Chapter 3
“Shit, shit, shit!”
My eyes shoot open, a surge of adrenaline spiking through my veins at the panicked voice coming from somewhere beside me. “Wh-what’s wrong?” I mumble through the sleepiness.
I groan as I stretch out my limbs, reaching to retrieve my glasses from my nightstand. Why am I so sore?
“Fuck, Jude, where’s my bra?”
As soon as my glasses are on, I take in Nikki’s perfect topless form standing at the foot of the bed, and I can’t suppress the grin spreading across my face. Heat pools in my stomach as a memory of last night's activities flashes through my mind.
Oh yeah. That’s why I’m sore.
“Jude, I’m serious,” Nikki pleads. “Help me find my bra, please. I have to go.”
“Yep, sorry,” I reply, shaking off my horny daze. I switch on my desk lamp, and together we scour my tiny dorm bedroom for Nikki’s hot little push-up bra. It’s black and lacey, and god, it’s one of my favorites. Nikki kept it on most of last night until—
“A-ha, found it!” Nikki shouts as she retrieves the article from the tangled sheets of my twin-sized bed. “Help me put it on?”
“With pleasure,” I say eagerly, happy to help. Despite my grogginess, I still manage to get it fastened. “I’m surprised they’re making you come in this early on the Sunday before classes even start. Which class is it for?”
“Marketing Management,” she grumbles as she finishes dressing.
“I have to kiss a lot of ass this semester if I’m going to get the internship at Delta.
” She scoops up her silky black hair with one hand, piles it on top of her head, and effortlessly ties it in a bun.
Aside from some smeared eye makeup, she already looks more put together than I ever do.
“I have no doubt you’ll get in,” I say, watching her adjust her makeup at my tiny vanity. “You’re literally one of the most competitive and driven people I’ve ever met.”
“We’ll see,” Nikki mutters. Before I can reassure her further, she disappears from my room and into the bathroom.
I fall back onto the bed with a contented sigh.
I'm not sure how I landed someone as amazing as Nikki Barnes. She’s a junior—one year ahead of me—majoring in Marketing.
She’s smart, confident, and strong. She knows what she wants and is willing to work for it.
She frequents the gym, and it shows—from her toned arms to her flat stomach, down to her perfect ass and legs.
She’s fucking gorgeous, head-to-toe. Long, lustrous hair, dozens of artsy tattoos, and flawlessly soft skin—she’s the complete package.
Meanwhile, I’m nothing special. Seriously, if you take all the traits of an Average Joe and mix them with a Plain Jane, you’d get me.
The most unique thing about me is probably my androgyny.
Most people can’t tell if I’m a man or a woman right away, and that’s exactly how I like it.
I naturally fade into the background, avoiding judgmental stares and unwanted attention.
At least, that’s how I used to feel about my appearance. But now, standing next to Nikki, I’m forced to acknowledge precisely how out of my league I am. She’s a striking, tattooed model who’s sleeping with the human equivalent of buttered noodles.
To be honest, it doesn’t make any sense. But here we are.
“Sorry to rush out like this,” Nikki announces as she reenters my bedroom. “I just can’t risk being late to this thing.”
I have to do a double-take when I see her.
Nikki washed off all traces of last night’s makeup and is fully dressed to impress in her academic best—a trendy pencil skirt, a black button-down blouse, and a lightweight slate-blue cardigan.
She’s achieved a look that’s somehow both cool and professional in under five minutes, and I can’t stop staring.
She shoves a few more belongings into her solid faux-leather black backpack, then turns to me. “Last night was really fun, though, Jude. Thanks for letting me crash here.”
My cheeks start to burn, and I clear my throat. “Oh, yeah, of course! Anytime.”
Nikki smiles, then leans down to kiss my lips, which I eagerly return. Her floral perfume and minty-fresh breath are intoxicating, and all I want to do is drag her back down into bed with me.
But before I can, she pulls away and stands up straight, retrieving her phone from the front pocket of her cardigan. “Text me later?” she asks, her eyes trained on her phone as she turns to leave.
I nod. “Yeah. Yep, I will.”
