Page 68 of His Secret

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

ADRIAN

This Christmas wasthe best Christmas I’ve had in probably forever. I told my parents I had to stick around campus for tutoring. It didn’t go over without a fight, but I was adamant on staying in South River.

Matías and I spent Christmas Eve in his dorm room, and we even had our own mini tree that we decorated with twinkle lights and tiny baubles. We put lights around his window and hung stockings from his dresser.

We got each other a few gifts, and though the wrapping was terrible, we woke up Christmas morning and dug into them like we were children again.

After having what we deemed would be traditional morning Christmas sex, we headed over to my house where my roommates and I had planned to come together to make dinner. They weren’t going home for the holiday either, so we figured we’d do the best we could.

It wasn’t the best food I’ve had, but it was edible, and with a few extra friends around the table, we all had the best time.

Now it’s the twenty-eighth, and I have to force myself tostay home. My roommates are getting curious. They’ve made little sly remarks from time to time, but they don’t seem to be near the truth at all.

“Where do you go all the time?” Barlow asks.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re always gone, and we don’t have class or practice, so you must have a secret girlfriend or something.”

“You afraid I’m gonna steal her if you bring her over?” Johnson asks with a laugh.

I laugh. “Uhh no.”

“So you do have a girl?” Barlow questions.

“No!”

They both watch me with expressions that tell me I’m not convincing them.

“It’s nothing serious,” I say. “Just messing around.”

“Mmhmm,” Johnson murmurs, throwing a mini basketball in the hoop he has hanging on the back of the front door.

“You’ve been messing around for a while though,” Barlow adds.

“Why don’t you mind your business?” I say with a chuckle. “What’s up with you and Cherisse?”

He rolls his eyes. “Nothing.”

We end up talking about whatever they got going on, and I make up small lies about this make-believe girl I’m hooking up with, and then I disappear into my room and text Matías.

Had to tell the guys I’m hooking up with some girl. So, if they mention that, don’t panic.

Getting suspicious?

Questioning where I go all the time.

Ah. Well, okay.

I miss you though.

My door flies open and Barlow stands there. “New Year’s Eve party. Invite that girl.” He throws a ball at me before closing the door.

I sigh.

“She said she couldn't come,” I say when my roommates ask where the girl I’m hooking up with is.

---