Page 43 of Yours, Unexpectedly

He looks from me to my bedroom door, and then back again. “Holy shit,” he whispers. “You have a guy in there!” The accusation is clear.

“Yes! Oh my God, but I can explain! I’m so, so sorry!”

His face twists up in confusion. “Why are you sorry? You’re twenty-two, Bex. You’re allowed to have guys over. Or girls, you know. Whatever floats your boat. I feel bad about how I acted at the bar the other night when that guy was hitting on you, though I stand by the fact that he had a punchable face.”

And that’s when it hits me. He’s put together some of the pieces, but not all of them. And he has no idea who is in my room right now.

“Right, well… thanks, I guess. But I’m not exactly ready to introduce him to the family,”—even though you have already met—“so you should go.”

Gabe puts his hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll go try Jules I guess. Sorry for barging in. Hey!” He snaps his finger and points at me like he just had a great idea. “We should try that sock on the door thing that people do so I know not to come in!”

“Or... and here me out on this… you could try just, I don’t know, not coming over without asking, like a normal person!”

Gabe’s shoulders slump. He looks like someone just told him ice cream isn’t an acceptable dinner choice. “But that’s not as fun,” he whines.

“Get out of here, you pest!” I say while playfully shoving him out the front door. “Bye! I love you! Text me and we can arrange a mutually agreed upon time to hang out!”

I try to close the door, but at the last minute Gabe’s hand shoots out to stop me.

“Wait! Didn’t you go home because of…” He pauses and I watch as he figures out how to phrase his question. “Girl stuff?”

Fuck. “Oh, yeah. I guess it was a false alarm. Just some cramping.”

“Mmm. Yeah, I’ve heard Mom say that sex helps with that,” Gabe ponders.

“Oh my God, get out!” I shove his arm out of the way and finally shut the front door, turning to lean against it as I let out the breath I’ve been subconsciously holding.

Simultaneously, all three bedroom doors open and three sets of mischievous eyes stare back at me.

“Holy shit, that was close,” Riz whispers.

“Should we have come out to save you? I was in here debating it the whole time!” Luci chimes in.

Anders pulls at his collar, a deep blush rising on his cheeks. “Sorry, babe. I was trying to listen in and tripped over the vibrator we left on the ground.”

“Anders!” My hands reach up to cover my face as I slide down the door until I’m safely on the ground where I can die of embarrassment.

The last thing I see is my two best friends, and whatever Anders is to me, bent over in laughter.

“You’re going to pay for that, killer!” I reply.

“Yes, please,” he says with a wink before turning back into my room and shutting the door.

“Oh, you’re in trouble,” Riz replies, taking the words right out of my mouth.

“Mrs. Delucca suggested I audition for a few college programs.”

I’m broaching this subject during an extremely rare dinner with both Mom and Dad, which I know is a risk.

“Who the fuck is Mrs. Delucca? And what kind of college programs? I thought you had decided on applying to the Ivies for business.” My dad sips his whiskey, waiting for my reply.

“My theater teacher, Dad. She says I have a lot of potential and should consider applying to some colleges with good acting programs.”

“Like hell you will.” And with that, the conversation is over.

Mom remains silent.

After putting that vibrator to good use, Bex and I spend the rest of the morning drinking coffee, making pancakes, and talking with Luci and Riz, who seem entirely too excited about the possibility of me and Bex being together. I would be right there with them, but every time one of them makes a comment, Bex immediately shoots over one of her famous death glares.

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