Odd Man Rush (East Coast, #2)

by Kristen Granata

“What are you doing now?” she asks. “I’m Googling the Greek word for asshole.”

Cackling

“You noticed, huh?” “Yeah, I fucking noticed.” I arch a brow. “You think you’re pretty slick, don’t you, boss man?” “I have my moments.” “Well, I learned a new word today: Vlakas.” His head tilts back as he laughs. “I’m an idiotic ass?”

“I’ll teach you another: Na sa gamiso tora.” “What does that mean?” He tips my chin and speaks against my lips. “It means I’m going to fuck you now.”

UNWELL

Kourtney straddles his hips, and cries out as she drops down onto his cock. He reaches for me, and I kneel over his face with my knees on either side of his head, facing Kourtney. His massive hands splay across my ass cheeks, spreading me open. When I feel his warm tongue swirl over my pussy, I lose all sense. This man’s tongue has the potential to ruin me.

The three of us are being fucked at the same time and it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever been a part of.

Kourtney smiles. “Damn, we look good.” And I smile too, because we do. It doesn’t look fake, or put on, because it isn’t. The three of us look natural together, like it’s normal for us to have sex like this. But it’s not normal. This is only temporary, no matter how good it feels.

This will come to an end, and we’ll go back to being just friends. And I have to remind myself of that reality, especially when Jason tucks the both of us under each of his arms, and we fall fast asleep entangled in the sheets.

“I wasn’t always this way. I think I got to a point in my life where I looked at myself in the mirror and you couldn’t recognize the person staring back at me. I had to choose: Either make everyone else happy and die a little more inside each day, until there was nothing left of me; or start living my life for myself and hope that people love me enough to stick around.”

“Our parents are only capable of so much based on the way they were raised. It’s up to them to do the work and expand their minds in their adult lives. And most of them can’t do it. That shit is hard, undoing decades and generations of close-minded discrimination and judgment. They have to truly want to grow and learn.”

“What’s going to happen when Celeste moves back to her apartment and your agreement is over? Have you thought about what things will be like after this?” “That’s all I seem to be thinking about. But if I’m being honest with you, I don’t want it to be over.”

“I don’t want Celeste to go back to her apartment. I like having her there with us. I don’t want to stop having sex together. And I don’t want to only have sex for the website. I want...I don’t know. I guess I want things to stay like this.”

“I think you just tell them. There’s no easy way to do it. You say the words, and then the secret’s out. You just have to be prepared for the fallout if your parents don’t approve of your throuple.” My stomach churns. “I don’t think they’d approve.” “So, what’s more important to you: Having your parents’ approval, or being together with Jason and Celeste?” My mind races for an answer, but I don’t have one. “I don’t know.”

“And you? How are you feeling about this?” “I love it.” “Good.” “Jason’s enjoying himself too,” I add. She smirks. “I think we knocked his socks off with that double blowjob we gave him the other day.” I laugh. “Yeah, he’ll never want to go back to one mouth on him ever again.”

“So, I was thinking we should throw a party for Erika after she has her surgery.”

“And where will you go?” “I’ll room with you and Jason.” She swallows. “If that’s okay with the both of you.” I fight the smile that’s trying to stretch across my face. “Of course that’s okay.” “We’d have to put our sexcapades on hold while she’s here.” She hikes a shoulder. “I figured we could push back our contract date another week.” “Sure.”

Unwell

“I’ve loved you my whole life, and this thing we’re doing? It’s fun and it’s thrilling, but we’re risking our friendship. If things get fucked up when this is all over, I won’t be able to withstand the fallout. You and Jason will have each other, but I’ll always be the outsider.” “Hey, stop.”

“Look at me, Celeste. You’ll always have me, no matter what. Even when you moved across the country to Seattle, you still had me. If you needed me for anything, all you had to do was call and I would’ve jumped and ran to help you. And you have Jason too. We’ve all been friends since we were kids, and he has your back. Whether you want to believe it or not, he cares about you. We’re not going anywhere.”

“I think we should check in like this more often.” I lace our fingers together. “It’s important to communicate and make sure we’re on the same page.”

He pulls out a chair, gesturing for me to sit. “She’s working an event. She’ll be home late.” I plop onto the chair and glance up at him. “So...we’re having date night?”

“That okay with you?” My stomach flips, but I arch a brow. “Did you hear about our girl time in the bath the other night and get jealous, boss man?”

“Maybe I did.” “Tell you what. I’ll let you braid my hair and then we can have a pillow fight after.” “I might l...

