“Overnight chill?” Lyricah questioned with suspicion. “You still a virgin, Tori?” She smiled. “You look like it.”
My face balled. “No,” I spat through gritted teeth. “The hell do a virgin look like?”
Samantha’s head whipped around. Her alarmed eyes landed on me first, then she chose her loyalty partner, and switched them over to her friend. “Yeah. What does a virgin look like, Lyricah? Because I want to know what I look like.”
Shit. Samantha’s a virgin, too. Well, not me…anymore.
Lyricah shrugged. “I don’t know. Tori’s just…cool. Look, all the guy Panthers hang out with her.”
“No, they don’t!” I argued.
Samantha agreed. “They don’t.”
“Well, lots do. Shit. Even Aivery was okay with you working out with Ashton in the mornings. She sure didn’t take you for a wanton vixen.”
I didn’t know what that was. Still, I didn’t like it.
“Maybe she just trusts him.” Why was I defending the first couple of BSU? “Like y’all said the other day, he don’t cheat on her.”
Lyricah shook her head, blowing off the argument. “It doesn’t matter. They’re broken up. By the way, have you asked him about me running with you guys in the mornings?”
I had. On the way to the Tyler Thomas book signing, I mentioned it to Ashton.
I shrugged, going back to my phone. “He said unless special permission is given by BSU, the athletic department won’t allow non-athletes access to the compound.”
“Damn!” she whispered. “Is that the only place you two workout together?”
“Lyricah!” Samantha scolded her. “Give it a break. The girl’s tired and wants to get some rest. She just got back this afternoon.”
Lyricah’s eyes widened then stood from Samantha’s bed. “Yeah, and by the looks of it, he banged you good.”
“Lyricah!” Samantha gasped again.
Lyricah’s hands shot into the air defenselessly. “I’m out. I have a late study group for my Chem and Phys Biology course.”
“Oh, I didn’t know you had that this semester,” Samantha noted. “I plan on taking it in the spring. Who do you have?”
My phone buzzed in my hands. A BBM.
Ashton: Come see me.
My face folded. Come see him?
Me: it’s late and I’m 2 secs from hungry.
“Blackmon.”
Ashton: Pack a bag. I got you.
“Is he any good?”
“I heard Williamson is better. She has study sessions with students sporadically throughout the semester.” Lyricah shrugged and opened the door. “Oh! Are you guys going to the BSU lawn movie next week?”
Samantha nodded, and I asked, “What’s that?”
“It’s like the one we went to two weeks ago when we saw “Coming to America,” Samantha explained, “only this time, it’s the film department’s production in tandem with the drama department. They spent the past few months making a movie. Students show support by watching it together.”
Lyricah nodded, mouth twisted. “It’s similar to how we support Blakewood athletes by going to their games, or in your case, fights.”
That made sense to me.
“I plan on going. Dre mentioned it.” Samantha had really been into Dre. I couldn’t believe it. I liked Dre and all, but she was too smart for him.
“What about you?” Lyricah asked me. “We can sit together.”
Nodding, I told her, “Maybe.” Then she left, closing the door.
“Sorry about that,” Samantha mumbled then exhaled, plopping down on her bed. I shrugged, truly not caring. “She seems to be trying to hang out with you, but I don’t understand the aggression.”
“Ain’t no biggie.”
“But it’s no one’s business to ask about your personal life. You know? I mean… This thing with Dre and me, I like it low key. I want to keep it that way until I know it’s solid. People in his crew are so damn mean. So, I get it. You don’t owe anyone anything.”
My face broke into spasms. I don’t think anyone out here, other than Trisha, had been considerate of my feelings or accepting of my weirdness. It dropped a shit load of guilt on my shoulders, too. I was hiding a big secret. It was possibly the biggest secret in the history of BSU’s couples and athletes. This was something I couldn’t share with Samantha. She was too good and pure to understand. I thought I was too good and pure, too.
Until Ashton Spencer…
“Thanks.” I managed one cheek to lift.
Samantha scoffed. “Why do you sound so sad, girl? I’ve got your back!”
That’s exactly why…
“I appreciate that.”
She sighed, shoulders lifting and dipping. “Well, I’m out.” She stood to her feet. “I’ve got a whole shift to prepare my nerves for…hanging out with Dre.” A ball clogged my throat at that. “I’ll see you some time in the morning? I’m