Zone Entry (Camrose U, #1)

by Maia Kinley

It’s funny to me that despite him being a neat freak, everything else about him is pure chaos.

I always thought that if I ever had to unpack my attraction to men, it would be a huge eureka moment, but no. It is what it is.

Honestly, I know he’s figuring things out for himself out as well. Rhys is into his brother’s best friend, even if he’s never outright told me. He avoids Isaac as much as he can, and his brother thinks it’s indifference, but I know better.

“Make sure he gets up in the morning. He’ll miss the bus if you don’t tell him to move.” He turns away and mumbles, “You’re both so obvious.” Not sure what he means by that, and I don’t care.

Yeah, kissing feels nice, but it’s always felt like a means to an end for me. I like it because it leads to fucking, and I’ve never really been into the habit of kissing anyone just so they’d smile.

“Nicky, I know you have some weird issue speaking up for yourself, but I need you to fucking tell me if you’re not comfortable with something.”

“What’re you smiling at?” he asks. “You can go first… and I’m smiling because you really are a lot sweeter than you let on.”

Caleb insists he hates Rhys, and he doesn’t make a secret out of it, but if that’s how he treats someone he claims he hates, then it only shows what kind of a person he truly is.

his eyes widen. “Oh, she’s like you. She’s possessive, too.” “I’m not possessive,”

I snort. How can I not call him a good boy when he acts like a puppy preening for compliments?

I wonder if Nick even realizes how romantic he sounds sometimes.

“I guess you’re a good boy, too,” he teases, and I choke out a laugh and punch him lightly on the arm.

That smile? How he’s always polite and stops to make small talk with everyone? The way he never takes the bait when someone from the other team taunts him? I didn’t realize until now that all those weren’t actually flaws.

It doesn’t get past me that he specifies openly queer guy, and I wonder if there are others that I’m not privy to. I won’t ask, though. But also…

As soon as I say that, Nick visibly relaxes. Even if he’s hunched over his food, I can see how the corner of his lips quirk up. Ohhh. He’s sulking because of the app? I cough to hide back a laugh, because isn’t that just adorable?

Me: Your possessiveness is showing. Relax, like I said, I deleted the app weeks ago. Nicky: If you say so. Me: Jealous, much? Nicky: No. Me: What am I supposed to do? Turn back time? Nicky: No. Drop it. It’s whatever. Not my business. Me: And yet here you are, sulking. Nicky: I’m not.

I do some digging in my head. Holy shit. That was after the night we kissed, and the day we fooled around in the hotel. He told them that early?

The fuck was I even worried about earlier, concerned that Nick might not come out to his friends? He did it literal hours after we made out for the first time.

Beside him, Rhys has his palms pressed against his eyes as he leans back and tries not to laugh, probably at the ridiculousness of this entire conversation. Or maybe he’s laughing because he’s figured us out. Who knows?

Or he does know, and he’s not asking. Same way I don’t ask him about the longtime crush he has on his brother’s best friend.

“Fuck you!” “You’re not my type, baby!” Schultz cackles. “On that note, can you bring Maddox along?” “I told you he isn’t into jocks!”

“Baby…” God. Caleb and his nicknames. It’s the first time he’s used that one, and my heart skips a beat.

Leave it to Nick to keep this all from me—and I’m pretty sure Rhys is bringing it up like this, so I’d find out. The way he stares at me makes it obvious. Though, I get it. These are things I should probably know about the dude I’m seeing. Wait, what the fuck? Are we dating? And is this Rhys acknowledging that?

“You’re all right with me not being around on New Year’s?” I ask. Penny shrugs. “You can annoy Nick instead.” I burst out laughing and grab her, ignoring her protests as I hug her as tight as I can.

Despite him being a grump, though, I can’t deny I miss him. I contemplated calling him or FaceTiming him a few times, only to stop myself. He’s spending time with his family, and I can’t disturb that.

Caleb and I are similar in being a people pleaser, except that while I do it to not be a burden, he does it because it makes him happy. He goes out of his way for others, and not for the same reason I do. It comes naturally to him, and even if he can be rough around the edges sometimes, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as selfless and genuine as him.

“Beg to come.” “Please. Baby, please. I want to come.” He’s so out of it I don’t even think he noticed the nickname that slipped through his lips.

“Thank you,” he says. “Thanking me again?” I huff a laugh. “For what this time… sex?” “No,” he says, also laughing. “Thank you again for coming back. I didn’t know I needed you until I saw you.” I’m pretty sure my heart is about to burst out of my chest. “Jesus, Nicky. You can’t just say shit like that.”

