Page 50 of Keep Me

“Agreed.” I tip my beer to her water cup, and Jasmine joins in with her glass of wine as we cheers.

I shift the conversation to Jasmine. “Are you excited for your European vacation?”

Her face lifts into pure joy. “I cannot wait, even if Elio spoils me way too much.”

“I still can’t believe he bought you a damn bakery.” Aurora swoons, hugging her water to her chest.

Jasmine blushes and rolls her eyes. “Ugh, I know. He’s turned me into a softy and I hate it.”

“That’s what happens when you’re in love.” I wink, taking a sip from my beer. “Where are Cam and Elio tonight anyway?”

“They’re at our apartment, along with Theo,” Jasmine fills in.

“Theo’s pissed we’re not there, but my girls come first.” Aurora smiles, and I can’t help but be proud of her.

I didn’t know her all that well despite my friendship with Jasmine because Aurora was that secluded when she came to school here. She went to class, studied, and played volleyball. That was it.

She reminds me of Ryker in some ways, and the thoughts carry me away to images of him on his knees for me. My core starts to ache so I cross my legs and shake my head, doing my best to refocus on the conversation going on.

“What about you, Millie?” Aurora asks.

“Uhhh, what about me?”

“What’s going on with you?” Jasmine clarifies, inspecting me closely.

I sigh. “Nothing, yet everything. Midterms drained the life out of me, and I’ve been working so hard on creating and organizing content for the baseball team.”

“No, no, it’s not that. You have this glint in your eyes, and your smile looks more… radiant.” Her eyes narrow, staring me down as if she can see through me.

“And now you’re blushing!”

I chug my beer, trying to avoid this conversation.

“All right, what’s his name? I can look him up and find out more than you probably know.” Aurora grabs her phone, far too excited to be stalking someone.

“You actually might already know him,” I mumble, slinking down in my seat.

“What?” they both shout, drawing the eyes of everyone in the bar.

Before I can respond, Jasmine being the people reader she is, calls me out, “It’s Ryker, isn’t it?” she questions, but where I expected sass, her tone is nothing but soft and sweet.

I sit back up, a smile blooming on my face despite how much I fight it. “Yes, but it’s nothing really. We’re just messing around.” There’s a ripple in my heart as I say the words, but I ignore it.

“I actually don’t know much about him. He’s locked up better than Area 51,” Aurora says, tucking her dark blonde locks over her shoulder.

I know why he is the way he is now. It breaks my heart knowing what he’s gone through, but if he hasn’t told Aurora himself, then I won’t either. It’s not my place to share his past.

Jasmine claps her hands together. “I knew it! Ever since that night in the club, I knew this would happen!”

“How did this happen? Spill the deets.” Aurora snaps her fingers, looking like a kid on Christmas morning as she and Jasmine lean in closer to me.

Aurora has no idea about my past, so I can’t get into exact details. Instead, I give them a shortened version.

“We’ve been seeing each other more since I started working with the team, so that didn’t help the crush I’ve always had on him.” I lift up my T-shirt to show them, and their eyes widen. “He even tattooed me.”

“Oh, that’s beautiful,” Jasmine marvels.

“Agreed. He’s very talented. But go on.” Aurora rolls her hands in a circular motion so as to say get on with it.

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