Page 48 of Off Limits

“Seriously, let me pay for them.” I extend my hand toward the stack again, which he lowers back to my side.

“No. Consider it a late birthday present.” This time, he leans against the counter, effectively blocking me from them.

“You came home for my birthday. That was my present.”

“Then consider it a boyfriend buying something for his girlfriend. That happens, you know. I can’t do these things for you when we’re home. Let me do them this weekend.”

I sigh, but finally acquiesce.

“Besides, I like that you read. It’s just another thing to love about you.”

We spend the rest of the day around town. He buys me a few more things, including a Cornell t-shirt, in his size, that he promises to wear before giving to me. He even takes me to Wegmans, a grocery store that seems to be some sort of religious experience for those who frequent it. He says I’ll understand when I live here.

That night, he takes me to dinner at a Japanese restaurant, knowing that I never refuse sushi. As we sit waiting for our food, a tiny laugh bubbles up from my chest.

“What’s so funny?” he asks with narrowed eyes but a smile on his face.

“We’ve been together for, I don’t know, anywhere from one and a half to two and a half months, depending on when you’d say we started this, and this is our first date.”

His face drops. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“No! Don’t be sorry. God, maybe I said that wrong. I don’t want you to feel bad. Our situation doesn’t exactly lend to dating. Or being in public.”

His mouth presses into a hard line. I notice his hand on the table and take it in mine, linking our fingers. “Hey. I had a really great day today. It was nice to be able to be a normal couple for once. No hiding, no secrets, no lies. Don’t feel bad because you can’t give that to me every day. I knew what I was getting myself into.”

Fingers tightening around mine, he brings my hand to his mouth and kisses my knuckles. “You deserve so much more.”

When we get back to the apartment, lips fused as our hands are roaming over each other’s bodies in the hallway, we open the door to quite a surprise.

Weston is sitting on the couch, causing us to jump apart.

“Hey, Lochlyn. Uh, sorry, I know you weren’t expecting me.” He turns to me. “Hi, you must be Shay. I’m Wes.” I take Weston in quickly. He has a head of thick black hair, cobalt blue eyes, and is almost as tall as Lochlyn. Good looking in his own right, but nobody comes close to Lochlyn.

“Wes, what the fuck are you doing here?” There’s no denying the irritation in Lochlyn’s voice.

“Claire kicked me out.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and tips up on his toes.

“What? Why?” He turns to me. “Claire is his on-and-off girlfriend. Who he wassupposed to bewith this weekend.”

“Yeah, about that. She found out I slept with her roommate. Threw me out.” He runs a hand through his hair.

“Shit.”

“Yeah. Anyway, Shay, it’s nice to finally meet you. Lochlyn talks about you constantly.” I tilt my head to look up at Lochlyn and find his cheeks tinged pink, running a hand up and down the back of his head. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him embarrassed before.

“Well, that’s very nice to hear. I’m sorry about your girl…troubles.” Before I let an opportunity slip through my hands, I speak up again. “So, do you have any embarrassing stories about Loch?”

Wes’s face lights up as I hear Lochlyn groan behind me. “Oh, tons. Come sit.”

I make my way over to the couch, grabbing Lochlyn’s hand. He huffs and drags his feet behind me. Sitting next to Wes on the couch, upright and perky, ready to hear some juicy stories, Lochlyn sits slouched low in his seat next to me. I move myself closer to him, so my back is touching his arm, which he then wraps around my middle, pulling me against his side and hooking his thumb under the band of my jeans. His head is hung, his other hand rubbing his eyes. He’s not looking forward to the conversation about to happen. I’m just happy he’s allowing me to indulge.

Pulling my feet under me, I’m ready.

Wes jumps right in. He spares no detail. There are so many stories I can’t keep them straight. He goes on and on with drunken stories, once finding Lochlyn on the bathroom floor in the dorm. He tells me about the first impression he’d had of Lochlyn, thinking he’d never get laid with a roommate like him who was sure to get all the girls, which Wes assured me he could have. That earns a glare from Lochlyn. But Weston doesn’t falter.

In the end, I’m in stitches, as is Wes. Lochlyn isn’t quite as happy, though. He hasn’t said a word and I’ve felt him tense more than once, and groan at least ten times. I lean back, across his chest, running my hand down his cheek. His eyes meet mine, but they’re strained. I lean up and kiss him, which makes him soften a little.

“That’s cute.” Wes pulls me out of my trance with Lochlyn, causing me to sit up again.

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