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“Aurora Coin who goes by Rory but hates it when I call her that, so I call her Carrot, which she says she also hates but she secretly loves.” I rolled my eyes. Why is he so charming? “Who is also really good with a camera, grew up in Chicago, acts like a rottweiler even though she’s a chihuahua, uses all my shampoo, and insults my Jeep and my clothes.” “Are you trying to ask me out or make a bullet point presentation?” I wondered. He mock-gasped, pressing a hand to his chest. “I’m being romantic.” “Some of these things sound like insults,” I pointed out. He chuckled, and damn, if it didn’t
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Also, I’d like to note Ryan was the type of boyfriend who was going to be bossy and overprotective even after Jonas was no longer a problem, even if he tried to say otherwise. It was who he was as a person. Good thing I was feisty and he was totally worth it.
“White,” I lamented. “No.” “They’re blackout,” she told me, pointing at the packaging. “If no light can get through, then neither can perverts’ eyeballs.”
“Let’s do this shit!” Jamie hollered, taking a flying leap into the pool. His splash was so big it hit Rory where she stood. “He’s a giant five-year-old,” she declared.
“Five-year-olds wear water wings, Ryan. Not grown adults.” “I hate to yell you, but you ain’t grown. I think something stunted your growth,” Jamie said as he treaded water. Carrot turned to where he swam to smile sweetly. “I spilled coffee all over your Jeep.” He gasped. “How could you do it to me, bro?”
“This is why you’re single,” I told him, turning toward the locker room. He thought I was high-maintenance? Geez, any girl willing to deal with him should get a medal.
Pushing forward, I cleared my throat. Someone had to help Wes. Poor guy. “Hi, I’m Rory. This is Ryan. My boyfriend.” Max’s eyes slid to me. “Boyfriend?” I nodded. “And this is Jamie. He’s our annoying friend.” “Rude,” Jamie replied.
I didn’t bother to point it out either. Both points would be denied by all parties. Men hated to admit anything.
Jesus, was this what love was like? Fast, hard, and entirely consuming? Did it turn every man inside out and make them near paranoid and rabid about protecting what was his?
It drove him nuts that I wouldn’t stay in his and Jamie’s room every single night. He seemed to think I would get snatched right out of my bed if he wasn’t there to stop it. I mean, how did I manage my entire twenty years sleeping alone before him? *Insert mega eye roll here.*
She gasped. It startled me again. I mean, she was a theater major. Drama was probably her thing.
He smelled of chlorine, he sounded like reassurance, and he felt like home.
Her bloodshot, red-rimmed eyes lifted. “I blew the whistle.” My heart cracked, all my anger draining away. “I heard. You did really good, baby girl.” She smiled. The crack in my heart deepened, and what once was one heart became two. And both of them were owned completely by her.
“I know it looks bad, Ry. But I’m fine. I’d be a lot worse if you hadn’t gotten here when you did.” Then she smiled a little. “You did good.” Huh. Was that why she liked it when I said that so much? It was kinda nice.
“So you’re a victim of that ass hamper too?” I asked her. “What’s an ass hamper?” Madison questioned. “Nothing I’d wanna be,” Jamie put in. Wes made a sound of agreement.
When he carried her by the officer, Jamie stopped. “Don’t be upset, dude. My muscles are just bigger.”
“Can we just go?” “Yeah, baby. Come on.” I lifted her off the bench, ignoring the cops completely. Morons. “I can walk.” “No,” I retorted. “But I have shoes, and you don’t,” she argued. “Don’t sass me, woman.” “I need my bag.” “I got it,” Wes said, going to grab all her stuff nearby. I turned to Madison. “Do you need a ride?” She nodded. Jamie dropped back in front of her, and she hesitated. “It’s dark out.” He reminded her. She climbed on. Smooth, bro. Smooth.
“Ryan?” Rory’s voice made me forget about everyone else, and I glanced down at her bundled in my arms. “Hm?” “I changed my mind. I want to stay at your place tonight.” I scoffed. “Cute of you to assume you had a choice.” “You’re stupid.” She pouted.
I guess living with a list of regrets longer than Santa’s naughty list was way better than not living at all.
