Page 114 of The Bro-code

Sure enough, there’s a huge tent in Ryker’s sweatpants.

“I’ll take care of it.” He says.

“You will? You don’t want me to help?” Bay offers.

“I would love for you to help,” Ryker sighs. “But not today.”

She voices the same question that’s on the tip of my tongue. “Why?”

“Because this wasn’t about me. I don’t deserve to come until I’ve earned your forgiveness, Cinnamon.”

Well played, Ryker.

He brushes a kiss to Bay’s temple, before walking to the door.

I wait impatiently for him to leave because I can’t wait to cuddle with Bay.

The thought is so foreign for me that it takes me by surprise. I’ve never wanted to cuddle with a hookup before. What the fuck is happening to me?

I tell myself that it’s just possessiveness. The chemistry between me and Bay is out of this world, so it’s only natural I want to make sure no one gets between us. At least until I got her out of my system.

I don’t know what Ryker’s intentions are and I guess we’ll have to talk. We have most of the season to play hockey together and the last thing we need is to be getting in each other’s way.

I glare at him as he stands by the door, hand on the handle, looking at me the same way I’m looking at him.

I really want to stay here and maybe give Bay another orgasm, just to cement our friends with benefits status.

An incoming text message distracts me and I pull my phone out of my pocket. Ryker does the same.

Topher: Gamma meeting in twenty minutes in the den. Important issues to discuss, attendance is mandatory, including inactive members.

I sigh, pulling Bay close for a goodbye kiss. “We have a Gamma meeting downstairs. I hate when Topher does shit like that. What if people had plans?”

She nods sympathetically. “He and I had that discussion many times. I guess it comes down to the fact that to him there’s nothing more important than Gamma Delta Tau. Maybe the hockey team but it’s definitely behind Gamma. Especially since he’s president.”

There’s a hint of bitterness in Bay’s tone.

Even when I didn’t know her that well, I couldn’t help but notice how her ex-boyfriend had other priorities in his life. He treated Bay more like a commodity, a trophy girlfriend, than someone who truly mattered.

The thought hits me that if Bay was mine, she would be number one in my life.

I don’t have time to dwell on how disconcerting that is. I don’t do relationships because I like easy, uncomplicated. Relationships take work and I’ve never had the desire to put in that kind of effort on one person who wasn’t myself.

Until now.

I shake my head as I ask Bay if she’s gonna be ok.

“Yeah,” she smiles. “I wanted to go check on some of my sisters anyway and there’s no better time than the present. I’ll give you guys space since this meeting sounds important.”

I brush her lips with mine, resisting the urge to deepen the kiss. “Text me later if you want to grab a bite to eat.”

I follow Ryker down the stairs with an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Is a relationship with Bay what I want, or am I confusing lust for something else? Even if Bay was ready for more and she wasn’t on the rebound, would I be ready to be someone’s boyfriend without fucking it up?

CHAPTER 20

THE BRO-CODE

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