Page 69 of Whistle

My lips parted in shock. Are they defending me?

“I need an explanation.” The RA was firm.

“We just gave you one,” Jamie said, all humor absent from his tone. He was a big guy… probably the biggest on the team. I probably only came to his shoulder.

The RA looked at me.

“I came home and found him rummaging through my stuff.”

Everyone turned to Ronnie.

“Bro. No one likes a busybody,” Jamie told him.

“Look!” Ronnie said, agitated. He bent and scooped a pair of lace thongs off the floor and held them out. “Look what I found! He’s sick! He paints his nails, wears crop tops, and these.”

Everyone in the room looked at my panties. The ones I had on under my jeans were suddenly uncomfortable. I felt Wes’s eyes first.

Fuck this. Fuck them. “Yeah,” I said boldly. “They’re mine.”

Jamie stepped forward and plucked the thongs from Ronnie’s grasp. “Out of curiosity, bro,” he said, glancing between me and the lace, “do these hurt?”

My brain went blank. Literal nothing.

Jamie looked at Ryan. “I mean, don’t you wonder? It looks like butt floss.”

“Bro,” Ryan said.

Jamie asked Wes, “Was that inappropriate too?”

Wes nodded.

“Don’t tell Max,” he whispered, then turned to me, pushing the panties into my hand. “My bad, bro. I was just curious.”

Ronnie made a rude sound. “He’s walking around like a girl, and that’s all you have to say?”

Wes shrugged. “We wear Speedos half the day. It’s basically the same thing.”

I’m sorry, what?

“Good point, bro.” Jamie agreed.

I glanced at Ryan and tried to wrap my head around the fact that we were all standing here discussing my preference and no one seemed to care.

Except Ronnie, but he was a douche.

Are these guys not douches too?

“Seems like the only one with the problem around here is you,” Ryan told Ronnie.

I swiped the back of my fist over my mouth, feeling the blood smear. It was too much. I didn’t know what to think or feel.

The RA sighed. “My office. Now.”

Anger rolled off Ronnie in waves as he stormed forward. Ryan caught his shoulder, pulling him back, and Jamie slid in front of me. Ryan let go, and Ronnie brushed by, glaring at me over his shoulder once he was past.

Did they just protect me?

I reached up to my head, feeling around.

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