Page 15 of Catching Feeling

“Right. The crowd parts for the great Reese Landry. How could I ever forget? Orleans University’s all-star.” Her jaw ticks. I can tell how much she hates being in this spot. Me knowing something about her she’s determined to keep hidden.

“Listen, take it or leave it, that’s up to you, but I have an extra room, Viv. Plus, moving in with me means that you won’t have to tell Hallie why and make it her problem. Up to you. You want it, it’s yours.”

She pauses, her throat bobbing as she swallows, then shakes her head. “Appreciate it, but no, thank you. I’m going to figure it out tomorrow when I make it back to campus. I just… please don’t say anything, okay? This entire conversation never even happened. I’d really just like to go back to pretending the other doesn’t exist, okay?” As if I could pretend she doesn’t exist.

When I don’t answer, she steps closer, her blue eyes blazing. “Promise me, Reese.”

“Sure. Fine.” If she wants to keep her friends in the dark, then that’s on her, but I did my good deed for the day.

With that, she brushes past me, wrenching the door open, and storms back to the party.

“Fuck yeah.” I groan, the vibration of the massage chair loosening my taut, aching, and overworked muscles. “Feels so fucking good. Like when you’re getting your dick sucked and she accidentally uses her teeth a little, but it still feels fucking amazing, so you let her keep going.”

“I agree,” Grant adds from my right.

Lane sighs heavily, and if I didn’t have my eyes shut, I’d see him probably roll his eyes. “Sometimes I wonder why I’m friends with the two of you.”

“Because we’re your best friends, and you love our bromance, duh.” I grin, opening an eye to see him shaking his head. “Plus, who else would you listen to Taylor Swift in the car with? It’s weird if you do it alone.”

“You listen to Taylor Swift while you work out,” he replies flatly.

Okay, true.

“Yeah, but it’s only weird when you do it. I’m comfortable with my masculinity. Plus, you know that ‘I Did Something Bad’ gets me in the zone. It’s my best pump.”

This is also true, and he knows it. He just likes to give me shit where he can because that’s what we do, but at the end of the day, we’ve got each other’s backs through thick and thin. Ever since freshman year when I didn’t know a soul, Lane and Grant have been there. It’s always been the three of us, and now that we’re halfway through senior year, real life is smacking me right in the fucking face.

Next year, everything will be different. We’ll go our separate ways. Lane will stay here or follow wherever Hallie goes. Grant’ll be a redshirt senior, and me? Well, I’m the number one draft pick overall.

I’m going to whoever has the first pick, and honestly? I don’t give a shit where it is. It’ll be a stepping stone to the majors and the dream I’ve had since I was a kid.

“What’s up for this weekend? We hitting parties? The Redlight?” Grant asks, interrupting my thoughts.

I shrug. “I don’t care, just as long as I can burn off all this extra energy I’ve got. I always get antsy before the season starts.”

Lane’s eyebrows rise. “Does that mean you’re going to fuck your way through the dance team roster again?”

“Nope.” The p pops on my lips. “I’m working on the debate team. You know how much I love a girl who loves to argue.”

My phone vibrates in my lap, and a text message pops up from a number I don’t recognize.

Unknown number: I’ll probably regret this every day for the rest of my life, but can I… see the room before I make a final decision? Actually, I’m already regretting texting you.

A grin splits my face as I scan the message again. Of all the shit I saw on my bingo card for this year, this sure as fuck wasn’t on it. Vivienne Brentwood is texting me. After the other night, it’s the last message I expected to receive.

Reese: Sorry, new phone, who dis?

After typing a quick response just to piss her off, I save her number in my phone.

Vivienne: *eye roll emoji* Invite many girls to live in your house, Landry? Why am I not surprised?

Reese: Shrugs* You know me, always willing to lend a helping hand. Or finger. Or *eggplant emoji*

Vivienne: You’re disgusting. I knew this was a bad idea, never mind.

Reese: Just a joke Viv. Not a dick, don’t take it so hard.

Vivienne: I hate you.

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