Page 22 of Release Me

“Forget about that loser.” I collect her apple and toss it in the air once before setting it back gently in her lap. “He doesn’t deserve you.”

Her brow flinches as if she wasn’t expecting that answer. After a long pause, she says, “I’m trying, but it’s not easy.”

“Find a fuck buddy,” Connor drawls lazily. “Works like a charm.”

She scowls. “Great brotherly advice.”

“What?” Connor shrugs. “You know, everyone thinks you’re banging Ronan. You may as well start.”

“No, they don’t.”

“Am I lying, Ronan?”

I can’t tell if he’s being serious or being … Connor, but I’ll play along. I stretch my arm along the back of the bench and start twirling the ends of Ryan’s brunette hair through my fingertips. It’s silkier than I expected. “I wouldn’t sayeveryonethinks that. Not yet, anyway.”

“Bullshit.” She shifts her head away, making me lose my grip.

I reach for another strand and continue toying. “What did you expect? We live together. You’ve seen me naked?—”

“Becauseyouflashed me.”

“Great foreplay, by the way,” Connor offers. “Good job, man.”

“And everyone knows what those dirty crew guys are like,” I mock. “And yet here you are, eating lunch with us.Youcame out tous.”

“ToRonan,” Connor interrupts, egging her on. “A lot of flags, if you ask me. Everyone’s gonna be talking.”

Ryan’s cheeks begin to flame. “This is payback for the shower this morning, isn’t it?”

“Yup.” I steal her apple right off her lap and take a big bite. And I’m going to enjoy every second of it.

11.Ronan

“What is that smell?” Connor steps through the front door.

“You.” We just finished playing Frisbee tag with his league and we’re drenched with sweat.

“No, man. That’s food.” He inhales deeply. “And it smells delicious!”

He’s right. Someone’s been baking. A rack of muffins sits in the middle of the island, still warm from the oven. A note next to it reads, “Eat better.”

“Has hell frozen over?” Connor asks, confusion on his face.

“They must be laced with arsenic.” I glance down the hall. Ryan’s door is closed but the light peeks through the crack. She would have had to come home from class and baked them right away.

“That or Ex-Lax.”

“She has to share a bathroom with me, though, remember.”

“Fair point. Definitely arsenic, then.” We stare at the muffins for another five seconds.

“Fuck it. I’ve led a good life.” Connor takes one andshoves it into his mouth. A deep frown furrows his brow as he moans and gives the thumbs-up.

We each polish off three before we part ways. I head straight for the bathroom, intent on taking that long, hot shower I didn’t get this morning.

Through the crack at the bottom of Ryan’s door, I spot toes.

I’ve just steppedout of the Wolf employee restroom, my pants barely done up, when Connor grabs my arm and tugs me down the hall. “Come on.”

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