Page 94 of Honey Pot

“Fuck you, Cody, she’s not worth breaking my stick hand for.” He shoved him back as Cael regained his balance and swung the front door open.

"Pussy," Cael growled and kicked it shut behind Kiefer before he turned to look at me. When he stepped forward I flinched and he stopped instantly. “Clem—” his voice was soft, too soft, and the sound of it made my eyes well.

I couldn’t breathe and, as he stepped closer, the room came crashing down on me. Cael followed me down as I sank to the floor, sitting on his knees across from me he reached his hand out and wiggled his fingers.

“I’m here Clementine,” he said quietly as I cried, “I’m here as long as you need me.”

CODY

Clementine.

Loving her.

Holding her.

Spending hours making her laugh until we couldn’t breathe.

Kissing her every night until she fell asleep in my arms.

I wanted every small win, every massive failure, and I wanted it with her.

The future I saw for myself was simply Clementine.

I looked at her, knowing that my cheeks were pink but not being able to stop myself from catching her gaze. Her. She was my future. She always had been.

But she’s leaving.You can’t do that to her…it’s unfair.

“Thanksgiving,” I teased lightly. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t exactly the truth. Thinking about my future made me sick to my stomach. I lifted the hem of my shirt over my head and threw it at Clementine.

The one that had been tucked under her pillow had been missing from my floor for weeks. A selfish pride had filled me when I saw it there, where she slept every night. She shouldn’t be embarrassed about it. I had spent the last seven years chasing around the smell of lavender just to feel her in my veins. My shirt had to smell like her now; she was due for a new one.

Clementine rubbed it between her fingers, her eyes flickering up to meet mine. I winked as I tossed my arms up and yelled.

“Now, who’s driving us over to the library?”

She was still staring, her brown eyes glittering with excitement. She understood, and it made my heart skip a beat as Dean chucked his shirt at Ella. Arlo caught it in his hand before it hit her face. His dark eyes watched me carefullyas he balled it up and set it on the table. I had known he would take the chance to push the conversation toward Julien; I just wished he hadn’t put her on the spot like that.

It wasn’t any of my business, or theirs, who she was dating. I did enjoy the conviction in her voice when she claimed he was an ex. Whether or not Arlo believed her was a different story and I could tell by the way he was studying my face that he didn’t.

Clementine watched the interaction carefully, picking up on the tense energy that flooded the space as I flicked the button on my jeans. “Well?” I asked, looking over at a fully dressed Dean. “You too.” My eyes dragged down his enormous frame.

“Stop making bets against Ella,” he snapped each word at me as he shucked from his jeans and stood uncomfortably in a pair of tight boxers.

“You can run to the library,” Ella cocked her head to the side. “Consider it payback for using the batting cages behind my back and before you argue.” She wiggled from Arlo’s grasp and leaned on the table. “I know you sneak him in there.” She narrowed her eyes at Dean.

“Get moving, boys.” Arlo cracked a smile.

I kicked off my sneakers and dropped my jeans to the floor, declaring, “I’m keeping my socks.”

“Whatever,” Ella barked as both Dean and I backed away from the table toward the stairs. She pulled out her phone, and I swore Dean yelped.

“Don’t you dare!” He pointed at her. “If my Dad sees this…” Dean’s voice trailed off.

"Your dad is definitely going to see this," Van laughed, his was hung around Zoey with a bright smile on his face.

“Run!” Arlo clapped his hands together and both of us took off down the stairs.

Dean shoved his way past me through the door. It was a fifteen minute run to campus, and if we managed to get picked up between Hilly’s and the library, it would be a blessing. If we got caught in the library…again…who knew what would happen.

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