Chapter 22
FEE
Iglance around, making sure I’m alone in the hallway before I tack up the poster on the corkboard outside the theater and snap a pic.
I hop into the elevator and do the same thing on three other floors, leaving a few stickers on a side table for people to grab.
It’s such a thrill to spot them on people’s binders, tablet cases, and laptops in random classes.
This month’s art isn’t quite as dark and moody.
The oversized patchwork heart appears in shades of red that shift to pink in freshly mended areas.
Like it’s coming back to life. The oversized needle my alter ego illustration works with pierces the fabric heart, causing tears to drip from the new holes.
It’s a representation of what’s happening with Mac.
We can’t heal without mending old wounds.
I tack up another poster in the atrium on the way to the elevator, before I head up to my apartment and drop my things off, narrowly avoiding an escape attempt by Parsnip, Tally’s adorable, wily Maine Coon.
I throw treats down the hall for him so I can sneak back out and join Cammie, Tally, and Enid at Cammie’s apartment, down the hall.
The guys leave for an away game soon, so it’s a girls’ night.
The door is propped open with a squishy eggplant, so I poke my head inside the apartment. “Hello, friends!”
“We’re in the kitchen!” Cammie calls back.
I find her and Enid assembling our version of a charcuterie board, which mostly consists of chips, nuts, cookies, chocolate, and candy items. There’s also a veggie and dip platter for balance. And we’ll probably order pizza later.
“Where’s Talls?” I ask as I set my backpack on a chair and retrieve my contribution to our unhealthy food fest.
“She’s on her way. She had dance practice,” Enid explains.
“She’s in the studio nonstop this semester,” I say.
“Yeah, the demands on her time are high,” Cammie replies.
With her parents’ divorce, I imagine she needs the escape. When I lost mine, I spent endless hours in the art studio, needing somewhere to put all my sadness, and canvas was my preferred therapy.
“At least dance is a healthy way of dealing with what’s going on with her parents.” Enid artfully arranges cookies around the chip bowl in the center of the platter.
“Truth,” I agree.
Enid’s phone pings on the counter, the name Curtis flashing across the screen. She doesn’t abandon her task to respond.
“How’s Curtis?” Cammie asks.
She’s been dating him for a while. He looks suspiciously like a leaner, not-quite-as-hot version of Brody.
“Good?” It’s more a question than statement. “We went for breakfast this morning and he opened the door for me, but he hit me in the face and almost tripped a little old lady.”
Cammie and I both fight an obvious cringe.
“He means well,” I offer.
“Yeah,” Enid replies quickly. “He just doesn’t always stick the landing.”
Tally arrives, shifting the conversation. We all know Enid and Brody are holding a torch for each other, even if neither of them seems willing to deal with it.
“How was dance practice?” Cammie asks.
Tally shrugs. “It went okay, but I have my period and I’m crampy and bloated.” She rubs her stomach.
“I have an electric heating pad you can borrow if you want,” Cammie offers.
“Yeah. That would be great. I know exercise helps and stuff, but all I want to do is veg on the couch.”
“That was me last week,” Enid says empathetically.
“Orgasms are a good way to calm the cramps,” Cammie offers.
“Messy but true,” Tally replies.
I stay quiet, but internally wonder how Mac feels about providing orgasms while Aunt Flo is visiting. If nothing else, a dry fuck would be welcome relief.
“I don’t think Curtis would be comfortable getting all up in there during shark week,” Enid muses.
“That sucks. Apart from me being violently ill, there isn’t much that will stop Chase from going to pound town,” Cammie admits. “But honestly, I’m kind of glad they have an away game tonight.”
All three of us are suddenly on alert.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“Oh yeah,” Cammie assures us. “Chase and I are fine. It’s just…
” She sighs. “I love him, and I love living with him, and I love our sex life, but sometimes my vagina just needs a break and it’s hard to give her one when Chase is around, looking sexy all the time, always ready to offer himself up for a dick ride. ”
“It’s a hard life,” I say cheekily.
