Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 48146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 160(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 160(@300wpm)
As we marched across the field, my gaze naturally traveled to the football team, homing in on number forty-two. Those tight practice shorts were hot, even with the padding. Damn it, I hadn’t thought of him in quite that way before those strong arms gripped my back as we rutted together.
Nope, need to shut down that line of thinking.
By the time we grabbed dinner and made it back to the dorm, I was exhausted. Jonah was joining the students having a movie night in the common room, but I begged off.
I probably shouldn’t have because when I got to the room, we both averted our eyes, and I hated that it felt like I was walking on eggshells. We had finally found some common ground this semester, and now this.
Once I pulled out my laptop to check assignments, I couldn’t hold back. “I can’t take it anymore.”
Bones looked up from his textbook. “What are you on about?”
“Stop making what happened between us a bigger deal than it needs to be. You’ve hooked up with plenty of people, and so have I.”
“Have you?” he asked as if he didn’t know about Grindr or me.
“What?” I folded my arms. “You thought I was some sort of monk?”
“No, sorry. I just can’t stop thinking about what guys do when they’re together.”
I wasn’t sure where he was going with this. “Because it’s hot?”
“Well, yeah…” He looked away. “But also…replaying what happened between us makes me hard.”
Jesus, what was I going to do with this one?
“So maybe you should hook up with more guys and decide what you like,” I suggested. “Figure out if you’re bi or pan or whatever.”
“But what if I want to hook up again…with you?”
Ugh, why did that make my stomach feel all fluttery?
“Do you really think that’s a good idea? Look how awkward it is between us.”
“I’m sorry if this is making you uncomfortable. I never really felt this way before.”
“What way?”
“Like there’s this itch under my skin to touch you again, kiss you. Constantly thinking about it is fucking with my brain.”
Well, my brain just officially exploded. Had anyone ever said those words to me before? This was all new to Bones, and his admission had been raw and vulnerable, but none of this was a good idea.
“God, what were we thinking?” I threw myself against my pillow. “I guess we weren’t. I thought it would be one kiss, and we’d laugh it off.”
“So did I.” He frowned. “I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be.” I sat up and folded my feet beneath me. “I don’t want you to feel bad about discovering your sexuality. I just don’t know if I can be that guy you experiment with. It could go south quickly, and we still have to live with each other.”
He sounded defeated. “I hear you.”
“Can we just go back to how things were? If you need advice or to talk about anything in private, I’m your guy. I can also help you set up a Grindr account.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Why the fuck did he have to look so bummed?
“I’m sorry. I—”
“Please, Bones, stop apologizing. I really enjoy your friendship, and I don’t want to ruin that. We’re roommates, and it can get really hairy.”
“You said hairy!” he guffawed.
Oh God, I’d created a monster.
10
BONES
Practice felt grueling today, and the heat didn’t help.
Thankfully, the marching band moved to the far end of the stadium for most of their practice because I was so out of sorts that I even missed a key tackle. Not that it was Emil’s fault. I was simply distracted. And Coach knew it, but he also sent me to the sidelines for water, likely nervous I’d be the next to pass out.
Since that conversation with Emil last week, I’d let him set me up with the hookup app, but I hadn’t used it. Couldn’t even open it. He’d assured me it was perfectly okay to take my time or not engage on the site at all. He was being supportive in all the right ways, except the way I really needed. But I also got why he was keeping his distance. I didn’t want to wreck our friendship-slash-roommate situation either.
“The heat getting to you?” A-Train asked.
“Probably.” I took another swig from the water bottle.
A-Train put his hand up to shield the sun. “Aren’t those your parents?”
I followed his line of sight to where my mom and dad were walking toward the field. Why hadn’t they given me a heads-up that they were visiting the campus?
I waved as they came closer to the stands. It wasn’t like they’d never watched me practice, but it was rare at the college level, so likely there was some kind of business they’d had to attend to in this part of town.
Having my parents there snapped me into action.
“I’m ready to go back in, Coach.”
“You sure?”