Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“I’m in.”
Once changed, we walked out the door and headed toward the bar. I’d admit I was thrumming with nervous energy to see Alex. I’d never experienced this urgency in my chest to hear from someone or see their smile. I thought once we’d been exposed, whatever this was would fizzle into occasional interactions, which would’ve bummed me out. But I liked that I could contact him whenever I wanted now, even if it was only to say hi. I never changed his nickname in my phone because I liked seeing it there, and apparently, neither had he.
Derek and I ordered a couple of beers from Gwen, the bartender who changed her hair color every few weeks. The place was hopping, and we considered eating our burgers standing right there since we couldn’t find an empty table, let alone barstools.
“Oh, look, your boyfriend’s here,” Derek said, motioning over his shoulder. “Is that why you had this bright idea?”
Alex was sitting at a table with Bailey, Jordan, and a few other swimmers, almost like that first day we saw them at the beginning of the semester.
“Maybe.” I smirked. “And he’s not my boyfriend.”
“You sure?” He raised a brow. “You fuck like you’re together. Harder, Remy!”
“Screw you!” I shoved him playfully. “You fuck way more than me, but I haven’t heard any relationship announcements.”
“Touché.” He clinked his beer against mine. “But you aren’t hiding anymore, right? Not that you could get anything past me.”
“Nope.” I took a sip of my beer. “Told you Bailey found out.”
“But he still hasn’t warmed up to you?”
“I guess he tolerates me.” I shrugged. “At this point, he sort of has to.”
Derek’s mouth stretched into a cheesy grin. “So I’m free to bug him again?” Without waiting for a reply, he stalked toward their table, and I laughed uneasily as I followed.
“Are those seats taken?” Derek asked, motioning to the end of the table.
They all looked in our direction. Alex smiled at the same time Bailey scoffed.
“Go for it,” Jordan said. “In exchange, maybe you could hook us up with some drinks.”
“Not a chance,” I replied because I wasn’t dumb enough to get myself in trouble at a campus bar and maybe even banned.
“Dude, we literally just ate some edibles with Carter,” Adam said. “That’s probably the best we’re gonna get tonight.”
My gaze found Alex’s, wondering if he’d partaken too, but he usually stayed clean, preferring a beer every now and again, I’d noticed.
“Surprised you haven’t gotten your hands on a fake ID yet,” Derek said, mussing my brother’s hair, which had begun to grow out. He’d actually attempted to style with gel tonight.
“Oh, here we go,” Bailey replied in an exasperated tone.
Derek motioned to me. “Maybe Remy can hook you up.”
“We look nothing alike,” Bailey and I said at the same time, surprising ourselves. When our eyes connected, I felt aligned with my brother for the first time in years. But then he looked away, and the moment passed.
“Thankfully,” Bailey added.
“Exactly,” I muttered because I could give it back just as good.
Derek and I got settled in the seats near Jordan and Alex, placed our burger orders, then helped ourselves to the basket of fries in the middle of the table because now I was beyond hungry.
“Hey, you,” I said, my gaze meeting Alex’s. When I slid my foot against his beneath the table, his cheeks turned a rosy pink.
“Hey back.”
“No hairy leg prison,” I pointed out because I had his foot trapped with jeans on this time.
“Hairy what?” Derek asked, looking between us.
“Obviously an inside joke,” Jordan said with a smirk. “You two are cute.”
That only made Alex’s blush deepen. But damn, those words did something to me. He was implying that Alex and I were an us, and that made my insides feel like jelly. I maybe wanted that but couldn’t bring myself to admit it. Not when I didn’t believe that relationships or monogamy could be a thing.
At least not without conditions.
“Only one of you is cute,” Derek said, motioning to Alex.
“Ooh, is this you finally admitting you can find men attractive without losing your straight card?”
“I didn’t say hot,” he countered. “I said cute—like a puppy.”
“Hey!” Alex protested, then whacked his arm. “Ugh, it’s like high school all over again.”
“Wish my high school had been like this,” Jordan mused, but there was an edge to his voice, and it reminded me of the kids at the teen center who’d admitted school had been rough for them.
Our burgers were served right on cue, and we dug in, inhaling our food and listening to the conversation around the table, which mostly consisted of swim-meet junk, including the upcoming invitational my parents would no doubt attend. The top schools and swimmers went head-to-head in their best categories mid-season, blah, blah, blah, and though I was used to hearing this stuff, it was boring as shit.