Jamie pressed a hand to his chest. “But I gave you a piggyback ride. In some countries, we’d be married!” Madison sighed dramatically. “Is he always like this?” she asked my girl. “Yes. And he’s a horrible, mean morning person.” I laughed under my breath.
“Don’t worry about Madison. Jamie won’t let anyone hurt her.” Gazing down at our clasped hands, she whispered, “Him included?” And that’s when I realized. I fucked up.
“Ever since I met you,” he rasped, “everything else has been slightly out of focus. Like my mind takes those photographs you love so damn much, but the only thing my camera focuses on is you.”
“I love you. I’ve loved you since my naked ass dove in that pool and saw your carrot head sinking. I love you so much it makes me damn near crazy.”
The back of my knuckles grazed her cheek, and I marveled at the fact she wasn’t covered in freckles. I always thought freckles were kinda a requirement for red hair. I smirked. Just meant I was right. Her hair wasn’t red; it was totally orange.
“You’re too small. I thought you got kidnapped,” he growled. “Well, for a minute, I thought you were trying to kidnap me!”
Before leaving for swim practice, the guys made more noise than a marching band.
Ryan’s mood was black as he stalked over to push his hands under my arms. It was completely ridiculous that he pulled me up like I was nothing but a toy, holding me out so I practically dangled over the floor.
“What the hell are you doing?” he demanded. “Curling my hair.” “It’s six o’clock in the morning,” he grumped, and I openly stared at him. “Well, thank God you told me. I never would have known,” she quipped, sarcasm dripping from her tongue. “You should be asleep.” He pointed to his bed like that was where she belonged.
“You already tried once to walk when you thought you were getting in the way of my swimming.” “You’re fighting with your teammates. Your coach. You just walked out of practice,” I pointed out. “I am getting in the way.” “You never asked me to choose.” My eyes flared, indignant. “I would never.” He cocked his head. “Why?” I sucked in a breath. “What kind of question is that?” I demanded. How offensive.
“I chose you over Jonas,” he told me. “And yeah, I walked out. Not because you asked me to choose but because they did. I don’t want to be part of a team that expects blind loyalty to men who don’t deserve it. I love swimming. I love being an Elite. But I had to make a point. We all did. And I don’t want you to feel guilty for a choice I made on my own.”
The dean’s office was located in the oldest building on campus. Dude probably thought it made him all-powerful. I just thought it made him old.
“He wasn’t arrested,” Jamie said. “The cops are idiots like you.” “Jamie,” Madison scolded. “Like it’s a lie,” he retorted.
The second the door was shut firmly behind us, Jamie blew out a big breath. “That man is so full of shit that if we tossed him in the pool, he’d float.”
Palming her back, I pressed our noses together. “I’d do anything for you, baby. Anything to keep you safe.” She sighed. “Ryan.” “Give me some sugar.” “You don’t deserve any,” “Give me some anyway.” She did.
“Why the hell are you naked?” “You made skinny-dipping look fun.” A strangled laugh ripped from his throat. “That is not funny.”
“Bro, you okay?” I nodded. Jamie glanced at Ryan for confirmation. “She’s good.” They were stupid.
It still entirely amused me that they drove matching vehicles. They would argue to the death their Jeeps weren’t “matching” but merely bros. Even though they were different colors with different features, I still thought of them as twins, and it would never change.
If Ryan had a superpower, it would be his charm.
“You are so strong. I know I give you shit for being a shrimp.” He reached out to poke me in the side, making me smile. “But I know how capable you are. And I’m fucking proud to call you mine.”
“I know it’s been hard lately,” he whispered, a few storm clouds darkening his stable gaze. “And I couldn’t let you go another minute without telling how much I love you.” A tear slipped free. He wasn’t a very good human tissue. “I love you too, Ry. I couldn’t have gone through all that without you.” “Yes,” he intoned. “Yes, you could have. But I’m glad I was here. I’m glad you let me in. I’ll always be here to support you, and I’ll always add my voice to yours, making it twice as loud.”
“I’d say us too,” he rumbled against my skin. “But even if he hadn’t pushed you in the pool, I still would have found my way to you.” The soft strands of his hair tickled my cheek when I leaned closer. “You think so?” “Oh, I know.” “How do you know?” I asked, heart pattering wildly. “Because, baby, we are meant to be.” Without a doubt.
