“Yeah, that was fun. We should do it sometime.” I put my boxer shorts on, then my jeans.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
“If I can’t ogle your hot bod, you can’t ogle mine.” I wink at her.
“Fine. I guess that’s fair.”
“Are you hungry? I could… eat.” My eyes linger on Charlie’s long legs as she pulls her panties up.
“Will you quit for a second?” She laughs. “I already know who’s going to cave first.”
“Ha-ha. We still have to establish the ground rules. And one of them is not parading naked in front of me.”
“Fine. But that goes both ways, which means no walking shirtless in the house.”
Damn it. I was totally banking on my six-pack to win me this bet. But it’s okay, I have other ways to make myself irresistible.
“All right. So, food?”
“Yeah. Should we order in?”
“I think we have to. Unless you can whip up a miracle dinner with whatever is in the fridge.”
“There’s nothing there. I didn’t have a chance to go grocery shopping.”
“We’ll go tomorrow.”
She chuckles. “Look at us, planning to hit the store together.”
“What? Roommates do that.” I smile, knowing very well that we’re way past being just roommates with benefits.
The crazy way my heart is beating now is proof of that.
23
CHARLIE
Can women get blue balls? I feel like that’s what I have. After the sex marathon of Saturday night, followed by the exact opposite on Sunday, I’m going through withdrawals. My pussy is in pain and missing Troy’s magical wand. He might have ruined me for other men, and at the same time turned me into a nymphomaniac.
I haven’t seen him this morning. He did say he had an early appointment with the team’s physio. To be honest, I’m glad I missed him. I’m not used to the idea yet that I’m dating Troy. The situation is too surreal. But I can’t keep obsessing about him. It’s Monday, and I have to focus on the myriad of projects and tasks I’ve lined up for this week. I’m glad I finished my last editing job. The last thing I need is to read about a fictional character’s sex life when I’m purposely denying myself the best sex I’ve ever had.
I spent an hour talking to Ben yesterday. He was still pretty sad about Bailey, just like me. But thankfully, his girlfriend was there to support him when I couldn’t. I still feel guilty as hell for ditching him last weekend. I have to make it up to him.
My first class on Monday is two hours of Italian, which to everyone else seems like a curse. It never bothered me until today. My concentration is shot no matter how hard I try to pay attention to Professor Mantuano. I should be thankful he didn’t give us a quiz today. But two hours later, I have a headache that could bring down an elephant. I would have taken painkillers when it started, but I had no water with me, and I’m not one of those people who can swallow pills dry. I’d probably end up throwing up.
As soon as the class is over, I make a beeline for the nearest cafeteria. I get distracted at the checkout line and hardly pay attention to the noise surrounding me. It’s not until the girl in front of me mentions the name Troy to her friend that my attention piques. I follow their line of sight and see that the ruckus was caused by the football team, who is taking up three tables in the middle of the room.
My eyes immediately find Troy in the group, still wearing the sling. Andreas is sitting next to him, laughing at something someone said. Danny, the freshman who’s temporarily replaced Troy as the quarterback, is on Troy’s other side. He doesn’t seem to be into whatever it is that sent the entire table into a fit of roaring laughter.
I can’t keep my eyes off Troy. He’s so fucking beautiful and sexy, more so now that I know what he’s capable of in the sack. Suddenly, he turns his head in my direction, and our gazes connect. The amusement vanishes from his face, replaced by pure heat.
Fuck me. Even with the distance, I’m falling prey to his come-hither look.
Someone taps me on the shoulder. “Hello? Do you mind moving along?”
I realize then that the line has moved, and I’ve just been standing there like a moron, drooling over the quarterback like a football groupie.