Page 100 of The Chemistry of Us

“It hurts to laugh.”

“I didn’t mean to kick you. It was the angle.”

He cursed. “I probably have a broken rib, and when I tell Coach I’m no longer qualified for the draft, he’ll ask me what took me out, and I’ll point at you and be like the short one, she has a temper on her, wildcat in bed, worth it.”

“You’re delirious.”

“Drunk off sex.” He sat up. “When’s class?”

I stretched my arms overhead. “Ten. I have time.”

“I’m at eleven. We should schedule a tutoring session on that level of the library you like so much later today.”

“We are not having sex up there.”

“But think about the memories?”

We both laughed when footsteps sounded. Brady walked by the room. I exhaled a sigh of relief when he backtracked and pointed at both of us in bed, then rubbed his eyes, then pointed again. “So the date went well?”

“We went to an arcade,” I blurted. “After burgers.”

Brady smirked. “And then you took the games home to the bed. Nice, I like your style.” He leaned against the doorframe. “So are you guys still fighting, and you just got so intoxicated you lack the will to move, or are you back together?”

“Together,” Van blurted, beating me to it.

I turned and threw my arms around him.

“Well, shit me a brick.” Brady sighed. “I’m not getting any sleep for the next few weeks, I just know it… Do me a favor and try to put music on or something so I don’t hear you boning. Oh and remember the hot tub rule still stands, you jackass!” He pointed at Van. “I mean it.”

Van held up his hands. “We won’t bone in the hot tub.”

“Bone.” Brady laughed. “We should use that word more often.” He giggled. “Sorry, I think I’m still drunk.”

He walked into the doorframe twice before stumbling backward and making his way toward his room.

“Together, huh?” I elbowed Van. “Officially?”

He lifted me onto his lap and smacked my ass. “Yes, and you’re officially back in my bathroom, alright? It ups my chances of seeing you naked more.”

I shrugged and slowly climbed off his lap. “Or you could just shower with me?”

“Yes.” He jumped out of bed, grabbed my hand, looked up and down the hall, and ran with me to the bathroom.

I laughed the entire way.

Until moans of pleasure took place of the laugh.

And then silence as he wiped my body down.

Together again.

Vaughan: Three weeks later

“I’m losing my shit.”I got up from the couch, then sat back down, then got back up, then sat. Tru wasn’t any help. She was chewing her fingernails like her only goal in life was to have nubs for hands, and Brady puked twice—not from alcohol. Then again, he was also a potential draft pick. We weren’t going to be at the top, and we may never even make it outside of a practice squad, but who knew?

Dad hadn’t even texted a good luck.

Mom did, but that was it.

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