Surprisingly, Nick didn’t assault me in his sleep this time. He was actually well behaved. Maybe the secret to having Nick sleep peacefully was a good fucking. I smirk and catalog that thought.

These last few weeks actually made me think that we fit pretty well together. But… I messed everything up for him? Seriously? That quickly, the fever dream of how we could ever work shatters, and I don’t know how to fix it.

“He cares too much for people who are important to him.” Maddox watches me, as if gauging my reaction. Fuck. The words Caleb said to me echo in my mind—Message received. I’ll stop caring.

The things I said to him… god. What’s wrong with me? I kept my distance because of what he said on New Year’s, and then I lashed out at him when I wasn’t only frustrated at him but also at everything else. And he just stood there and took it. And… despite that all, he’s done this for me. Fuck. I scrub a hand over my face, and my heart thrums in my chest. I don’t deserve him. And in a moment of clarity, I realize that I will do everything to change that.

It’s been a while since I’ve kissed him, and I remember what I’ve been missing out, and it’s a wonder I could hold out this long.

“I’m sorry I’ve been a dick to you lately.” “You weren’t.” “I really, really was.” He smiles. “Okay, but it’s not as if that’s anything new. Besides, apparently, I like dicks.”

“Baby,” I say, and he sucks in a breath. “You’re closed off, can’t speak up for yourself, and you put up this weird perfect image that annoys the hell out of me.” “Please continue,” he says dryly, smiling. “But I like you. A lot.

“Yeah, so…” I stare at him, wondering why he isn’t getting this. “I think we’ve been dating for a while now. Calling it casual but exclusive was silly from the start.” “Oh, fuck.” He smiles wide and his eyes lighten up. “Shit, you’re right. We’re boyfriends.” “Is that okay?”

“We’ve got all the time in the world.” “Yes, because we’re dating. We’re actual boyfriends.” He pats my head, ever so patronizing. “You have no clue what you’re getting into, baby. Just wait and see. I’ll be the best boyfriend ever.”

According to Rhys, he’s having trouble with one of his classes and his scholarship’s on the line.

you’re a terrible tutor. We tried that last year, remember? Nothing stuck—hey!” “My bad,” I say, pretending I kicked the back of his seat by accident.

That immediately perks Schultz up. “Seriously?” Wait. Fuck. Being cock-blocked annoyed me so much I completely forgot my mission to never introduce Schultz to Maddox.

don’t like him right now.” “Because he’s flirting with Maddox? What’s wrong with that?” “He’s no good for him.” “He’s flirting with him, Caleb, not proposing. He’s a good guy.” “Not good enough for Madd, though.”

“Fine,” Maddox says. “If you win, I’ll tutor you once. If I win, you stop staring at me all the time.” “You actually recognize me?” “Clearly. Your staring’s distracting, and I’d like you to stop.” “He recognizes me!” Schultz turns to us, his face all lit up.

He yells in surprise, as if even he can’t believe it, and Maddox scowls at him. When Schultz isn’t looking though, Maddox’s scowl turns into an amused smirk.

“Go to sleep, love.” My heart leaps and my fingers freeze in his hair, but he doesn’t seem to notice. I wonder if he even realizes what he called me—since the day we met, he comes up with all these new nicknames for me. That one may just be my favorite.

Who cares? Everyone else around is celebrating, and even if anyone saw us all cuddly, anyone who has an issue with it can suck my dick. Well, not literally. Only Nick can do that.

But that’s the issue. I’m a mistake in his life—he shouldn’t let me fuck around. He should insist that I be the most use to him as I can be. And if I think only about myself, then what about him?

Oh god. My head’s hammering, partly from nerves and mostly from excitement. Who the hell knew that conversation would be that easy? I still feel fucking horrible knowing that I’m putting myself first, but I don’t think Dad would let it go now that he knows the truth.

“Are you angry?” he mumbles. “No? Why would I be?” “I didn’t mean for that whole exposé to happen. I know you didn’t want to have that conversation.” “Oh…” Shit, he’s so thoughtful, as always. So endearingly cute that I want to squeeze his cheeks, but he’d probably threaten to punch my throat. “That wasn’t on you.”

My jaw drops. Three. That’s how in demand my amazing boyfriend is, and I realize he’s been downplaying his opportunities all this time. Or maybe he’s been completely ignoring it because he truly didn’t think he deserved it.

I lean in and kiss him on the temple. “We really are cute, babe.” Except for Schultz who bursts out laughing, everyone else groans in disapproval.