Page 103 of Collide
“You’re not. You can’t burn that many calories and not eat anything. It depletes the—”
“Summer, don’t give me a science lesson,” I say, and she frowns. “Fine, but you’re coming with me.” I move off the mattress and pull on my sweats. We’re both looking at her indecent top when she stands. So, I toss her a shirt and sweats.
Eli’s the first to spot us when we’re downstairs. “Hey, Sunny!”
Dylan’s icing his ribs when he looks up, smirking.
“Why is your hair all messed up?” Kian yawns after his post-game nap. His low-riding Twilight boxers are the only thing he’s wearing when he saunters over, with a carton of orange juice.
Eli puts out an extra place setting. Kian wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, and his eyes bounce between us. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“You ask stupid questions, Kian,” retorts Dylan, shooting Summer a sympathetic smile.
“As my very hot sixth-grade teacher Ms. Marple once said: There are no stupid questions, even if Kian is asking them.”
“Didn’t she quit teaching after our year?” Dylan retorts.
Kian shrugs. “No one can prove it was because of me.”
Unintentionally terrorizing his middle school teacher is on brand for Kian.
Before I can sit beside Summer, Kian occupies the chair. Mildly irritated by the action, I sit on the other side of the table beside a very loud-chewing Cole who digs into his plate like it’s his first meal of the day. The kid stays locked in the basement unless he’s on the ice. He doesn’t look away from his phone except when he acknowledges my presence.
Kian’s still trying to play Sherlock Holmes, eyeing Summer with suspicion.
She stares right back. “What?”
“You seem different.”
“Fuck off, Kian,” I say.
My warning only incites him. “Am I talking to you? She doesn’t need a guard dog.”
I’m going to cause him serious bodily harm, and from the way he avoids eye contact, he knows it. “I’m going back to sleep.” Just before he turns the corner, he stops. “Try keeping it down this time. The walls are too thin to drown out your moans.”
The guys shake with laughter, and Summer turns red, dropping her face into her hands.
34 | SUMMER
MY TAPPING FOOT annoys the hell out of my lab partner. Our professor is lecturing over class time, and I’m itching to get leave.
So, I check the time on my phone again and sneak a text.
Aiden
Summer: My lab’s going to run late tonight, but I can probably make it to the second period.
Aiden: It’s okay if you can’t. Don’t rush.
Summer: I’d speed through every traffic light just to see you play, Crawford.
Aiden: I’ll hide the keys to my truck before you even think of speeding.
Summer: What are you? A cop?
Aiden: Kink?
Summer: No. But if you’re down to dress up, a firefighter would do it for me.
