Chapter 24 Fletcher
twenty-four
Fletcher
Sneaking out on me?” I turn around to see Casey’s eyes scanning my naked body.
“I’m not sneaking out.” I grab my boxers off the floor and pull them on. “I just didn’t want to wake you.” I lean over the bed and press my lips to hers. “I wrote you a note.”
“You’re the only guy I’ve ever met that actually writes a heading-out note over sending a text.”
“It’s more personable.”
I don’t sleep around. I’m not like Zeke in that way. I’ve never felt excitement in that. I’ve never been comfortable sleeping with a person I barely know. Making out with them, sure, but sex is a whole different beast.
That being said, not every girl I’ve ever slept with was a girlfriend… and that’s the line I’m on with Casey. I enjoy spending time with her, and I think she enjoys spending time with me, but I’m not sure if she wants a relationship out of this.
I thought I did when we went on that date, but I’m enjoying the way things are.
No pressure to make things more.
“What time do you think you’ll be back on campus?” She rolls over onto her stomach, watching me get the rest of my clothes on.
“We should be back by one. It’s not that long of a drive, so unless our bus breaks down again, it shouldn’t be too bad.”
Casey raises an eyebrow, and I laugh.
“Long story.”
During my freshman year, we rented buses from a brand-new company.
They said they wanted to help out a local business, but we all know they got those buses because they were cheaper.
We were about to leave after the Great Lakes Invitation, and one of the buses wouldn’t start.
The other bus, which had our cheer team on board, broke down about fifteen minutes down the road.
It was not a fun time.
And part of the reason I think the cheer team hasn’t come with us since.
“Call me when you get in?” she asks, and I nod.
“Of course. If you get bored on your drive, feel free to call me. I’ll just be sitting on the bus with a bunch of idiots.”
“I might just take you up on that.” She gives me a soft smile.
“I have to go; I’m already running a little late.” I laugh. “Let me know when you get home. Drive safe.”
“I will.”
I check to make sure I have everything, and once I’m sure I do, I give Casey one more kiss, and then I head out.
___________
I’m just saying you almost didn’t make it to the bus.” Zeke kicks up his feet on Jere’s armrest across the aisle.
“I got to the bus at the same time as Declan,” I argue.
“And why was that, Fletch?” Declan leans forward. “I know who I was with that caused me to almost miss the bus, but—”
“Oh, this is about Casey?”
“Ding, ding, ding.” Zeke grins. “The boy’s a genius.”
“I didn’t realize this was something we needed to talk about.”
“You’re dating a girl we went to high school with, Fletcher. Why wouldn’t you think your friends would want to know?” Jaxon’s head appears over the top of the seat in front of me.
“We aren’t dating.”
“You invited her to our away game. Your face is oozing with orgasm joy, and you’re telling us you’re not dating?” Zeke’s eyes narrow. “I didn’t think you were a liar.”
“I’m not lying.” I sit up a little taller. “We’re hanging out, that’s it.”
“Are you guys fuck buddies?” Zeke’s jaw drops.
“Holy shit, are you?” Jaxon’s eyes widen. “I thought Zeke would get one of those before you did.” Zeke reaches across the aisle and slaps Jax in the back of the head. “What was that for?”
“Being an idiot.”
“We aren’t fuck buddies,” I argue. “We slept together once, last night, that’s it.”
“And you’re sure she doesn’t think there’s something more going on in your relationship?” Declan asks, but he doesn’t look up from his phone.
“We haven’t talked about it, I guess.” I shrug.
“I’m just saying, the last thing you want to do is be on different pages about what’s going on,” he continues. “That’s not good for anyone.”
“When did you become the voice of reason?”
“Since he got a girlfriend,” Zeke begins, and Declan’s eyes widen. He finds Cam, who’s sitting a couple of rows ahead of us and is thankfully listening to music on his headphones.
“I’m just saying Ember and I weren’t on the same page, or I guess we were, but neither of us talked about it, and I almost lost her.
So, if you really like Casey and you think it could be something, you should tell her.
Or, if you don’t want it to be something, you should tell her that, too.
Don’t let her fall if you have no intention of catching her. ”
“I won’t.”
Trust me, I’ve been there. I’ve been the person to be all in on something when the person you’re all in with isn’t. Obviously, I don’t blame Tate for not feeling the same way about me. She never led me on, it was one kiss, but I know how much it sucked when she shot it down the next day.
Casey and I are beyond just one kiss. It would kill me if she got hurt because we weren’t on the same page about what this is.
“Speaking of your non-girlfriend.” Jaxon’s eyes glance down at my phone. “She’s calling.”
“Tell your girlfriend we said hi.” Zeke winks, kicking his feet back up on the armrest and lying back against his bag.
“Hey.” I pick up the phone. “How’s the drive going?”