She squirms under me. “You just had a lucky break. I wasn't paying attention.”
“Excuses, excuses,” I mock her. Closing the distance between us even more, I can feel her quick breaths fanning my face. “And stop calling me a pussy. It’s the last thing you want me thinking of when I’m around you.”
She actually looks confused. “Huh?”
“Little Bean,” I drop my voice to a low timbre, “You have one, and I have them for breakfast. Let’s not go there.”
“What. The. Fuck,” Jade exclaims while two red spots bloom on her cheeks. “Get off!” Using all her strength, she bucks her hips up, and it only makes me slide forward until my ass is almost over her breasts.
“Damn woman, we’re in a public place. I think it would be frowned upon if you were to blow me here.”
“I swear to God, Hunter, I’m going to rip your nutsack off and shove it down your throat if you don’t get off me right now.”
Chuckling, I let go of her and climb back to my feet. “That’s one point each. Bring it on, Little Bean.”
She attacks me with a rapid succession of punches, finishing with a hard one to my side, which forces the air from my lungs. I let out another breathless chuckle as I try my best to block her quick blows. “You’re like a little kitten. Ffttt…ffttt.”
Jade stops and gives me a cynical look. “Yeah? Wait until my claws come out. Then you’ll have to explain more than just a busted lip to your parents.”
“Is that a promise?” I tease, a grin pulling at the corner of my mouth.
“Dude, is that all you can think about?” Jade shakes her head and begins to remove the head guard.
“What?”
She tosses it in a bin so it can be cleaned before the next use. “Sex. Every damn comment you make is somehow related to it.”
I follow her and remove the gear. Picking up my towel, I wipe the sweat from my face and the back of my neck. With my eyes on Jade, I take a sip of water, then say, “Seems you bring out that side of me.”
Jade grabs her towel and water bottle then begins to walk toward the exit.
“Same time tomorrow?” I call after her.
She doesn’t stop walking away from me, but calls out, “Prepare yourself for a world of pain, Chargill.”
JADE
I’m still in a flat spin after this morning.
What… ugh… what was that?
I was so caught off guard by Hunter, I even forgot to be angry with him.
Deep in thought, I walk into my room and quickly shower so I can get dressed for class.
When I’m ready and walk to the kitchen to grab a bottle of juice, I find Mila checking her bag.
“Are you prepared for your first day?” I ask.
“Yeah, I just double-checked whether I have enough pens and pencils.”
“Girl, I’m pretty sure you have half the stationery department in that bag,” I tease her. Mila loves anything stationery related. She has a dozen unused diaries every year just because she thinks the picture on the cover is pretty.
“Are you ready? Then we can walk together,” she says as she hoists her bag’s strap to her shoulder.
“Sure.” I grab my own bag and follow Mila out of the suite. Once we’re outside the dorm, I ask, “What’s going on with the group?”
“What do you mean?” Mila asks as she glances at a bunch of students passing us by.
“Everyone was either flirting or taking a swing at each other yesterday.”
“Oh, that.” Mila waves her hand carelessly. “Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing serious.” Then she gives me a questioning look. “Things seem better between you and Hunter. Do I dare hope there won’t be a repeat of the fight?”
“Yeah, about that,” I pull a regretful face, “I’m sorry you all got dragged into it. I’m not calling a truce, but I’ll try to be civil with Hunter, seeing as we have to live in the same suite.”
A smile spreads over Mila’s face. “It’s a start.”
Jase walks toward us, and I notice Mila’s smile fade.
Yeah, right. Nothing serious, my ass.
“How are my favorite girls this morning?” Jase throws his arm around Mila’s shoulder, but she only shakes it off. “Damn, someone’s moody.’
“Nope, I just don’t want you touching me with your slut infested paws,” Mila scowls.
Jase throws his hands up with anger flashing across his attractive features. “Fine.”
As Jase walks away from us, I turn to my friend. “What the hell, Mila? Where did that come from?”
She lets out a frustrated huff. “A while ago, Jase asked me out on a date, and I said no. He’s not the type to commit, and us having a quick fling would only jeopardize our friendship. Since then, he’s been seen with a different girl every weekend. Lord only knows what he’s doing with them. I don’t want him touching me.”
My eyes widen as she rambles, and for a moment there’s silence before I can find my voice. “Jase asked you out?”
“Yeah.” Mila’s shoulders slump as she starts to walk again.
I’m pretty sure Mila has the hots for Jase, and the frustration is causing her to act out. I fall in step beside her. “Do you want to date Jase?”
Although she nods, she says, “We can’t date. If things go wrong, it will only cause tension in the group, like with you and Hunter.”
“Hunter and I never dated. Our situation is different from yours. Besides, how do you know it won’t work out?”
Mila rolls her eyes and lets out a heavy breath. “He’s a player, Jade. There’s no way Jase will ever commit to just one woman.”
“You don’t know what Jase will do once he falls in love. He might surprise you.”
“Yeah, right,” she chuckles. We enter the business building and walking into our Strategic Management class, we find seats in the middle of the auditorium. She gives me a reassuring smile, then says, “Don’t worry about us. Our little spats are harmless.”
“Okay, but I’m here if you need to talk about it.” With my thoughts running circles around my two friends, I remove my laptop from my bag and open it up.
Chapter 5
JADE
I haven’t been able to focus on my classes because my thoughts have been swamped with the sparring session I had with Hunter this morning.
It was so damn weird and almost like things used to be between us. It only made me realize how much I miss our friendship, but at the same time, I’m filled with guilt. I can’t forget about Brady and the part Hunter played in his death.
I’m in two minds about meeting Hunter tomorrow for another sparring session. On the one side, I’ll get to beat him up without upsetting our friends. On the other… ugh, I don’t know… it feels like I’m betraying Brady in some way.
Letting out a huff, I head over to the restaurant for an early dinner. When I walk inside, I see Fallon and Kao sitting at a table and join them.
“Hey, guys.” Taking a seat next to Fallon, I pull a menu closer. “How’s your day so far?”