Jason arches a brow. “You sure it’s not all the half-chewed food lodged in there?” I wave him off and dip my bread into the sauce. “You’re a phenomenal cook, boss man. Seriously, everything you make is outstanding.” He bites back a smile. “Thanks.”

“Bless you.” Jason watches me from over the rim of his glass. “You okay over there?” “Yeah, I don’t know what’s happening.” I blow my nose into my napkin. “Sorry. What a sexy date I am, huh?” He smirks. “You’re sexy even with snot in your nose.” My hands fly up to cover my face. “Fuck, I have a booger?” His head tilts back as he laughs. “No.” I chuck a piece of bread at him. “Don’t be a vlakas.”

“I love it when you curse me in Greek.” Another sneeze has me turning away from the table. “Seriously, are you okay?”

“You told them not to put dairy in this, right?” “I told them twice when I ordered.” The color drains from his face. “Are you having an allergic reaction?”

“Fuck.” “It’s okay. It happens sometimes when we order out.”

“Unless you’re trying to kill me for having sex with your wife. Oh god, please don’t tell me this nice guy thing was just an act. I’ll stop, I swear. You don’t have to kill me with cheese.”

“This isn’t funny. Stop making jokes. Tell me where your pills ...

“Shouldn’t we go to the hospital? Will these pills be enough?”

“I don’t need to go to the hospital.” I shake out two pills from my medication container into my palm. “Can I have some water, please?”

“I can’t believe I fucked up like this. I’m such an idiot.” “See? Told you that you’re a vlakas.”

“Please stop making jokes right now. I’m freaking out.”

“Why are you freaking out? You’re not the one going into anaphylactic shock.” I clamp my hand over my mouth. “Sorry. That was the last joke, promise.” “How long does it take the pills to kick in?” “If they work, it’ll take about thirty minutes.” “What do you mean if they work?”

Oh no

“Sometimes, the pills don’t help and my throat closes. Then I have to administer my Epi-Pen.” He grimaces. “Maybe we should go to the hospital.” “That’s only a last resort.” I scratch my chest. “I hate that fucking place. I was there all the time growing up.”

“You’re covered in hives. Come on, let’s get you in the bath.”

“I have them. I stocked up when you moved in just in case.” My feet falter as I gaze up at him. “You did?”

My heart

“Let’s go.” “No, there’s no let’s. I’ve got this.” “I’m coming with you.” “Look, boss man. This allergic reaction isn’t pretty. My throat and eyes swell, I get extremely mucousy in the nose, and I usually start puking. You don’t need to stick around for all of that.”

“When should you resort to the Epi-Pen?” “I hate that thing. It hurts like a bitch.” He grips my face. “Where is it?” “In my nightstand.”

“It’s okay, kókkino. I’ve got you. I’m here.”

“Hey, boss man.” I flush the bowl and lean my back against the cool porcelain tub as I gasp for air from my swelling throat. “Think I’m gonna need that Epi-Pen after all.”

“We’ll do it together, okay?” I nod as a tear slips down my cheek. “On the count of three. One...two...”

“Ow, fuck,” I cry out. “I knew you were going to go before three.” “I’m sorry.” Jason swipes the tear from my cheek and brushes his thumb along my jawline. “Now what?” I leave the needle in for several seconds before pulling it out. “Now, I get into the bath.” I push off the floor, and my stomach roils as I move to get up. “But first, I’m going to puke again.”

“Are you...are you laughing?” “Would you believe it if I told you this wasn’t the worst date I’ve been on?”

Oh no

“Well, this is a first for me. I’ve never almost killed my date.” I pat him on the leg. “It’s going to take a lot more than that to kill me.”

Then he tears his shirt over his head and steps out of his pants. In one quick sweep, he hoists me off the floor and steps into the bath with me, lowering us down together until I’m lying against his back.

“I’m so sorry I did this to you and ruined our night.” “It’s okay. Seriously, accidents happen when it comes to my allergy. You remember prom night, don’t you?” He nods. “It was scary as fuck seeing you like that.”

“You turned out better than okay.”

“Can you do something for me?” he asks. “Sure.” “Do you think you can try to look at me as more than your best friend’s husband?” “What do you mean?” “We’ve known each other since we were teenagers. I’d like to think that I’m one of your best friends.” He swallows. “Not just someone you associate with because of Kourtney.” A small smile creeps onto my face. “Sure, boss man. I can do that.”

Crying

“Let’s get you into bed.” I glance down at the shirt he picked for me. It’s black with the Goldfinches’ yellow logo on the front. “Your name is on the back of this, isn’t it?”

“Save your voice. You need to rest.” I shake my head. “Does it really bother you that I wear Trenton’s jersey and not yours?” “Not as much as the reason why you don’t wear it.”