Page 123 of Left on Base

“That’s not what he was doing,” Callie protests.

“No, but it’s a better story than ‘I wanted to see if I could eat ramen upside down.’”

Driving back to campus, Fork Guy and Bus Stop Guy shrink in the mirror, but I swear I still hear their goodbyes to Patricia the parking meter. Something about how she’ll regret this when she’s old and rusted.

“You know,” Jaxon says, “I think Fork Guy was right about one thing.”

“The emotional cutlery?”

“Yeah.” He ruffles my hair over the back seat. “Sometimes you have to pull the fork out.”

I look at him, smiling. “Even if it hurts?”

“Even if it hurts.”

Callie makes gagging noises. “If you two start using fork metaphors for your relationship, I’m pulling over."

But she’s smiling, and so am I. I think about Fork Guy, probably right now convincing his roommate that eating ramen right-side up is for quitters.

Walking back to the dorms,Callie rambles about never seeing plastic forks the same again, but I’m distracted by how Jaxon keeps “accidentally” brushing against me.

“I should probably get started on that essay,” he says, but his voice has that low edge that makes my stomach flip.

He leans close, lips brushing my ear. “I was thinking about an experiment. Something about positive reinforcement and…” his hand slides along my lower back, pulling at my shirt, “...muscle memory.”

“You two are disgusting,” Callie announces, already backing away with a knowing grin. “I’m going to bleach my brain and pretend I don’t know exactly what’s about to happen.”

“We’re just studying!” I call.

“Yeah, anatomy.” She flips us off without turning around. “Use protection and ice that chin!”

Jaxon’s already dragging me toward his dorm, fingers laced with mine. “You know,” he murmurs against my neck, “I’ve got some utensils of my own that definitely won’t need pulling out.”

“That was terrible,” I laugh, then gasp as he presses me to his door. “Seriously, the worst.”

“Mmm. But I made you smile, so whatever.”

His lips are inches from mine, and all I can think is this is probably a bad idea, but I’ve already face-planted into concrete tonight. Might as well commit to bad decisions.

“Yeah, you did,” I manage, even as my hands slide under his shirt.

He draws a deep breath, eyes locked on mine. “Are you gonna tell me why you were stalking me?”

“Nope.”

“All right. We don’t need to talk.” There’s a loaded suggestion in his voice, and I follow him inside.

I know, I know. I shouldn’t fall back into bed with him... I blame bush diving. And Fork Guy. And the way Jaxon looks at me like I’m the only thing that matters, even with my busted chin and questionable decisions.

Maybe Fork Guy was right. Sometimes you’ve got to pull out the emotional cutlery and deal with the fallout later.

Or in my case, let Jaxon pull me in and help me forget everything but the feel of his hands and the way he whispers my name like a secret.

Rule: If a guy with a fork in his eye gives you relationship advice, maybe don’t listen. But if the boy you can’t stop falling for presses you against his door and makes you forget why falling’s a bad idea in the first place... well, that’s a different kind of gravity.

CHAPTER 22

DEAD BALL

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