Page 24 of Necessary Roughness
“I’m taking eighteen credits,” I explained. “A full class load. I have three classes Monday-Wednesday-Friday, and three more that meet Tuesday-Thursday. I’m always done by three in the afternoon.”
“Do you have a job or any other hobbies?”
“I wish,” I muttered. “I barely have enough time for my schoolwork. Six of my credits are graduate classes. Although I shouldn’t complain—I’m sure it’s a lot worse for you guys.”
“A-fucking-men,” Logan said. “They work us to the bone.”
“We have conditioning at six in the morning,” Knox explained. “Then classes until noon. The afternoon starts with study hall, then we have team meetings at two.”
“Then therealday begins,” Logan chimed in. “Football practice from three to seven. That includes warm-ups, drills, scrimmages, and ice baths.”
“Team dinner is at seven,” Knox continued. “Coach is real strict about everyone eating together. Then we have study hall or tutoring until it’s time to pass out.”
“And then we do it all over the next day,” Logan finished.
I stared at each of them in turn. “You do thatevery day?”
Knox nodded. “Fridays are more relaxed. Instead of practice, we have team meetings to discuss the game on Saturday. Or we travel if it’s an away game. Plus curfew.”
“Coach isrealstrict about curfew the night before a game. Everyone has to be in bed by nine.” Logan grinned. “Although now that I’m saying it out loud, he never told us what we’re allowed to do once we’reinbed.”
I felt my cheeks grow hot. Which was silly, considering his joke wasn’t any more sexual than the actual topic of discussion.
Fuck buddies. Friends with benefits.
“So based on your schedule,” I said, “Saturday nights are good?”
“Thursdays, too,” Knox said.
“Thursday night is good for me,” I replied.
It felt strange discussing this so formally. Like we were discussing when to meet up to study. Based on the wry expression on Knox’s chiseled face, he saw the absurdity in the situation, too.
“Meet here Thursday night, then,” Logan said.
We all exchanged glances, then nodded.
“And if anyone changes their mind or gets cold feet before then? It’s no big deal. We can all just pretend like none of this happened.”
“Deal,” I said.
We spent a moment exchanging phone numbers.
“There’s that time traveler phone again,” Logan joked.
I frowned at him. “Time traveler?”
“It was a joke I made at the party.” He grinned. “Drunk Sloane would remember it.”
“I’ll ask her to explain it the next time I see her.” I got to my feet. “Okay, then.”
Knox and Logan stood up. “All right.”
None of us seemed to know how to say goodbye. What was the courtesy after arranging your first fuck-date with your new fuck-buddies? After a few awkward moments, Logan stuck out his fist. I bumped mine against it, then did the same to Knox. It was wild how muchbiggertheir hands were than mine.
I cringed on my way out the door. Fist-bumping felt so silly. They probably thought I was a loser.
They still want you.
