Page 76 of The Late Hit
“Morning, Xav. How are you feeling?”
He grunts his response before slowly bringing his arms underneath his chin. That’s when he notices the pancakes sitting on the counter. “Bro, you made hangover cakes?”
“Not for you,” Quinton answers, drying off the frying pan.
Sliding my plate over to Xavier, I nudge his arm with my shoulder, gesturing toward my plate. His eyes light up, finding mine and mouthing his thanks.
Pushing up from my seat, I decide it’s time for me to head back to my place. There’s a very long, very cold shower waiting for me. But I don’t get very far before Quinton is right behind me, following me to his room. He kicks the door shut behind him, but I don’t turn to face him. I wait for him. Even though he’s been the one making all of the moves lately. It’s hard for me to be vulnerable. It’s hard to give myself over and love someone with all my heart. I’m scared to love him as much as I want to because everyone I love dies, leaves me, or forgets I exist. If Q were to do that, I’d never survive.
“Dammit, Brynn.” Quinton moves so that his body is pressed into mine. “Would you turn that beautiful mind off for two damn seconds? Aren’t you exhausted?”
Turning around, I face him, placing my hands on my hips to keep from wrapping them around his waist.
“I’m sorry,” I say, dropping my head.
Placing two fingers under my chin, he forces my gaze up to him. “What the fuck for?”
He snakes his hand from my chin to the back of my neck. The movement is so powerful. It feels like he owns me. That I am his. And I’ll wear that title like a badge of honor.
Sighing, I stare up at him. My eyes drink him in. “I’m scared to give myself to you. Fully. Not just as friends, but as everything.”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he steps back toward his bed, his arms not leaving me, pulling me along with him. Dropping on the bed, he brings me down on top of him. Straddling him, my legs go to each side of his muscular thighs as I sit down on him. Our eyes never break connection. No words are spoken. It’d be awkward if it was anyone else. We both need time to process. And I can tell he’s working through what he’s about to say.
Just as I’m about to break our stare, his lips crash into mine. It isn’t a heated kiss like we shared last night. This kiss is slow. It’s as if he’s pouring all of his thoughts and feelings into this one kiss, and I don’t know how to process it. I don’t get a chance to think about it for long because he’s pulling away, a small smile spreading across his lips. Seeing him smile makes a smile spread across my lips.
“Go on a date with me,” Quinton blurts out.
Chuckling, I shake my head. “What?”
Eyes finding mine again, he holds his gaze on me, running his hands up and down my arms. “Let’s make things official. Let me take you out on a date.”
“Q, we’re already official. Remember? Me and you, exclusive,” I respond, pointing my finger between us.
“Yeah, I know. But I want to take you on a date. Somewhere away from campus.”
“Okay,” I rasp out. “When?”
“Wait, for real? I thought for sure I’d have to convince your stubborn ass.”
Punching his arm, I try to push off him, but he’s too quick. Hands grab my hips and pull me back down. Our new position has him lining up with my center perfectly. Without thinking, I grind my hips down on him.
Groaning, his eyes find mine. “Keep it up and see what happens, Wilder.”
I smirk and bring my lips to his. Immediately he opens, and our tongues begin tangling. We can’t get enough of each other. He grows hard beneath me, my hips flexing involuntarily. But before he has a chance to react, I jump off his lap, running straight toward the bathroom, laughing the whole way.
“You’re cruel, Brinley Wilder,” Quinton shouts from outside the closed door.
“Weneedtotalk.”
Four words that no one ever wants to hear. Especially as they walk in their front door. Closing the door, I make my way into the living room where Chloe and Macy are both sitting. Tension hangs around the girls like a fog on a morning in the fall. Standing in the doorway, my eyes bounce between each girl.
Chloe and Macy have been my found family for two years. Ever since we met each other freshman year, we’ve been inseparable.
Going off to college, especially in a new state, is terrifying. You’re no longer in the comfort of your hometown where you’ve been surrounded by the same people since kindergarten. Now you’re on this huge campus—alone—trying to make friends, declare your major, find hobbies, and get good grades, all while trying to find yourself along the way. It’s freaking hard, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
My feet lead me into the living room while my mind swims with all the potential things the girls would want to talk about. Replaying the last week in my head, I don’t recall any time that I would’ve pissed them off. But that’s the thing with women, we don’t need much to set us off. Coming to a stop on the opposite end of the couch from where Chloe is sitting on, I sit down, bringing my legs underneath me. Macy is to my right in our recliner.
Once again, my head swivels, searching for some kind of answer. “What’s up?”