And with that, I watch her step out of my bedroom, leaving me alone once more.
Well, not completely alone.
“Morning, Nikki!”
“Oh, shit, sorry, Celeste,” Nikki swears from the hallway. “Did I wake you up?”
“No, no, I’m an early riser, you’re fine. Can I get you something before you go? Tea or coffee or anything?”
“No, thanks. I’ve got to run. See you around!”
“Oh, okay. Bye, girl!”
The front door slams shut, and after a moment of silence, I hear Celeste mutter something under her breath.
I don’t have to be in the room to know the general vibe of what she said. It’s one of the benefits of being friends for five years and living together for one of those years.
“She didn’t mean to slam it, Cel,” I call out. “The doors are heavy—you know that.”
“You don’t know what I said,” Celeste replies.
I roll my eyes and drag myself out of bed, grabbing my housecoat from the hook on the back of my door. It’s plush and cozy, in a dark maroon that makes me feel like a rich old British man. All I need is a pipe and a deerstalker, and I’d be Sherlock Holmes.
As I head into the living room, Celeste is nestled on the left side of the couch, a mug in one hand and her phone in the other.
She’s in her satin yellow pajamas that match her sunflower-patterned black bonnet, her feet propped up on the multicolored ottoman she brought from home.
She peers at me from over her glasses with a judgmental stare.
“So, what did you say?” I ask, sulking over to the coffeemaker, relieved to see an already brewed pot.
“Mm,” is all I get from Celeste.
“Celeste.”
Celeste clicks her tongue. “Does it occur to you that if I wanted you to know what I said, I would have said it loud enough so that you could hear it?”
I sigh, pouring the steaming liquid energy into my favorite mug. “I think if it’s about my girlfriend, I have a right to know.”
“I don’t necessarily agree.”
“Cel, come on–”
“It’s nothing, Jude,” Celeste argues, rubbing a hand down her face.
“It sure doesn’t feel like nothing,” I grumble as I aggressively stir oat milk creamer into my coffee.
Celeste exhales sharply and rests her mug on the end table. “You can do better,” she says. “That’s all.”
I nearly choke on my first sip of coffee. “What?”
“I’m not saying it a third time.”
I wipe my mouth and settle into the armchair across from our small television. “But, I mean, what are you talking about? You think I can do better than her? Nikki Barnes? Are you insane, or are you blind?”
“Neither,” Celeste replies, folding her hands across her lap. “In fact, I’m intuitive as hell. And my intuition is telling me that you deserve better than her.”
I stare at her incredulously. “Your intuition is off on this one, Cel,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m the one who’s way out of my league with her. Like, I know you’re not into girls, but I am, and let me assure you—Nikki is ridiculously hot.”
“Of course she’s hot,” Celeste says, exasperated. “I may be straight, but no one’s that straight. I’m just saying, looks are far from everything.”
“She’s also super smart, goal-oriented—”
“A pretentious know-it-all,” Celeste interjects.
“—she’s athletic, fit, and strong—”
“A bit too into herself, if you ask me.”
“—and she likes me for me—”
Celeste purses her lips and twists her features questionably. “Mmm…”
“She does!”
“Look, I’m not saying she doesn’t like you,” Celeste clarifies. “I know she wouldn’t be coming here if she didn’t. And, yes, she’s obviously sexy and smart and all that. I’m just saying that something about her rubs me the wrong way. That’s all.”
I sigh. “Is this because she hasn’t had time to hang out with you and Max yet?”
Celeste holds my gaze, tilting her chin down to peer over her glasses at me again. “Is that how we’re phrasing it now?”
“That’s not fair,” I say. “She’s not avoiding you guys. She’s busy. She literally just left to go to a TA meeting this morning, and classes haven’t even started yet.”
“Mm-hm,” Celeste hums, turning her attention back to her tea.
“She will, just give her time,” I insist. “We’ve only been dating for two months.”
“Two months in and she still doesn’t feel like it’s necessary to get to know her partner’s two best friends?”
I shrug. “Two months isn’t that long.”
