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Being single is a wonderful and liberating thing.
The least a guy can do is avoid staring at your boobs while he breaks up with you.
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“Are you feeding a family of bears?” One side of his mouth pulls up. “Just one very hungry dude.”
“Are you?” “N-no.” He laughs and takes a step away. “Noon. That’s what time I eat lunch, in case you want to get here early or join me.”
BRO WHY ISNT IT THIS SIMPLE?
“My sister is crashing here this weekend, so best behavior.” He stands. “What the hell? What happened to no chicks?” I ask. “She’s my sister, not the same thing.” “Depends. Is she hot?”
“Right. Yeah. My roommate’s boyfriend is in town for the weekend.” “Lucky for us.” “I doubt you guys will even know I’m here.” “One chick among twenty-seven guys? Plus, it’s you. You’re kind of hard to miss.” His eyes drop to my mouth.
“I see you two met my sister.” “Yeah, she’s way cooler than you. What happened?” Dakota deadpans. “Tough crowd.” Adam tilts his head to the girl still clinging to him. “Guys, this is Taryn.”
TARYN? that’s a red flag bro
Hottest guy on campus: Did you leave without saying goodbye? <sad face> Me: Who is this and how did you get this number? Hottest guy on campus: Name is self-explanatory.
He smells like soap and sun and wild dreams. Dreams you shouldn’t allow because they’re so out of reach, but you can’t help but want. Dreams you don’t speak of, but that live in the darkest corner of your mind.
“You look good. Do you want to skip this party and go make out?” I laugh, but heat rushes to my core at the thought. “Pass.” “You wanna not skip this party and just make out right here?” “Definitely pass.”
“Swarms?” “I mean, look at you. Yeah, swarms.” “And you’re going to be my protector?” “Totally self-serving,” I tell her honestly. “How’s that?” “I like spending time with you.”
swallow thickly and nod. His request to look out for her wasn’t even a factor in it or really any of the times I’ve hung out with her. I like her. I like being with her. She makes me be in the moment more deeply. I’m not looking for hookups or to get drunk, I want to sit beside her, pull her hair, and tease her. Basically, I’m five again.
“Absolutely fucking not.” I don’t want to share one second of my time with Ginny. Not with anyone.
should have assumed spending time with you would mean eating.” “Always,” he says. “Plus, it’s where we met. We have history here.”
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HE IS JUST SO CHARMING I CANT
“Damn those Kardashians.” “Right?” “Genevieve, Genevieve, Genevieve.” I love the way my full name sounds when he says it.
“Genevieve, huh? Cool name.” Cue swooning. Not. Except, I’m sort of swooning now and all he did was say my name. And I’m also staring at him when I’m supposed to be saying something. Anything.
“Did I say insanely? That was the gummy bears talking. I mean, objectively yes, you’re hot. But it isn’t like I think you’re hot.” His hand comes up and brushes my hair back from my face. His thumb traces my bottom lip. He leans in and the seconds while his lips descend on mine seem to happen in slow motion while my pulse quickens.
WHAAAAAT? damn he is FAST
My boobs are sweaty just from walking across the street.” “I totally get it,” Mav says. “My balls—” “All right. Too much information, man,” I tell him. “I don’t see how it’s any different than Ginny’s boobs.”
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
Better friends than nothing at all.
There isn’t anything I don’t like about her. Every little detail. It’s safe to say Ginny Scott’s grown on me just like Neapolitan ice cream. I look forward to our meals together.
Sometimes Maverick and the guys are with us, sometimes not, but the two of us never miss. Lunch friends. I can think of worse things to be. I can think of better things, too.
I take off the shirt I’m wearing and toss it in the hamper without thinking about it. Ginny’s eyes are fixed on my chest. I wait for her to catch herself, but she’s full-on checking me out. “Hey, friend?” “Hmm?” “Eyes are up here,” I say with a wink.
“See you out there?” I nod and watch my friend and the object of my fascination walk out of my room. I might need a shower and some Mariah first.
Heath looks to me again quickly before he starts again. I giggle at his accent, but my stomach flips. Shakespeare will never be the same.
“Mine actually is pink, but not pink pink. Like a really dark pink. Cerise.” “That’s cute.” “What is?” “That you think I know what color cerise is.”
