Page 77 of Whistle

After taking the trauma latte back, I went into the small dorm room where Bodhi was picking things up off the floor and jamming them into an open duffle bag on his bed. It hit me then what I’d done. The tiny, impersonal room. The way his side of the room was empty and beige compared to the other side where his roommate had clearly taken over.

Even the blanket on the bed was the standard one Elite put out just so the students wouldn’t walk in to a bare mattress, though most students came with their own bedding and pillows and stuff.

Bodhi literally had one bag on his bed.

And the other two bags in the hall… which I was assuming he hadn’t even bothered to unpack. Like he hadn’t planned on staying.

I took a swig of the coffee, hoping the caramel would wash the bitterness off my tongue. It did but merely pushed it down into my stomach where it burned like acid.

He said nothing as he bustled around, shoving the contents of a small wooden dresser into the bag. When that was done, he went into the adjoining bathroom. Seconds later, he reappeared, nothing in his hands.

“You didn’t have anything in the bathroom?” I asked.

He shook his head once.

I narrowed my eyes.

“Oh, right. It’s all in the trash,” the roommate said, stepping in behind me. “Real men don’t need that many products.”

I turned, and whatever he saw on my face sent him fleeing into the hall.

The zipper on Bodhi’s bag cut through the silence. “Bodhi.”

“Don’t,” he said, voice tight.

Guilt ate at me. So did regret. In that moment, I wanted so badly to pull him close and kiss his head. I wanted to whisper I was sorry and that he wasn’t as alone as he thought. I wanted to beg him to forgive me for forcing him into this dorm with someone he didn’t know, someone who mistreated him.

“Uh, bro,” Jamie said, brushing past me to step up to Bodhi’s side. “It seemed kinda disrespectful to leave this just lying out in the hall.” His voice was more subdued than usual.

Between them, Jamie held out his hand, the bright fabric his roommate had thrown out earlier on display. Bodhi flushed and grabbed them with both hands, one of them fluttering to the ground. I stared at it, transfixed.

A thong.

A lacy thong.

Lust punched me right in the dick, and something feral in me tried to claw free.

“Thanks,” Bodhi said, quickly scooping it up and shoving it all deep into his bag. “I’m done,” he announced, dragging the strap over his shoulder, not even bothering to gaze around to make sure he got it all.

On his way to the door, I relieved him of the bag, swinging it up onto my shoulder instead. He glanced at me, and I shook my head. “I got it. Just go.”

Jamie, Bodhi, and I joined Ryan, Wes, and the asshole in the hall. The roommate wasted no time going into his room and slamming the door in our faces.

“Bro, he’s the literal worst.” Jamie decided.

Bodhi drank some coffee, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. When he was done, he strapped his messenger bag over his chest and grabbed the two bags lying on the floor.

“What now?” Ryan asked.

Everyone but Bodhi looked at me.

“You boys go to dinner like you planned. I’ll take care of this.”

Ryan seemed unsure. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, Walsh. I’m the coach. This is my job.”

“Bodhi?” Ryan called.

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