“I call bullshit,” Celeste snaps. “Remember Adrian? You and Max demanded Adrian’s time less than one month in, and Max forced us to host a movie night as our fourth date.”
“That was all Max!” I argue. “I would have given you way more time.”
“Would you have given us two whole months?”
I hesitate. “I mean, it’s not like you guys haven’t met Nikki. Y’all see her all the time.”
Celeste takes a long sip of her tea, then sighs. “I don’t want to fight with you, Jude. I just think Nikki might not see this as a long-term thing the way you do. If she did, she’d want to get to know your friends. That’s all.”
I take a few sips of my coffee and allow Celeste’s words to sink in. I see where she’s coming from. And if our roles were reversed, I’d probably be pestering Celeste about this, too. I know she cares about me and doesn’t want to see me hurt. Again.
I can’t tell her that I’m scared to death to lose Nikki over anything.
I’ve never been in a relationship with someone like her, and I’m constantly terrified that I’m one bad date away from losing Nikki’s affection altogether.
I’m sure she has dozens of lady suitors lined up, waiting for me to screw up so they can have their chance with her. What’s so special about me?
Finally, I clear my throat to speak again. “Thank you for being honest, Celeste. I’ll talk to Nikki soon and schedule a game night for all of us or something. Okay?”
“Okay,” Celeste replies with a soft smile. “Love you, Jude.”
“Love you, too, Cel.”
After a few moments of comfortable silence, both of our phones vibrate.
Max
hey bitchessss are you coming to help me move in today or what??
Celeste laughs aloud. “Is he serious right now?”
I frown. “Wait, isn’t he supposed to be in The Village, too?”
“Yeah, he’s going to be on the third floor in a four-bedroom.”
My face twists in disgust. “Eww, with three strangers?”
“You know he loves that shit,” Celeste says, already typing out a response.
Celeste
Boy, I know you are not asking for my help when I specifically said I wasn’t doing any heavy lifting the day before class starts.
That’s why Jude and I moved in yesterday. Today is a day of rest.
Max
oh no way queen I would never ask you to do the hard stuff. I only wanted y’all to help me decorate once my brothers and Randy are done bringing it all upstairs
Celeste
Oh hell yes, babe, I’m in!
Max
plus we get to meet my three new roommates!!
Jude
I can’t believe you’re excited about meeting three randos that you’re about to share living space with lol
Max
they’re only randos until I meet them! <3
plus one of them is suuuuuper cute, but I can’t tell if he’s gay or not
Celeste
You already stalked them on Insta, didn’t you?
Max
“stalked” is such a negative and wrong word. I prefer “researched”.
obviously I’m going to look these people up, I’m about to live with them!
Jude
figures
Max
one of them - Theo - is proudly bi, and he and his boyfriend are sooooo cute together! They’ve been together for like 2 years
Vimlesh is a mystery, but very likely straight based on vibes
but then there’s Oliver, and his Insta is extremely unhelpful. He and Theo are childhood friends so he’s clearly an ally which is great but that’s all I could find
Celeste
You are too much, honey.
Max
it’s in my name, babe
Jude
okay so where and when are we meeting today, then?
Max
I’m thinking maybe like 4 or 5? God I hope it doesn’t take longer than that.
oakland hall, room 319
Celeste
Awesome! We’re in Oakland, too, so we’re just an elevator ride away!
Max
I’m so excited!! this is gonna be the best year ever babes I can feel it
Jude
<3
Celeste
<3
“In the meantime,” Celeste says aloud after placing her phone down on the armrest. “I’m going to paint my nails. Do you want to watch something?”
“Sure! I think I’m going to paint mine, too.” I swipe my thumb across the tips of my fingers. “It’s been a while.”
Celeste scoffs. “Do you even have enough nail to paint? You always keep yours so short, you can barely tell you have nails at all.”
“Nikki appreciates that I keep them nice and short,” I say with a grin.
“Why would she care about—” Celeste starts, then squeezes her eyes shut and twists her face in disgust. “Eww, gross. Nevermind. Shut up.”
I can’t stop the giggle that escapes my throat. Celeste throws a pillow at me, and I know we’re good now.