Page 66 of Just Don't Call Me Yours

“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath.

“Let’s take a break,” Dave calls out to the rest of the band before walking up to me.

“You all right, man?” he asks, and I’m grateful he’s so fucking nice. I need this band. This is the road that will take me to where I want to go, and we’re about to start touring. I can’t piss these guys off or make them think hiring me was a mistake.

“Yeah. Sorry.” I shake my head clear. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I guess finals are stressing me out.”

It’s a lie, and from the way he’s looking at me, he knows it.

“Finals?” he asks with a furrowed brow. “Aren’t you dropping out?”

“Yeah,” I say, trying to cover my ass. “But if I ever need to go back, I don’t want to have to retake classes.”

This seems to ease some of his skepticism, and Marty says, “Let’s hope none of us ever have to go back to college,” with a laugh.

I don’t laugh. I can’t believe I’m playing like shit tonight. I’m better than this. They know it. I know it. Hell, even Dave’s neighbors probably know it.

Dave’s stare is on me as he says, “Let’s end things early tonight.” I open my mouth to protest, but he cuts me off. “We’ll pick this up tomorrow.”

Feeling like shit, I get in my car and head back to the dorm. I can’t believe I let myself get so distracted. My hands grip the steering wheel, but my fingers move as I commit the riff I ruined to muscle memory. But even as I drive and try to mentally practice the song, thoughts of Margot creep in.

The way she felt.

And moved.

And tasted.

Before I know it, I’m back on campus. I have no idea when my fingers stopped practicing the chords and went back to just driving, but they did. I need to clear this fog from my head and get back on track, but just the thought of Margot has me turned on, and my heart pounds in anticipation as I lock my car and head toward the dorm.

She’s sitting on her bed with the door open.

And she looks amazing.

I make sure to only glance at her, giving her a quick nod that she returns with a faint smile before turning to unlock my door. Matt isn’t here, so he and Rae must be out doing whatever couples do on a Friday night.

Leaving Margot and me alone.

That’s when it hits me. It’s ten thirty on a Friday night, and she looks way too good for someone sitting in her dorm watching Netflix alone on her laptop. I’ve seen Margot when she’s about to go to bed. She’s usually wearing a T-shirt with leggings, no makeup, and her hair up. She’s pretty then, but tonight, she’s wearing a tank top with short sleep shorts, and her hair is down, the silky, red strands cascading down her back.

Setting my guitar in the corner of my room, a faint smile pulls at the corner of my mouth.

She wants us to hook up again. She has to. Why else would she have left the door open? Why else would she look the way she does?

Walking across the hall, I lean against her door frame. “So, where’s our favorite couple?”

Her head snaps up, and she closes her computer. “They went out with everyone.”

“But you didn’t go?”

She shrugs. “Keith was going to be there. I didn’t want it to be weird.” Getting to her feet, she sets her laptop on the corner of her desk before giving me another glance. “Are you going to just stand there?”

“Do you want me to come in?”

A breath of laughter leaves her as she turns, leaning back against the desk. “I don’t care what you do. I just think it’s weird you’re standing in my doorway.”

She’s cute when she tries to play hardball. With a shrug, I walk further into the room until I’m standing in front of her. As soon as I’m close enough to touch her, I stop, making sure to leave space between us, but that doesn’t stop me from noticing her tongue as it quickly dips over her bottom lip.

“You don’t care what I do?” I ask.

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