Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Pancakes - Grace
Ifeel triumphant as I sit on the kitchen island, watching Wyatt make pancakes. Or trying to. He keeps turning around to look at me, coming over to kiss me, or starts talking to me, and he’s burned every single one as a result.
I stare at his backside. He’s wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants, and I can see how his back muscles strain against the shirt and how sculpted his ass is through those bottoms. I still can’t believe I’ve had sex with him. SEX! I lost my virginity to Wyatt, and I feel sexy. Beautiful. Radiant.
And most of all, loved.
“Okay, this is not working for me,” Wyatt says, removing another burnt pancake from the pan and dumping it into the trash. “All I can think about is you sitting behind me wearing my jersey.”
I grin. I’m wearing his jersey and a pair of his shorts I folded over at the waist multiple times. And from the way Wyatt can’t stop staring at me, I’m beginning to think it’s my new favorite outfit.
He turns around, marches over to me, and in one swift move, plucks me off the kitchen island. I burst into laughter as I wrap around him, and he grins as he walks me over to the countertop and puts me down next to the range.
“There. Now I can focus better,” he claims, pouring more batter into the pan. After he’s done, he reaches over and slides his hand up my thigh, underneath his jersey.
“Well, that’s good that you can focus better because I sure can’t,” I manage to say as goose bumps ripple across my skin.
That mischievous, playful smile begins to quirk along the corners of his mouth, and then he dances his fingers up, sliding them underneath my shorts. I suck in a breath, but then the door alarm beeps and I hear it open.
Wyatt immediately removes his hand, and I sit up straighter on the countertop. We both look toward the entryway to see who has come home.
Nolan comes into the kitchen. “Oh hey, Wyatt, Grace,” he says. Then he wrinkles his nose. “What’s burning?”
I burst out laughing, and Wyatt frowns. “Pancakes. Want some?” he asks.
Nolan glances down at the pile in the trash can.
“Burnt pancakes? No. But if I make them for us? Yes.” Then he shifts his attention to me.
“Maddie is back at the house, by the way. I walked her home as soon as you guys left. She’s nice.
Told me about her ex and we kind of commiserated on relationships. ”
“Thank you for doing that,” I say, grateful that Wyatt has such good friends.
“No problem,” Nolan says, moving to the sink and turning the water on so he can wash his hands.
“So then what did you do?” Wyatt asks.
“I went back to Milo’s, but Austin was with one of those girls we met before we left, and Chase was with the other, so there was no point.”
I quirk a brow at Wyatt, who slid me down a bit farther from the range and nudged my legs apart so he can stand in between them. He rests his hands on each side of me, and I decide to tease him a bit. “You met girls tonight?” I say, arching an eyebrow at him.
“Yes. Jealous?” he asks, grinning at me.
“Very.”
His beautiful brown eyes flicker with a mixture of flirtation and attraction, and God, that’s a lethal combination.
“Well, don’t be, Gracie girl. I have eyes for one girl only,” he says, leaning in for a quick kiss. His mouth sweetly brushes against mine and when he lifts his head, I smile happily up at him.
Nolan dries his hands and moves over to the batter Wyatt made in a bowl. “You don’t want any mix-ins?”
“Mix-ins?” Wyatt asks.
“You know, like fruit, nuts, chocolate chips.” Nolan looks at me. “Seriously, Gracie, you’re with a guy who burns you plain pancakes? You can do better, you know.”
Wyatt flips him off, and I laugh. “You should write that in your online-dating bio. Girls would eat that up,” I encourage.
Then I remember McCall. “Oh, Nolan! You aren’t going to believe this, but one of my best friends writes online-dating bios for people as a side hustle!
She’s been doing it on the down-low, but when I told her about you, she said she’d be happy to do yours for free. ”
Nolan winces, and an embarrassed flush climbs up his neck. “You told her I’m shit at dating?”
“No. I said you asked me to look at your dating bio, and then she confessed she has a whole successful business doing that on the side. Why would I say you’re shit at dating? That sounds more like a projection of what you think rather than what I think.”
Nolan stares at me, and then looks at Wyatt, a smile passing over his face. “She’s way too smart for you, Jacobs.”
Wyatt chuckles. “Like I don’t know that?”
“You need to say yes to working with McCall,” I say. “She also writes for the campus sports magazine, so she’s good with athletes and words. She did an interview with Luca, by the way.”
Nolan scratches the back of his neck. “Okay. I should say I’ll think about it, but if I have to go through the bar scene to find someone, I won’t. Or frat parties. I’m over those.”
“I’ll handle it tomorrow,” I assure him. “Now, back to these mix-ins. Yes, please, if you have something good.”
Nolan rummages through the fridge and the pantry. “Looks like blueberries or chocolate chips.”
“Chocolate chips, please,” I say.
“Same,” Wyatt says.
Nolan grabs the chocolate chips and pours the batter into the pan, and as I watch him, I get an idea. “Wy, what if we added crushed Mini Eggs to the batter?” I ask excitedly. “That would be perfect!”
He looks at me with amusement. “Do you have any left? I think I ate the last of your bag during our last study session.”
“I need to go back to the store,” I say, thinking.
“We could do that tomorrow. I’ll take you.” Then he pauses for a moment. “I’m going to check on the laundry. It should be ready to throw in the dryer. I’ll be right back.” Wyatt kisses the bridge of my nose and then heads back upstairs.
