Page 65 of Beneath the Surface

There was a rush of cool air as my sweatpants and boxer briefs were lowered, and then her hot, wet mouth was around my dick.

37

AVA

God, I hated how nervous I was feeling. Not that nerves were anything new to me—it was just something I felt on competition days. I didn’t get nervous at school, nor around boys, least of all going to a hockey party.

Today, all of that seemed to change. My hands shook as I slammed the locker closed. God, I knew Halloween would be crazy, but a silly naive part of me didn’t think it could get worse. I guess it made me a bitch, but I was content with letting Grayson lead. Letting him get that written note. Whatever was going on, I felt like he could take it. He led a whole team of rowdy guys. Why should this be any different?

I ran out of the hockey facility back to my car, where Cruz immediately took notice of the panic on my face.

“Ava!”

Cruz called my name as soon as I got in the car.

My hands shook as I tried and failed to hold on to my steering wheel.

“Princess,” he called out a little more gently.

The moment I felt his hand on the back of my neck, it centered me. I calmed down enough to explain to him what I had just seen.

“Fuck,” he cursed. “We really need to talk to Micah and Gray.”

All I could do was nod.

I pulled out my phone and noticed Micah had never replied to my earlier text. Without letting myself think twice, I called Grayson. I really needed him to tell me everything was going to be okay.

“They must be busy with party prep,” I told Cruz.

His hand slid from the back of my neck to my cheek, his thumb caressing me.

“It’s going to be okay. No one is going to hurt you. You have us three watching your back.”

I managed to give him a small smile when he said that.

“We need to go to the shop and figure out our costumes.”

Cruz scrunched his nose at my words. “I’m not part of your group. I don’t see the point in dressing up.”

I scoffed. Because he had been spending most of his days with us.

“You can’t embarrass me if you’re going as my date.”

I bit my lip as soon as I’d said that. I hadn’t told him I would be bringing him with me as my faux date, but judging by his pleased smile, he didn’t mind.

“Guess I can’t embarrass you, huh?”

We spent the day together because neither of us wanted to be alone. Waiting for the Halloween party might just kill us.

Since neither Cruz nor I wanted to be alone, we got ready at my house. It seemed like a safer option than being at his apartment more than necessary and besides, my daddy was at work.

I was glad that I often bought two outfits every year because I usually changed my mind at the last minute. The short overalls were a little too tight since I got them freshman year, and my body had gained muscle since then. They hugged my curves and ass in all the right places. My colorful striped shirt covered my breasts and nothing more. I had taken a red sharpie and written the words “Good Guys” on the front of my overalls. My hair was in two pigtails, and my lips were painted a darker nude than I normally wore.

Once I heard the bathroom door open, I grabbed my purse. It was showtime and Cruz and I needed to get going. I would start to feel better once the four of us were back together. There was safety in numbers—safety in each other.

Cruz stepped out wearing all black, which wasn’t all that much different from his regular attire. The only difference was the mask on his face.

“Who the hell are you supposed to be?”

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