Page 117 of Naughty & Nice

Staring out, I watch as the orange glow behind the snow-covered hills in the distance gets brighter.

A new dawn. A new day. But nothing really ever changes.

I—we’ll—always just be the kids from the shitty trailer park in California.

I’ll always be the uncaring crazy one, and Hendrix will always be the thoughtful, sensible one.

I might have secured my scholarship at Trinity, but he’s the one who really worked for it. He’s the one who deserved it. They both do.

I just… I can throw and catch a football.

A heavy sigh spills from my lips, fogging up the cool glass before me.

I have no idea how long I stand there, drowning in the dark thoughts that I don’t usually allow in. The orange gets brighter, allowing me to see the mass of snow. It should brighten my mood, knowing that we’re not going to be able to leave today, but it barely touches it.

A throat clearing behind me makes my heart skip a beat, and when I spin around, I find Noelle standing in the middle of the living room. Hendrix’s hoodie drowns her, hanging almost toher knees. Her hair is piled on top of her head, and she’s still got a crease in her cheek from the pillow.

She looks cute as hell.

I squeeze my eyes closed, attempting to banish that thought about my brother’s girlfriend. After what we’ve done, it should be the least of my concerns. She was literally on her knees sucking my dick less than twelve hours ago. Thinking she looks cute is nothing.

“Are you okay?” Noelle asks quietly as if she’s speaking to a terrified animal.

I hate it. I hate that look in her eyes that tells me she doesn’t think I’m holding my shit together right now.

I have to hold my shit together.

I always hold my shit together.

It’s who I am. It’s what everyone expects of me.

Pulling my mask on, I force a smile onto my face.

“Of course. Rix still sleeping?” It’s a stupid question and one I regret the second it falls from my lips.

Hendrix has never been a morning person. It was always our time. Mine and Noelle’s. Although, I now realize that I never appreciated it as much as I should have.

I never appreciated her as much as I should have.

“Y-yeah,” she stutters, narrowing her eyes in suspicion as she moves closer. “Are you?—”

“The snow hasn’t disappeared, and the electricity isn’t back,” I blurt like an idiot.

“Have you checked the weather?” she asks, humoring me.

“My cell died.”

“Late-night video call with Miss No Panties?” Noelle deadpans.

There’s no kind of hesitation in her reaction, and it just confirms what I already knew.

She’s seeing this situation for what it is. I’m just here for the pleasure.

It’s cool. I get it. That’s who I am.

Usually, I don’t care.

Girls can use me all I want as long as I get mine.

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