Page 40 of Catching Feeling

“Plus, it’s not a date. It’s just friends, hanging out. Very casual. Verrrry un-date-like,” Hallie adds. She clasps her hands together in front of her and gives me her best puppy dog eyes.

Shit, why are they working?

Am I seriously even considering this?

Hallie takes my silence as a chance to continue trying to convince me.

“We can just go have dinner somewhere yummy—casually, of course—and then go to the Kappa’s Sweetheart Soiree. The theme is lingerie, and obviously, I wasn’t even considering actually wearing it because Lane would probably rip out someone’s eyeballs, but it would be really fun. Dinner and a party. Sounds like any other Saturday night, except it won’t be at Jack’s.”

I could use a night out, and I could definitely use some tequila.

I’ve been so stressed lately that I haven’t been as social as I normally am and being around my friends and people fills my cup in the best way.

Sighing, I begrudgingly nod. “Fine. But if there are any date vibes, I’m out. It’s bad enough I have to live with the guy. I’m solely in this for the food, tequila, and QT with you. That’s it.”

What I don’t add is that living with him isn’t actually all that bad, but she doesn’t need to know that my new roommate is growing on me in a way I’m not ready to admit.

Add it to the list of things I’m pretending don’t exist.

“Yes,” she screeches, clapping her hands. “Now, the real question. What am I supposed to get Lane?”

“Sex?”

Her eyes roll. “A given, Viv.” She starts typing on her computer, and whatever she finds has her brow furrowing as she leans closer to the screen.

“Sometimes I forget that you’re this… sexual goddess now.”

I’m teasing her, but the truth is, Hallie is completely different from the girl who started at Orleans U. She’s more confident and happier. She’s completely blossomed, and I love seeing it.

I love seeing her this way.

“Edible underwear? That sounds like a UTI waiting to happen,” she quips, scrunching her nose. “Flavored lube? God, it just gets worse. Why would you even need flavored lube?”

“Blowjobs. Duh.”

“Yeah, but why?” Her cheeks turn the brightest red as she continues. “I love the way Lane tastes. I don’t need some weird-flavored lube. Ugh, I don’t know what I’m going to get him. This is hard. It’s our first Valentine’s Day together, and I want it to be the best.”

As if she has to worry about Lane not being into whatever she decides. They’re so obsessed with each other, that guy would rope the moon if she asked him to. Literally. She could get him a gremlin for Valentine’s Day, and the guy would name it, then stick it next to his bed.

He’s obsessed.

And I love that for her.

But… I’m going to stay over here in my very single, very available lane and let those lovebirds do their thing.

“You could get him matching sweaters. He’d probably love that,” I tell her jokingly.

“You know, it’s so funny that you said that because he tried to convince me to wear a sweater to the Kappa party.”

Of course, he did.

I KNEW this was a bad idea.

I absolutely knew that I had no business doing this tonight, but I did it anyway.

And I’m immediately regretting my decision to go when I walk into the living room, and my mouth runs dry when I see Reese standing next to Lane.

He’s got a black button-down on, with the sleeves rolled up, of course, showing off the tan, corded muscles of his forearms, and a pair of black slacks that are molded to his thick thighs and ass. His dark hair is still wet and curling around his nape from his shower.

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