Page 42 of Fear is the Key

“All right, pick up your shit,” Noah said, breaking the stare-off.

Gavin leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest while Luca leaned forward and gathered everything in his hand before shoving it back into his wallet.

“Vince, truth or dare.” Luca spoke with an eerie calmness.

“Truth,” Vince said after clearing his throat.

“Do you have a condom in your wallet?” Luca asked.

My eyebrows shot up. Was this common for guys?

“Yes,” Vince growled out.

I looked at him as he ducked his eyes then turned to Gavin who drew his lips into a thin line.

“Do all of you?” I asked, fighting to keep the nerves from my voice. This felt so foreign and overwhelming to me. Something I knew existed but didn’t think had anything to do with me. Not yet. Not for a while.

Silence. I turned to Sky next to me and waited.

He shifted before nodding, and I turned to Noah.

“Yeah,” he mumbled. “Dad gave it to me and said to always be careful.”

Finally, I met Gavin’s eyes.

He shook his head, and all the air in my body disappeared in a single breath. Okay. This was something new to take in.

I rolled my lip between my teeth. There was only one more question I had. I’d prefer to ask them individually, but I wanted to spring it on them like they had on me.

“Why?”

Sky let out an uncomfortable laugh. “Well, you know what they’re for, right?”

My shoulders dropped. “Please don’t turn this into a joke.”

He looked away, avoiding my gaze, so I continued to wait for a better answer.

“It’s a precaution,” Luca finally replied. “It’s not because I expect anything to happen. I just want to be prepared if or when it does.”

Vince rubbed his jaw while nodding. “Same.”

Noah grunted in agreement, so I turned to Gavin. “But you don’t?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think it’s necessary. Not for a while.”

His answer should have brought me peace, but I was more confused. Did he not want that with me? Did the others? They each told me they didn’t want to move too fast and weren’t ready, but their actions said the opposite.

I swallowed and nodded. This had to be in the top three most uncomfortable moments of my life. Sitting in a room with four guys who were prepared to sleep with me. Four best friends who were aware of each other and their intentions.

I wiped my face suddenly feeling too warm. I tried to inhale, but it was like my body forgot how. My vision narrowed to the spot directly in front of me on the carpet.

“Avalon?” Sky asked from somewhere far away.

I tried again to suck in a breath, but no air came.

“Ave, breathe.” Another voice. Vince?

“Move!” Someone shouted then pressure on my shoulders. I was shaking.

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