Page 2 of Broken Like This by Bethany

The other night, Joel was teasing us when we were obviously blowing everyone off to go have sex. He asked if we ever got tired of doing it. Though we were laughing and didn’t come right out and say it, the answer is a solidno. I never tire of his body, of the way he makes me feel, of the heat and emotion that flow between us. I’m never tired of us and what we are together.

And I never tire of the stars behind my eyelids. The way he fills me up. The way his fingers know the precise spots to touch.

“Aaron,” I whisper breathlessly as my whole body starts to tense.

He lets out an incoherent grunt as I start to spasm around him, my whole body lighting up for him.

“Aaron,” I call out, louder than before.

“Fuck, Rae,” he groans, his lips buried in my neck as he releases himself inside me.

For a moment, we stay still, panting against my closet door.

He raises his lips to mine, chuckling. “I really was gonna go to class.”

I laugh and swat his shoulder as he gently sets me on the ground. “I doubt it.”

He gives me a smirk that’s equal parts adorable and mischievous. “Get dressed. I’ll walk you to class.”

I gently kiss his cheek, before throwing my bathrobe on and grabbing some clothes. “Sounds perfect, Ace.”

Our eyes lock for a second before I head for the bathroom. The heat of his gaze stays on me as I leave the room.

Damn, it makes my insides twist how much I love him.

Aaron

I hate this.

We’re going over the syllabus for this class and I already know I’m going to hate it. I don’t know why I decided to major in education. Sure, I like working with younger kids, but I don’t think I’m cut out to be a teacher.

This professor sure as hell isn’t making it better. As the clock ticks down, she drones on, telling us every sucky thing about teaching and how at least half of us will give up. I’m already on my way to that place.

I groan internally. My first week of college and I already hate what I’m studying?

My eyes go to the clock and I click my pen several times, shifting in my seat.Can she finish the doom-and-gloom speech?

Someone slams their notebook closed, diverting her attention.Finally.Though she assures us, she’ll pick this up next class.Great.

I force out an exhale as I exit the classroom. It’s okay. My parents told me I didn’t even need to pick a major yet. If teaching isn’t for me, I’ll be fine, right?

I mean, I have no idea what else I would study or even be good at. Except baseball, but there’s not much I can do about that with a fucked-up hand.

I take a deep breath, inhaling the lake air on campus and trying to clear my head.I don’t have to have it all figured out right now,I tell myself.

Then why do I feel like this?

It’s one class.

And baseball.

I try to press down the emotions that surge through me.

You’re going to college on a beautiful campus.

You have incredible friends.

You have the girl you’ve always dreamed of.

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