Page 124 of Becoming Selfish

“Yeah, but it’s Halloween. Of course we’re going. Besides, I’m going to need a few drinks after midterms this week.”

“Oh, shit! Logan’s getting drunk next weekend!” Marc teases, knowing how terrible I am at holding my liquor.

“Hell yeah, I am. I hope you’re ready to take care of my drunk ass,” I tell Marc as I recall some of my sloppy nights abroad.

“I’ll take care of your drunk ass,” Eli says with a chuckle before kissing the side of my head.

“Is it on Friday or Saturday?” Ali asks.

“It’s on Saturday, after our regular-season home opener. You’re coming to the game, right?” Eli looks towards me.

“Of course.” I swing an arm around his neck and quickly place my lips on his smiling ones.

“Logan, I already know what you’re dressing up as, so don’t even worry about it. I’ll take care of everything,” Ali tells me with excitement.

“That sounds terrifying.”

“Halloween is my Super Bowl. Please, just let me have this,” she begs.

“Nice sports reference, Al.” Marc nudges her, impressed.

She shoots him a proud smile over her shoulder.

“Fine. But I don’t do slutty for Halloween.” I usually go the funny route for Halloween, but I haven’t even begun to think about a costume this year. Plus, if all of Eli’s old hookup buddies are going to be there, wearing little to nothing, maybe it’s for the best if Ali dresses me.

“She can do a little slutty,” Eli chimes in, wiggling his eyebrows.

I playfully swat his chest as Ali shoots him a wink, which absolutely terrifies me in regard to whatever it is she has planned for me to wear.

“Marcus, what are you going as?” Ali asks.

“I’m not sure yet. Lauren always made me do a couple’s costume with her, so I’ve never really had to think about it,” he says. “But I’m looking forward to doing my own thing this year.”

“Babe, why don’t we do a couple’s costume?” Eli asks me in his sweetest of tones.

“Because couples’ costumes are cheesy as hell. No offense, Marc.”

“None taken.” Marc quickly puts his hands up.

“But I like being cheesy with you,” Eli says, causing me to smile as I tighten my grasp on him.

“Gross,” Marc chimes in.

“Sorry, Maddison. I already called dibs on her. You can have Logan next year,” Ali adds, causing my smile to fall, reminding me that Eli won’t be here next year. That I’ll still be in grad school, and Eli will be off playing professional hockey, being successful, and having even more girls throw themselves at him than already do now.

Clearing my throat, I climb off of Eli’s lap, making my way towards the kitchen to grab a glass of water. “We need to figure out our study schedule this week,” I say to Marc and Ali, changing the subject.

“Well, we should probably skip Double G on Monday to join that study group for Econ,” Marc says as I walk back into the living room, standing in the entryway and leaning my shoulder against the wall.

“And Tuesday and Wednesday are office hours for marketing. Then we have our Thursday night study session as usual. That should get us prepared enough for midterms,” Ali adds.

“So, I’m not going to see you all week?” Eli asks me from across the living room.

“Of course, you will. You can come stay over whenever you want. You know that. This is just a busy week for school.” I give Eli an apologetic smile.

“Well, in that case.” Eli stands up from the couch. “We will see you fucking nerds tomorrow.” He grabs me and throws me over his shoulder with ease as he carries me up the stairs. My middle is bent over his collar, and my face is perfectly lined up with his ass as Eli holds onto me by my legs.

“If you guys are gonna go fuck, can you at least try to be quiet about it! I need some sleep!” Ali yells out in an amused tone, obviously joking because she knows that Eli and I haven’t had sex yet.

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