Page 24 of Game Changer
“All right.” Ethan groans and rises from his chair with the cards in hand. “That’s our cue to leave. Sorry, guys. He’s new to the dating game and says things likethatwithout realizing how much he sounds like a total douche.”
Leo jokingly gasps. “Excuse me. I can’t help the fact I had a major glow-up last Tuesday. The braces came off.” I laugh at how quirky he is in his button-down shirt with flamingos on it. He’s handsome in a geeky meets sexy kind of way, so I can see why the girls are flocking to him now. Especially when he flashes perfectly straight, white teeth.
“We have a lot to work on,” Ethan grumbles. He towers over me behind the couch, analyzing the work I did on Callie’s nails. I’m just finishing the topcoat when he bends down to whisper, “Those look beautiful, Maya.” My eyes flutter shut from the feel of his lips brushing against the shell of my ear. “You’re really good at this.”
Fuck.
Me.
I don’t have any willpower when it comes to him. Ethan Davis makes me want to continue along my path of reckless decisions, and I’m seconds away from saying fuck the inevitable heartbreak when Leo suddenly interrupts. “And you’re telling meI’mthe douchebag?”
Ethan rounds the couch. “Shut up, Leo. Let’s go.”
“I’m serious,” he says when they disappear around the corner. “Did you hear yourself back there? Webothhave things to work on if we . . .” Their voices fade, leaving the three of us alone again.
“Holy shit.” Callie fans herself dramatically. “I’m sweating for you.”
“Same,” Destiny agrees. “The tension was off the fucking charts.”
It’s suddenly sweltering in here, and all I want to do is find Ethan and drag him into my room so we can make up for lost time. But deep down I know that being friends is for the best. We have chemistry, there’s no denying that, but it’s not enough. It’s a constant reminder that this could never work between us.
“Hey, guys?” Destiny breaks the silence, gnawing on her bottom lip before she says something that has us all breaking into hysterics. “This could be the nail polish remover giving me a contact high, but I think I want to bang the AV nerd.”
Twelve
Ethan
I’ve always been someone who prefers to stay at home. Bingeing movies or listening to music is more my thing than being stuck at some party with people who don’t really care about getting to know me. Over the years of attempting to cope with anxiety, I’ve come to learn that protecting my peace is more important than anything else. I’ve learned to say no when my mind is overwhelmed, which is precisely why I told Leo I wouldn’t be joining him in his attempt to sneak into a sorority party.
I don’t want to run into Maya, who inevitably will attend after her shift at Happy Endings. She never misses a party, especially one that everyone on campus has been talking about for the past week.
A part of me wants to walk her back to the dorm after work, but I don’t want to embarrass her if she’s meeting up with friends or something. She’s not mine to take care of, but whenever I’m near her, I can’t help but take on that role. Being friends with her again is nice, but that yearning to pull her against my chest and kiss her doesn’t fade no matter how hard I try.
I’m taking a break from myFast & Furiousmarathon to use the bathroom, but as soon as I leave my room, I see Maya at her door with her shower caddy in hand, and . . .
Is the universetryingto punish me?
A thin towel is wrapped around her very naked body. Her hair is wet, and droplets of water trickle down her neck and over the delicate curve of her collarbone. My eyes flick to the spot, wondering what her skin would taste like if I lapped up that droplet with my tongue.
Christ.
I need to get a grip.
“Sorry,” she says in a breathless, little voice that shoots straight to my cock. “I thought I packed a change of clothes in my toiletry bag, but I must’ve forgotten.”
“You don’t have to apologize.” She never has to apologize for looking likethat. All barefaced and fucking perfect. “I’m surprised you’re back. I assumed you’d be at that sorority thing happening tonight.”
Her lips tilt into a grin. “It was my first shift since I finished my training, and I’m exhausted. It’s alotbusier at night than it is in the afternoon.” She looks behind me into my empty dorm room, and I swear the temperature rises about ten degrees. “No Leo tonight?”
I swallow thickly. “Nope. He went to the sorority thing to try and get lucky. He’s an idiot, though. Those places are hard to get into.”
Maya waves her hand. “Trust me. If he waits until they’re all plastered, no one will care. Anyone will be allowed in at that point.” Silence falls between us, but it’s not awkward. We’re both alone tonight, and it’s like one of us is waiting for the other to extend an invitation, but it never comes. “Well, I should get changed.”
No, I think to myself.You should come into my room, drop the towel, and finish what you started five months ago.
“Right.” I exhale heavily through my nose because I’m a nervous fucking bastard when it comes to her. “Have a nice night, Maya.”
“You too. Oh, and I’m sorry in advance for the thin walls.”
