Chapter 7 Damon #2
He wouldn’t walk away from his brother entirely. I knew that. I was okay with that. But he wouldn’t give up on me either. A year had passed, and he had still been there for me. Another had gone by, and he had found his way to me.
It wasn’t a second chance. Not really. We’d never blown a chance before.
We’d simply done what we knew was right, keeping something incredible without messing around with it too much.
Last summer, kissing practice, naked bodies, and soft, green grass under us were the sort of memories I didn’t want to tarnish with drama that could have followed.
I went into the locker room with my teammates. Griffin tapped my shoulder and told me he’d been right about the good luck kiss. I couldn’t agree more. I just wanted a post-game kiss to make sure we didn’t jinx anything.
Seth had texted me to meet him on the science building roof.
I showered and made up an excuse for skipping the team party at the Thinker. I would be near enough, having a better party.
I carried my duffel hanging from one shoulder and made my way to the back of the building, then up the metal stairs to the very top. Seth stood in the distant corner, partly shadowed, arms wrapped around his body.
Tension abandoned his posture when I stepped over the edge and onto the roof. “Congratulations. You didn’t break anything,” he said with a note of disappointment.
I sucked my teeth. “Could break your ass if you’re keen.”
He laughed abruptly and shook his head. “What? With one little point you scored? Do better, Pierce.”
“Oof. Banter’s fine, but that one hurts,” I said, trying for my most convincing wounded voice.
I could see the moment of concern come over his face as he stepped closer. Then he realized I was still teasing him and made his expression blank again. “I guess you were kinda sexy out there.”
“Kinda? Did you see them cheer?” I teased.
Seth put his hands on my jacket, and I dropped the duffel. He pulled me in and gazed up at my face. “They can chant your name all they like, I’m the one who gets the goods.”
“So, we’re doing it, huh?”
“If I say so,” he replied, yet he still had to bite his lip. “I still feel you after the weekend.”
“Never goes away,” I said, hands settling on his ass with familiar ease. “Does it hurt?”
“Hurt? No,” he said. “It didn’t hurt. It felt…” He shrugged. “Complete.”
“And now you feel like you’re missing something,” I said. I knew because I felt the same.
Seth cracked a smile. “Don’t get too cocky.”
“Kiss me and I’ll stop.” And I didn’t have to wait long. He rose onto his toes and pressed those sexy, full lips against mine, warm and excited and wonderful in my arms.
I didn’t let him pull away from me. I kissed him back, leaning in and holding him close.
Life was good. Things didn’t look too bad for me. A month ago, I’d dragged myself home from another meaningless hookup that had only gone to show how empty my days were.
When we parted, Seth stepped back and reached for his backpack. He took out two cans of beer and handed me one. “I figured you’d like this. It’s basic, just like you.” The words didn’t have the bite in them as they had before. I almost missed it.
There was a sweetness to Seth that I’d always been so well aware of. He kept his fingers on the can even as mine covered it, and then he pulled his hand back and cracked his beer open.
We sat down in the usual spot on the old vent shaft and let our shoulders press together. “We should have dinner together. Someplace off campus,” I said. I kept my voice casual and calm, but the nervousness made my stomach flutter.
Seth tensed. A moment passed, and then he nodded. “I know a place. They make incredible vegan burgers.”
“I couldn’t possibly eat a vegan,” I said.
He poked me with his elbow. “It wouldn’t be your first time.”
I couldn’t help the chuckle breaking from me. It was mostly relief that he would consider going out someplace like normal people did. “You’re a very delicious exception.”
Sneaking around had its perks. It was hot. It was so much hotter than when there weren’t people actively hating the idea of it. But I wanted to breathe free for an evening, too. We had never had a normal date, and I freaking loved dates. He would, too.
I didn’t want to worry about what we would talk about and what we would have to avoid.
I didn’t want to know that he had gone to Chicago after those weeks together and dated someone else.
I didn’t want to remember how empty I had felt for a year and how I’d stumbled into hookups that were terrible ideas just to conceal the hollowness Seth’s absence had left in me.
We wouldn’t touch on this. It didn’t matter anymore. If I could bury my head in the sand and live in the bliss that Seth’s presence on campus was, I would gladly do just that.
“It’s a date,” I said, pushing my luck.
Seth looked at me, worry crossing his face for only a passing moment. Then he nodded. “If you want it to be.”
I did. And I wanted more. There was no denying it. Even if he didn’t want more. Even if he was happy to just meet after dark and blow my brains out, I couldn’t pretend that my wishes were the same.
I leaned on Seth, holding my beer and watching students walk around campus in pairs and groups, going to and from parties, carrying books, sneaking around just like us.
These were our incredible days. I was going to use them before I graduated and got pulled away from Seth again. I would enjoy these two years of college like I had dreamed of.
And I had a feeling that Seth wasn’t going to complain about it either.