Page 96 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

I insist I can come over, that I can help however she needs, but again, she says no, not right now. So I ask for details and get nothing. Not even a read receipt. Fuck! I know she’s doing stuff, but I feel like she’s teasing me with things. If I didn’t know her brother, if she didn’t know mine, I bet I’d be there helping, which is stupid and irritating and steadily ripping my nerves to shreds.

There’s a knock on my door, and Peter comes in. He takes one look at me and pauses. “Not up for going out and playing pool with the guys, are you?”

“Fuck, yes.”

He shrugs, accepts it, and we head out. I play like shit and drink beer after beer until nothing exists but this moment. I merge with old friends, laughing, being the asshole I told myself I’d grown out of being. I even let some girls flirt with me because it’s not like I’m going to follow through. I’m not so drunk I’m tempted by a nice rack or ass. And my friends reap the rewards of my subtle hints at other guys being able to please. But soon enough, that leads to me to the bathroom, puking everything up.

Groaning, I rest my head on the toilet and feel my stomach roll again. I lurch, vomit, and groan. Peter comes in and shakes his head at me. “You used to be cool.”

“Sucks to be a hero,” I say, then throw up again. “I need to get home.”

“You need food and water,” he argues.

He fishes around in my jeans and pulls out the condom first. “Looking to cheat already?”

“Fucker,” I hiss.

He takes my wallet and returns with fries and water. I manage to choke both down after cleaning up and feel better or good enough. Definitely not good enough to drive, but good enough that I can deal with the motion of the car without having to stop every block.

Which means I sleep on the ride home.

When I get up, I’m still a little drunk, a little wavy, a little stupid. Which is why I’m tempted to go to Sky’s house, beat the door until she opens, and flash a smile at her. I sigh. “Sky is pretty.”

Peter slams on the breaks, skidding the car to a halting stop in the driveway. “What the fuck did you just say?”

“Isn’t she?”

“Not the word I’d use,” he says, then nods. “She’s sexy as hell.”

“That too,” I murmur, eying her house. “I should go over there.”

“You absolutely shouldnot,” he disagrees. “Not if you have any fucking sanity.”

One step puts me on my ass. But I’m determined. Peter stands in my way. “Dude. One, her mom is there. Two, it’s just after dinner time. Three, you’re being a drunk fuck. Don’t hit on the girl next door.”

I blink up at him as shit gets really clear. “You don’t really want Bonnie, do you? You want Sky.”

“Shut up.”

“You do.” I narrow my eyes. “You’re leaving in three fucking weeks. You can’t have her.”

“You don’t think I fucking know that!” he shouts. “You think I don’t know she doesn’t look twice at me and hasn’t since as long as you’ve been around? Even after that text message—”

“What?”

There’s a long pause. Confusion swirls in my head as Peter stares at the ground.

“What are you talking about, dude?”

Peter huffs. “You’re notthatdrunk for me to say shit you won’t remember in the morning.” He takes my arm. “Come on.”

“The fuck does that mean?”

“We’re going home.” He points at the house. “I shouldn’t have to be the fucking rational one.”

His response cancels my inebriated curiosity, filling me with urgency instead. “I don’t want to go home. Take me to Sky.” I point again.

Sky, that smile, her laugh, the way she feels against me. I want her. And I want her now.

---