“Oh, I’m not complaining. Chase is an awesome boyfriend.
He’s always up for trying new things and he’s very, very generous in bed, but I have a hard time saying no.
Especially when we’re testing scenes for the sake of story authenticity.
But then one thing leads to another, and suddenly I’m behind a week on my fic updates, and my vagina is literally crying from overuse.
” She motions to us. “I really need this kind of girl time.”
“Amen to girl time and giving your girl parts a rest.” We clink our glasses and take a drink.
The door opens again, and this time it’s Chase and Mac.
My stomach turns into a butterfly conservatory as a warm smile lights up Mac’s gorgeous face and his dimple makes an appearance.
“Hey, babe. Hey, friends.” Chase wraps his arms around Cammie, buries his face in her neck, like he’s scenting her. Which I guess is fairly accurate.
“Hey, Fee.” Mac crosses over to me and smiles at Tally and Enid. “Hey.”
“Hey, Mac,” they say in unison.
He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me in for a hug, burrowing through my hair until he can press his lips to my neck. He lifts me off my feet for a moment and I hug him back, enjoying the casual affection.
“I got you something,” he whispers after he sets me back on my feet.
I pull back. “What kind of something?”
“It’s actually two somethings, but they’re both small and one thing is from my closet.” His dimple is dimpling hard.
“Did you bring me your favorite T-shirt?” I tease. He has a Terror one that was made by an artist I admire.
“Actually.” He sets his backpack on a chair and unzips it.
“Seriously?” I slept in it when I spent the night at his place.
He pulls the shirt out and I grab it from him, bring it to my nose, and inhale deeply. “You wore it, too.”
He grins. “All day.”
“You’re the best.” I throw my arms around his neck.
“I want it back after you’ve slept in it, though,” he murmurs in my ear.
“We can pass it back and forth.”
“I have one other thing. It’s kind of silly,” he warns.
I smile up at him. “I like silly.”
He pulls a stuffed mascot out of his bag. They’re available at campus stores, and this one has TILTON BLAZE HOCKEY on the front and MEYERS 76 on the back. “For you to snuggle with when I’m away.”
I hug it to my chest and kiss his cheek. “It’s perfect.”
“You two are so cute.” Enid makes a heart with her fingers.
“The cutest,” Chase agrees, then turns to Cammie, blinking innocently. “I just gotta grab my bag. You want to come with me to make sure I have everything I need?”
“Yeah, sure. We’ll be right back.”
They disappear down the hall.
“Does anyone want to place bets that they’re gone for more than a minute?” Enid asks.
“Chase is already packed,” Mac says.
I pat his chest. “She’s not checking his bag.”
“At least not the one he packed,” Tally adds. “I bet a slice of cherry chip cake from Just Desserts she comes back with puffy lips.”
“And I bet she’s walking like she rode the D,” Enid chimes in.
“I think option two is more likely. Cammie will have a dazed and confused look and Chase will be all smiles and strutting,” I toss in my two cents.
Mac’s brows furrow adorably. “You think they’re going to have sex?”
“Absolutely,” we say in unison.
“At least we’re not playing until tomorrow morning,” he grumbles.
They return seven minutes later and I’m the winner.
Mac gives me a chaste kiss goodbye and the guys leave.
“So much for staying off the D,” I tease.
Cammie shrugs. “I have no self-restraint.”
“Can we talk about how cute you and Mac are, though?” Enid sighs.
“So cute! I love that he bought you a stuffie, and gave you his shirt to sleep in.” Tally side-hugs me.
“And I love that it started as this whole fake-dating thing and now it’s finally real,” Cammie adds.
“I want to ask about the sex, but I’m not going to ask about the sex,” Enid declares.
“Thanks, because I wasn’t going to share.” I wink. “But I’d be just as curious as you if I were in your shoes.”
The girls laugh, but let it go, which I appreciate.
“LoTR movie marathon?” Cammie asks hopefully.
Tally perks up. “Does that mean you’ll finish the next chapter soon?”
“I plan to keep my laptop close.”
“I think we all vote yes.”