Page 70 of The Pass Protection
Leaning against the opposite counter with a glass tumbler filled with an iced coffee, the color of the sand, is my hunk of a boyfriend. His unruly blond hair stands on its ends as he rests his head against the cabinet above the counter he’s leaning against. I take a moment to scan my eyes over his half naked body while his eyes are closed. Crew’s thick, muscular body is on full display as his arm muscles bulge from where they’re crossed over his chest. A prominent V trails below the gray sweatpants he’s wearing, and I can’t help but admire how snug those pants are in all the right places. The fabric squeezes his thick thighs as the outline of his dick is evident through the light-colored material.
Noise still filters from the dining room, and I hastily eat up the space that separates us.
“Hey, boyfriend,” I whisper the words as I fling my armsaround his neck.
Crew’s eyes fly open as he quickly glances to the doorway before unfolding his arms and pulling me against his chest.
“Hey, Rebel. How are you feeling?” Tilting my head up, I look into his tired chocolate-brown eyes and admire the golden flecks spread throughout. He bends down as our lips find each other. It’s a quick kiss. Neither one of us wants to risk getting caught as we separate from each other.
“I feel like I was hit by a truck.” He chuckles, and I cringe. “Apparently, I stripped out of my clothes last night.”
Crew’s lips tilt in a smirk as he reaches behind me for the white mug. “I didn’t mind the show. Although I’m not a fan of sharing my naked girlfriend with the rest of the group.”
“Sorry,” I cringe, taking the mug from his outstretched hand.
Warmth seeps from the hot, rich, black coffee, and I savor the heat against my palm. Nothing is better than a steamy cup of joe in the morning, especially when you feel like death warmed over.
“Nah, don’t be.” With a kiss to my temple, Crew steps around me, and I follow him out of the kitchen toward the rest of our friends. He gestures for me to take the empty seat next to Liv while he sits in his desk chair, which is already in the room.
Sitting down, I grab my fork and stab two cakes, plopping them on my plate before reaching for the maple syrup. The glass canister is warm to my touch as I pour the sweet amber liquid over the golden-brown pancakes. “Warm maple syrup?”
“Obviously.” Tyler nods. “When do you have to leave, Liv?”
“Never,” I mumble around a mouthful.
“I wish, babes.” She leans her head until it’s resting against my shoulder. “I need to leave by one.”
JP glances at his watch. “Baby girl, that’s in like thirty minutes.”
She shrugs, adding another pancake to her plate. “These are amazing. Someone needs to send me the recipe.”
“I can do that.” Tyler nods.
The next fifteen minutes are spent eating layers and layers of pancakes, laughing about our drunken antics, and begging Liv to become an Eagle. At five till one, my best friend stands in the living room hugging my roommates goodbye.
It’s weird how effortlessly she fit right into the mix. There was never any awkwardness among the group. It’s as if she’s always been here. But that’s Olivia Reed for you. The girl with an edgy exterior but a selfless heart who meshes in with whatever crowd she’s around.
After she hugs JP, she moves to where I’m leaning against the hallway wall. With a pout on her face, Liv spreads her arms wide. “Babes.”
I reach for her shoulders and pull her into me. “Thank you for coming and for everything.”
“I’ll always have your back, my twin flame sister.” Pressing a kiss on my cheek, she pulls out of my embrace. “See you soon.”
“See you soon.”
Liv is not a believer in goodbyes. She says they’re too final, and as long as she’s breathing, there’s no such thing as goodbye or the end.
Turning, she stares down the over six feet tall walls of muscles standing before us. Her stern expression would make anyone cower. “Now, you guys better take care of my girl.” In the briefest of seconds, her eyes flit to Crew. “She’s been through hell, but you guys are good for her. Protect her, or you’ll have me to deal with. And Iknowsome people.”
Nudging my shoulder against hers, I shake my head. Her phone chimes from her back pocket. “That’s my cue. Thank you for an epic weekend.”
“Come back anytime.” JP smiles at Liv as she reaches for her bag.
Giving me one last hug and a wave over her shoulder, my best friend vanishes out the front door.
With Liv gone, the apartment felt colder and emptier. It’s as if a dark cloud has settled over apartment eight-thirty-four and soured my mood. Not that I’ve been in the best mood, thanks to the awful headache that ibuprofen and sports drinks won’t cure. I spent time tidying up the apartment by storing leftover pancakes, cleaning the dishes, and wiping down all hard surfaces. Somehow, in an apartment full of grown adults, we managed to get syrup all over the place.
Once the kitchen was spotless, I grabbed all the fabric scraps from my costume last night. I still can’t believe I stripped out of my clothes once I crossed the threshold. Getting back to the apartment is a bit of a blur and I really,reallyhope I didn’t try to make any moves on Crew, especially in front of our roommates.