“Something wrong with Liam being here?” “He asked for permission to ask out my sister.” He makes a little grunt of annoyance and Taryn smiles and pats his arm. “Ginny?” Now I’m the one getting the weird look from Adam. “I only have one sister, dude.” “Right.”
“About?” she asks, sounding concerned but still smiling. “Do you like Liam?” “Sure. He’s nice.” “Nice like you’d let him feel you up or…” She laughs. Loudly and I think at me. She walks forward and pokes me in the chest. “You’re jealous.” “Am not.” I don’t know why I bother denying it. Gut reaction, I guess.
“I promise not to be one of those people who ignores her friends when she meets a guy, or, in our case, another guy.” “Don’t date him.” “Why not?” “He’s not good enough.” “Good enough for what?”
“Thank you for wanting to look out for me, but I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. I swear, if it were up to you and my brother, I’d spend the next four years alone while everyone else hooks up and pairs off. I want to do those things too, go on dates and make bad decisions, and I know it’s possible that he’ll hurt me or he’ll be a total bore, but I won’t know unless I go out with him.” “Don’t date him.”
“Wait.” She puts a hand at my chest. “I don’t understand. You don’t date. You told me that you weren’t interested in dating anyone, especially me.” “I never said ‘especially you’.” “It was implied.” “Fuck no, it wasn’t. We already hang out more than I ever have with any other chick, so let’s do that and make out. That’s basically dating, right?”
“Kiss me like you want to?” she asks with a laugh. I walk to the door and pause with my hand on the doorknob. “Naked.”
hadn’t asked him to wait for me, so I find it particularly endearing that he did. Especially when I know how important food is to him.
“Miss me, guys?” “Nah, man, missed your sister,” I say jokingly. Ginny turns red and Mav goes into a coughing fit.
Ginny’s so much nicer than I am. I’d never let anyone get away with taking food from me. Heath doesn’t share food. I totally said that in my Joey from Friends voice. He had the right idea.
but I’m not making her do the walk through the parking lot to my SUV for sex by herself. I’m a gentleman like that.
She does, except this time, she takes me all the way in. Dead. Gone. Rest in peace. Thought I was going to hell, but this is heaven.
We fall asleep still naked and I take note of a different type of anniversary—the first time you realize you’re falling for someone.
“We should celebrate.” Adam claps me on the shoulder. “What do you feel like doing?” Your sister.
Love. I hate that damn word. Why does it always feel like it’s an excuse? When she says it, all I hear is, I love you, so it’s okay that I screwed up.
And it’s the best damn part of the day. Well… unless she lets me hat trick her later.
You’ll be back tomorrow night? Hottest guy on campus: Yeah, but it’ll be pretty late. Me: Can I come over and stay the night? Hottest guy on campus: You never need to ask, baby.
Honestly? A little maybe. I mean, I want to do all those things. A LOT. But I’m nervous too. My experiences are… limited and were just blah. Hottest guy on campus: I find it very hard (pun intended) that any form of sex could be blah with you.
This is nice, I’ll admit. Maybe I can kind of see Rauthruss’s point about wanting to talk to Carrie all the time. Though I can’t really picture having an entire relationship through a phone. For Ginny though? My mind starts to conjure all types of ideas for phone sex. Hanging out with Ginny is always nice. I’m not even disappointed we didn’t have sex. Okay, I’m not too disappointed.
There’s so much passion in Ginny. Kissing her is a trip. Just lying next to her, there’s an energy that flows through my veins that doesn’t exist when she’s not with me. Sex with Ginny blah? If I weren’t so tired, the thought would be laughable.
“Tuxes do it for you, huh?” “You do it for me.” Mav groans. “You two are a real buzzkill. Should have stayed home and boned, left the party to the single people.” “Don’t be a dick to my girl,” Heath tells him, still staring at his phone.
“It isn’t about sex,” he says and looks at me dreamily. My stomach does a thousand backflips.
It’s somehow fun and silly showering with him. He looks adorable with his hair matted down.
Her eyes are lit with humor and a contentedness fills my chest as I slowly bring my mouth to hers.
Kissing Ginny is better than just about anything. She’s fun and sexy, and when we’re together, everything just feels good.
Heath and I are having fun. A lot of it. And yes, maybe my feelings have gone beyond that, but I refuse to get swept up in analyzing it. But as Heath’s face displays on the screen, flashing a cocky and disarming smile, my body melts.
