Page 12 of Breakout
When she pulls into a parking spot, I drive on by and park a little way down but where I can still see the door for her dorm building. I shut off my car as I watch her walk into her building. I’ll give campus one thing: at least the paths between buildings are well lit.
Sighing, I lean my head back against the headrest and wait. I could head home, but I won’t. I know how this is about to playout. She will go up to her room and find that Cora is staying with Kellan. Peyton will take a shower and then text me telling me to come over. Like the fool I am, I’ll go to her even if I hate the way it makes me feel.
If Cora were home, I would need to rush back to my place because she would be coming there. She won’t risk Cora finding out about us. It’s this cat-and-mouse game we keep playing.
One day, we are going to get burned.
Logically, I know we are friends and that our connection is deeper than the physical shit, but Peyton doesn’t see it that way. She sees me as a friend who knows how to make her body sing, and that’s all she wants. Nothing more, nothing less.
I really should give her an ultimatum. Either date me or the sex ends, but I know she would never go for it. I would rather have her any way I can than not have her at all. She has me wrapped around her finger, and she doesn’t even know it. Even if our friends-with-benefits situation makes me feel cheap and used.
Like clockwork, my phone vibrates.
I pull it out of my pocket and sigh when I read her message.
P
Come over.
My cock perks up for what’s about to come. He knows that those two words mean I’m minutes away from sinking into his favorite place.
Jesus Christ, I’m thinking of my dick like it’s an actual person.
I laugh and shake my head as I read her text again.
P
Come over.
For a split second, I contemplate denying her. I could head home and go to bed. Hell, I’m sure Wyatt is still up waiting for me. I could hang out with him and catch up. It’s been a while since we’ve really done anything outside of hockey besides trying to get a bite to eat earlier.
You won’t, though.
Like a complete sap, I text her back.
Me
On my way.
three
My mind is racing a million miles a minute as it always does. I swear it feels like I never get a chance to just stop and take a breath.
My life is hectic. At this point, I wouldn’t know how to handle it if it wasn’t always chaos. It’s been that way since I was young. I always had to do my best in school to work toward a good future. I didn’t have a loving family to fall back on if my plans failed. My foster parents only cared about one thing: the check they collected each month.
I have no option but to succeed. It’s why I’m busting my ass.
My days are filled with classes while my evenings are all about work. On the off chance I get a day off of work, I’m studying or trying to fit a little time in for my friends.
I’m burning the candle at both ends just waiting for the day I run out of wick.
It’s why I’m hustling from class to my dorm right now. I need to get there and finish my homework assignments before work. If I don’t, I will be fucked for this week. It means giving up precious sleep or, even worse, my only sense of relief lately. Beckett.
So I’m surprised when I make it to my door to find the man in question leaning against it, checking his phone.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
He looks up, shooting me a crooked smile. “I happen to know that Cora is out with Kellan for the evening.”
