Page 14 of Catching Feeling

My gaze flicks to the door and back to him before I sigh and step around him, successfully this time, and shut the open door, drowning out the party.

“Can you please, for like once in your life, keep your mouth shut?” I say as I walk back over, rubbing my temples to alleviate the ache that’s forming in my head.

I expect a flirty comeback in typical Reese fashion, but all I hear is crickets.

Fine.

“There’s a situation at home, and it requires me to drain my savings, which means I can’t afford housing this semester. I don’t qualify for assistance, and even if I did, it would be too late get it.” Exhaling, I drag my gaze to his. “I’m only telling you this because I don’t want Hallie to know the actual reason I have to leave my dorm. I don’t want to burden her with this, Reese, so I swear to god I will chop your dick off and feed it to you through a straw if you tell a single soul.”

“Not how I imagined you touching my dick again, but heard. Why though? Why not talk to Hallie and stay with her and Lane?” he asks, his brow furrowing. “You know she’d lose her mind if she knew you were going through it and never told her.”

“Because the last thing I want to do is move in with my best friend, who is newly in a relationship, who also lives with said new boyfriend. I’m not going to be the hang-on friend who has to interrupt the honeymoon stage of their relationship.”

He nods. “Yeah, I guess I understand that. But I still think you should tell her.”

Swallowing, I feel my pride swelling inside of me with every word. I hate being in this situation, and I hate even more that now he knows this vulnerable, exposed side of me that I’ve been hiding from the world.

Him. Out of all people.

“I plan to, but in the meantime, I have to figure out where I’m going to stay this semester, clearly it has to be my top priority.”

He shrugs. “I mean, I have an extra room. Stay with me.” My jaw falls to the floor.

He has to be joking… Right?

2

reese

New Year, Same Girl

The words are out of my mouth before I even have time to think about them. To even really consider what I’m offering her. Which I clearly should have done before offering to

let her move into my house.

It’s no secret I’m into Viv—I haven’t exactly pursued her quietly. But despite upping the charm and giving my best, and I mean my absolute best, efforts to secure a repeat of our October hookup, she’s completely shut me out. No matter how hard I’ve tried. I’m not totally delusional, so I know inviting a girl I’m objectively attracted to to live with me when she can’t stand me would be… complicated.

The type of complication I don’t really need in my life this semester when I’m headed to the MLB right after graduation. But I do have a spare room, and if it helps to offer it to her, then fuck it. I may be reckless, but I’m not heartless.

Plus, I’m pretty sure she’d rather live anywhere but with me anyway.

Especially with how shit has been since that night at the bar when I went home with her.

The same night I’ve thought about every day since.

The night that we don’t speak about and she does her best to pretend never happened. She does her best to ignore me when we’re around each other and resorts to talking shit when she can’t.

That happens when your best friends are obsessed with each other, and we’re forced to tag along as third wheels everywhere we go. I kinda feel bad for Grant—he probably doesn’t know what to do with the four of us.

A laugh bubbles out of her, and my brow rises. “Please tell me you’re not serious right now? Even you aren’t that insane, Reese.”

Apparently so. Or at least that’s how she makes me feel every time I’m in her presence.

“Damn, Viv, if I didn’t know how much of a catch I am, you’d really fuck with a guy’s ego.” I pause, dragging my hand through my hair. “Look, I live in a house a few miles from campus. I have two bedrooms, and the other room is basically just a guest room. You could move in with me. Solves your problem.”

“Yeah, so easy. Just move in with you, and all of my problems are solved.” Her cheeks flush red as she says it, but then she scoffs. “You do realize offering me a room in your house is not going to magically make me want to sleep with you, right?”

I shrug. “You know, for someone who claims to not want my dick, you sure do bring it up a lot. Plus, you’re the only one who hates me. Everyone else loves me.”

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