now he was furious. At Kyle, at me… he definitely had reason for both. Hopefully he hadn’t been able to see Jayden stroking my leg, too.
Kyle’s voice was mild when he looked up at his stepbrother. “Spoilsport.”
“She’s not a sport ,” Lucas snapped. ”Go play with your bat and balls and leave her the fuck alone.”
Kyle chuckled, probably because he knew it would make Lucas even angrier. “My bat and balls—good one, bro.”
“I’m not your brother, and she isn’t your toy.”
If there were a trap door here, I’d gladly sink down into the basement. Anything to get away from this humiliation. From the disgust in Lucas’s voice. And from the feeling that I’d let him down. All the excitement I’d felt minutes ago was gone, replaced by shame.
Jayden moved behind me, and the cushion shifted as he got to his feet. Probably as disappointed with me as Lucas was.
I couldn’t look at any of them, while Lucas and Kyle continued to argue, but then fingers swept over my shoulder with a light touch. Jayden had his hand out, offering it to me.
In the dark, I couldn’t properly see his face, but the vibe I was getting from him wasn’t disgust. I took his hand, and he pulled me to my feet. He kept hold of me as he led me around the arguing stepbrothers and out into the kitchen.
I twisted around to look back, feeling immense guilt at the way they were still saying such hurtful things to each other.
Jayden grasped me by the shoulders and waited until I met his eyes. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Tori.”
His words almost made me cry. I didn’t believe them, but they were said with kindness. But still, the raised voices came from the other room. “I should go back in there,” I began, though it was the last thing I wanted to do. But they were fighting because of me. Because of my lapse in judgment.
Jayden kept hold of me. “This isn’t your fault.” He sighed, his gaze on the living room before he turned back to me. “Want to go lay on the hammock and look at the stars?”
His offer was an escape route—and it was also support.
“I really, really do.”