Page 117 of Scrimmage

I keep my voice low. “And I thought you were home.”

“So that means you should go straight to Cole? We agreed that we wouldn’t have sex with other people.” Koda is pissed. If I could see him right now I’d bet he’s clenching his fists.

“Fucking gross. I'm not having sex with him. Calm the fuck down, Ko.”

“If that’s true then go home, Ashland. Stay away from him.”

“Are you feeling threatened by Cole?” I snort.

“No, he just wants—”

Cole interrupts, giving me a questioning glance that lasts all of one second before returning to his normal cheery self. “Here’s your drink, Ash. Double shot just the way you like.”

I take it gratefully.

“I’ll talk to you later,” I hiss and hang up the phone, chug my old drink, and immediately chug the new one.

I don’t know what the hell Koda is doing. Since we’ve been doing whatever this is, there hasn’t been much partying. There hasn’t even been a happy hour since the Ava incident. I’ve been so swamped with school and tattooing, and my free time is limited. This is the first time I’ve really been able to go out. I wanted to get drunk, maybe let go a little, but at this rate I’ll be wasted just because Koda pissed me off.

“So you called Koda?” Cole’s mouth turns into a hard line.

“Not exactly,” I say sheepishly.

“I thought he was home.”

“He is,” I sigh. I should have known better.

“So I guess you’ll have to go now?” His tone is accusatory and it pisses me off, but I try to reel it in.

I shake my head. "I’m staying. I don’t have to leave just because he’s throwing a tantrum.”

Cole smiles. “Good. You need a break. All you do is study and work. I feel like I’ve barely seen you over the last few weeks. The only time I’ve ever been able to catch you is when you’re grabbing coffee.”

Sure. Study, work, and have sex with Koda.

“It’s just been overwhelming. I took on too much."

“I figured you were spending all of your free time with your new boyfriend,” Cole says with irritation.

“What? No. Koda isn’t my boyfriend. Not like it’s your business anyways.”

“It’s just weird, is all. That day I brought you coffee he got all weird and angry. It was pretty early in the morning, and you’re not an early riser." He shrugs.

“What day?” I ask with confusion.

Cole blushes. “Well, it was like a week or two ago. It had been a while since I’d seen you guys so I figured I’d check in. Koda was outside, and I guess I just thought…I should have asked. I’m sorry. He basically threatened for me to get lost, and he didn’t really seem like the kind of guy I should piss off. I thought it was weird you had said you weren’t dating, then turned around to date him of all people.”

His comments rub me the wrong way. I try to figure out what I’m angrier about. Koda going behind my back to send Cole away, or Cole acting like he has any right. I can do both.

“Did you think I owed you something?” Cole looks up at me with wide questioning eyes. I’m starting to feel a little warm. “Did you think that because you do nice shit for me, that I should fuck you?” I start laughing so hard that I clutch my stomach. I wipe my eyes from the comedic tears that form. What a fucking asshole. “God, I knew deep down that you were a fucking self-righteous prick.”

The people around us quiet, and Cole’s eyes dart over my shoulder. “That wasn’t what I was trying to say, Ash. You’ve got to understand.He’sthe one—”

“Shut the fuck up,” I interrupt, holding up my hand to silence him. “Women don’t owe you shit, Cole. If I fuck every guy on this campus except for you, then you still don’t deserve shit.”

He tilts his head and looks at me with concern. “You seem a little pale. Are you feeling alright?”

“Koda is right. I should drop you.”

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