Page 66 of Beneath the Surface

“El Zorro,” he said like it was obvious.

I opened my mouth to say that maybe he should have also gotten a cape, but then let it go.

“Whatever, let’s go.”

He trailed behind me a little slower than he usually did because of all his injuries. With everything going on, this morning was starting to feel like it had been more than just a few hours ago.

By the time we got to the hockey house, people were already starting to line up so they could be led inside. Since I was part of ZGT, I took Cruz’s hand in mine and led him into the front of the line.

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes when I noticed Miller was at the door. Thank God the hockey boys coordinated this time because if I had to go another year with Miller as an F.B.I.—Federal Body Inspector—I was sure I would kick him in the balls.

Girls loved when he groped them so they could be allowed inside—me not so much.

“Ava, you look delicious today.” He leered as he looked me up and down.

I felt Cruz step closer to me, his hand wrapped possessively around my waist. Miller looked at it, and I could tell he didn’t like it, but stepped to the side, allowing us inside.

Most of my sorority sisters were already there. Trying to find Micah and Grayson would take time, since all the hockey players were wearing the same thing. At least they would be together, sticking to our rule of sticking in pairs.

Cruz and I were off to the side when he leaned down to whisper in my ear.

“There’s our boy.”

I felt a shiver go down my spine as he said that. The dynamic between the four of us was unusual and intense—maybe a trauma bond? But he was right, though, Micah was ours.

I took a moment to take him in. He was on the other side of the yard. A sea of bodies separated him and us.I’d known Micah the longest, and I had never seen him so at ease with himself as I did now. Some people crumbled under pressure and others found growth.

“He looks good,” Cruz added, and all I could do was nod.

Before I could let Cruz know I would go and fill him in on what was going on, the most annoying voice began to talk to us.

“Ava, darling, who’s your date?” Livy asked as she came to stand in front of us.

Her hair, like mine, was also in pigtails, and her overall shorts rivaled mine, too. She had on a colorful cropped plaid shirt, and her face was painted with cutesy scarecrow makeup.

Cruz gave her a dismissive once-over.

“I’ll be right back.”

He then walked away and left me alone with Olivia. I asked her to dance with me. To try and make things not so awkward, because she should be glad of the effort I continued to make to try and stay far away from Grayson.

When Micah approached us, Livy took the opportunity to begin flirting with him. God, I’d forgotten she was talking about getting with him, and judging how Micah looked tonight, she would not hesitate to have him in her bed.

Now I was in a closet with Micah because we needed privacy, but I found that I also didn’t want to share him with anyone else. Except I hadn’t minded when Cruz called him our boy.

God, I was jealous of the fact that he could end up in bed with my sorority sisters.

Last time I had initiated our heated kiss, but this time here alone, it was as if Micah was going out of his mind as much as I was. He pulled me into him and began to kiss me as if he had been drowning without me.

When we broke apart, both of us were panting for air. Micah’s hardness was pressed against my lower belly, and God did that fucking turn me on.

I didn’t let myself think twice as I dropped to my knees, my hands holding on to the waistband of his sweats. Maybe it wasn’t fair of me, but I didn’t want him to go seek in Livy something he could get from me.

“Is this okay?”

“Yes! Fuck, yes.”

The sound of his voice coming undone had my panties getting wet.

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