Page 21 of Brandishing Beginnings

He kissed me again, before he left my room, leaving my heart and body a mess.

Maya

“Let’sgo!Firstroundson me!” I yelled to my friends as they walked into the hole-in-the wall bar in Rockwell. The Squirrel Cage was a local townie bar that we had found when Arturo and Karma had bought a house in their hometown of Rockwell, located about an hour from the school.

So many weekends we found ourselves out in the country, enjoying the small-town life around Arturo’s and Karma’s. The Squirrel Cage also didn’t card, which was great for Kara and Stephanie, who were in their second year of college—only nineteen years old—and couldn’t get in most bars we went to. The bar was also down the road from our friend’s house, so we couldwalk back and pass out on the floor or couch, or if you were lucky enough, the guest bedroom.

After drinks were ordered, Stephanie, Karma, Terri, and Arturo hit the dance floor, leaving Kara and I behind to sip our drinks and watch our friends’. “Hey, Marcos mentioned he hadn’t heard from you in a while. Everything OK?” Kara asked.

I glanced over at her, trying to gauge her thoughts on things. Shrugging, I sighed and said, “l dunno. It’s fun talking to them, but I don’t want to lead them on. Like the sex is good, but I don’t plan on being in Mourningside long term.”

“So tell them that! So they leave me alone!” Kara gave me an annoyed look.

I laughed. “They’ve been that bad?”

“Girl, you have no idea. Like fucking whooped.”

My heart sunk to my stomach. “Fuck.”

“Yeah. Girl, I told you I don’t care either way. You do you, boo. My brother and his friend’s obsession aside—you have plans for yourself. Don’t let a little dick get in your way.”

“The dicks aren’t little,” I shot back, smirking.

“Oh gross!” Kara yelled and reached for her drink. “I need to wash out my ear drums!”

I laughed and tossed back my own drink, feeling great. Summer break had been long and grueling, and having my friends back with the fall semester was just the rejuvenation I’d needed. School hadbeen back in session for two months and it was quickly nearing the Thanksgiving break.

Marcos, Nico, and Jason had been texting me all summer, randomly or nonstop at times. I enjoyed talking to them, but I never made it home over the summer break like I planned, instead I headed to Chicago and spent my time off with my sister. I’d only gotten three weeks before and after summer school, and I wanted to soak up as much time with my sister as I could.

The guys seemed to understand, but they weren’t dating either, so I didn’t feel the need to explain it to them. Dorm move-in day had fallen on a Tuesday, and I was working at the clinic as a CNA—certified nursing assistant—so I had missed Marcos, Nico, and Jason when they helped Kara move into the dorm.

Marcos:

Where are you?

Maya:

At work, why?

Jason:

Cause we’re here, and you aren’t.

Nico:

We were hoping to see you.

Marcos:

What timeyou get off?

Maya:

clinic closes at 8.

That had been the extent of their conversation, and I hadn’t heard from them since then, and that had been two months ago. I hadn’t been bothered. Life was busy. School, work, and clinicals took up most of my time. When I wasn’t studying, I was squeezing in as much of thecollege experienceas I could with my friends. It was my final year, I’d be graduating in the spring, and I just needed to buckle down and concentrate for a little bit longer.

I hit the dance floor when Arturo came back to our table. He’d watch our drinks while I had fun with our friends. I fucking loved nights like these, where everyone was together. There was a loud cheer from my friends when Kyle and Travis walked the crowded bar. They had another man with them, one I hadn’t met yet, but by the looks of him, I was hoping to.

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