As soon as he’s out of earshot, Nolan glances over at me. “Wyatt’s crazy about you,” he says softly as he sprinkles chocolate chips over the bubbling pancakes.
Warmth spreads through me knowing Nolan can see how Wyatt feels. “I know. And I’m equally crazy about him, too.”
“I mean, Wy is running upstairs to do laundry and talking about Mini Eggs on a Friday night. And he’s happy about it.”
I bite back a laugh. Well, Wyatt also just had sex so that might have something to do with his eagerness to do laundry and discuss Mini Eggs, but I keep that to myself.
Because I also know what Nolan is saying is true. I know Wyatt would be acting the same way if we hadn’t had sex.
Which makes me love him all the more.
Before long, Nolan has made us perfect pancakes, Wyatt has put the laundry in the dryer, and we’re all sitting at the kitchen table, eating.
The more I get to know Nolan, the more I like him.
Unlike Wyatt, he knows he won’t be playing professional hockey in the future.
He’s majoring in sustainable built environments, and when he talks, I can tell he’s super smart.
Between knowing the importance of mix-ins, being a hockey player, caring about the environment, and being good-looking, I find it hard to believe girls aren’t beating down the door for him.
I decide to dig a little further. I casually reach for the maple syrup bottle and drizzle a little bit more over my pancakes. “So you’re definitely a relationship guy. You don’t want a situationship or anything like that?”
Nolan rakes a hand through his dark hair.
“I can’t be something I’m not. I can’t do casual.
After a few dates, I know if I want to continue dating or not.
And if I like someone, I’m invested. I want to be in a relationship.
I know most people like hooking up or having the automatic out of a situationship, but that’s not who I am. ”
Hm. He should be able to find a girl who would want that. I wonder if he’s looking in the wrong places. Or doesn’t have his eyes open to what’s truly around him. Maybe he hasn’t met the right girl yet.
Regardless, I know McCall will sus this out and get him on the right path to finding what he wants. She loves a good project, and I think Nolan will give her that.
“McCall will sort out your bio. Online dating might be the thing that works for you,” I say, smiling at him.
“Thank you,” he says. Then he stands up from the table and picks up his plate. “I can’t eat anymore. I think I’ll go hang out in my room.“ He flashes Wyatt a mischievous grin as he walks back into the kitchen. “Since I have the room next to yours, I’ll keep my earbuds in.”
My face flushes bright red, and Wyatt rolls his eyes. “Fuck off,” he teases.
Nolan laughs, rinses off his plate and puts it into the dishwasher, and leaves us alone.
“We can’t do anything in your room tonight!” I say in a hushed voice as soon as Nolan has gone upstairs. “He’s next door!”
Wyatt cocks an eyebrow at me. “I can be quiet, but I’m not sure about you, sweetheart.”
My face is on fire now, and he laughs.
But suddenly I’m inspired. “I bet I can be quiet,” I say, my voice still low.
“Can you?” Wyatt asks, sounding intrigued by this declaration.
“Yes. But I don’t know if you’re ready for me yet,” I flirt.
His brown eyes flicker with heat, making my stomach flutter.
Wyatt stands up from the table, and I do, too. “Leave the plates,” he commands.
“Follow me to your room,” I order back.
A curse word escapes his lips, and I smile in triumph.
I head out of the room first, so he has to walk behind me and see his name on my back.
Wyatt moves his hand to my hip as we walk up the stairs, and I know it’s because he has to touch me in some way.
We reach his room, and as soon as he shuts the door behind him, I press him to it, standing on my tiptoes so I can kiss him.
Wyatt slides his tongue across my lips, teasing me, and it’s so tempting to give in and let him take control, but I’m determined to do something for him like he did for me tonight.
I move my head back just enough, so our lips come apart.
“I have a different kind of kissing in mind,” I whisper across his lips.
He sucks in a breath, and I kiss his jaw.
His neck. I move my mouth down, kissing the fabric of his T-shirt and lowering myself on my knees before him.
I put my mouth to the waistband of his joggers, playfully picking up the drawstring with my teeth as his hands sink into my hair.
Wyatt’s body goes rigid against the door, and a shudder runs through him.
Excitement swirls in me. I’m the one who is going to make him feel good right now.
I put my mouth on his dick, nuzzling him through the fabric of his sweatpants. His hands instantly tighten in my hair, and a groan reverberates through him. “Christ,” he whispers into the darkness.
I have no idea what I’m doing—my instinct and previous memories from sex advice columns in fashion magazines are helping guide me now—but I know Wyatt will teach me what to do. What he likes.
I run my mouth down the soft fabric, and I can feel his cock growing firm under the flick of my tongue.
“Gracie, God,” Wyatt moans.
I feel victorious now that I’m on the right track.
My own core grows tight as I feel Wyatt growing harder with each movement of my lips and tongue.
I work my way up to his waistband, my fingers lightly trail over the brown matting of hair moving down below the elastic, and I pull his waistband away from his skin.
I flick my tongue over that area and his whole body trembles.
“Fuck,” he pants. “Fuck, you’re so good. So, so good.”
I feel wet between my legs as he praises me.
I pull his joggers down, then his boxer briefs, and Wyatt is huge and hard.
I take a breath, and just as I’m about to run my tongue over him, Wyatt’s hand moves to the back of my head, lightly tugging on my hair so he can pull my head back.
I find myself staring up at him, and his eyes are heavy with need.
“If you’re going to suck me off,” Wyatt says, his voice low, “I need your eyes on me, Gracie girl. Eyes on me.”