“Get out of here. I’ll figure out something.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” He kisses my head and slaps my ass.
I step into the changing area and slide my bathing suit back on. He’s standing there, naked and dripping with hot water. I go to unlock the door, but he pulls on my hand and brings me back into the shower.
We kiss for a long time before he releases me, telling me, “Get outta here.”
I walk out of the stall casually and quickly. Thankfully, there’s no one in line, waiting for an open shower. As I change, I can’t believe there are so many girls just idly hanging around now.
Don’t they have practice or something to be at?
Once dressed, I grab my bags and wait on a bench outside the locker room. An hour and a half passes before the door finally opens, and Wes comes walking out. His hair is wet, and his smile is broad.
“That’s the longest shower I’ve ever taken,” he jokes.
I jump up and throw my arms around him, kissing him mercilessly.
He throws his hands around my waist before looking to the side and pulling back. “Just in case someone’s around.”
“Good idea.” I grin and start walking. Wes is right by my side.
We’re joking and laughing as we walk through the front door of our apartment. The smell of garlic permeates the air as we head toward the kitchen, where Chad and Nicole are cooking.
“Smells awesome in here,” I say as I place my bag on a chair.
Chad leans over the half-wall and eyes Wes and me curiously. “You two are oddly happy. Where are you coming from? And, Wes, why is your hair wet?”
I smash my lips together, but Wes looks totally casual. “I just left a girl. We showered together.”
Chad doesn’t seem surprised. “Figures. Which one was it? Ava? Sofia? Brittany?”
“I don’t kiss and tell,” Wes says with a smirk, which has Chad shaking his head and pointing his spatula toward me in explanation.
“You see, Stacey. This is why I don’t want you near any of the baseball guys. They’re all dogs. Especially this one.”
“Hey! Why do I get singled out?” Wes asks as he falls onto the couch.
“Because I bet you can’t tell me the girl’s name because you don’t remember it,” Chad challenges. “I love you, bro, but a gentleman you are not.”
The smile on Wes’s face falls. He looks down with a dismissive shrug. “Nah, you’re right. I can’t remember her name for life of me. She was a good lay though.”
“See? Dude has a way with women. They throw themselves at him and don’t care that he probably won’t call tomorrow.” Chad laughs as he turns back to the stove and asks Nicole what he needs to do next.
Nicole’s eyes meet mine, and I can see the sadness she’s feeling for me, but she quickly turns away.
I hate the way he just assumes Wes is incapable of having a relationship. I hate how Wes lets him think that a one-night stand or a casual lay is all he’s good for.
The reason why many people have difficulty understanding Wes is because he has contrasting personality traits. He is thoughtful, intellectual, independent, and confident. He can also be unpredictable, unemotional, and disconnected. Maybe that’s what Amanda meant when she said he’s a typical Aquarius.
I fold my arms across my chest and scowl at Chad, a shrill anger creeping up my spine. “You’re a baseball guy. So, by definition you’re a dog too.”
Nicole laughs, but Chad is serious as he looks back at me. “What I’ve done is none of your business.”
“Then, why are you giving Wes so much shit? Let him hook up with whomever he wants. And for the record, he’s not a dog. He’s just a guy.”
Chad’s brows pop up with a laugh. “The guy’s my best friend. I think I know him better than you.” He turns to Wes and asks, “How many girls have you slept with since we started college?”
“That’s irrelevant. Don’t answer that, Wes.” I walk over to the couch and take a seat on the other side of the sectional. My eyes meet Wes’s as I give an apology for my brother’s behavior.
Chad makes a noise from the kitchen. “What’s going on with you two? There’s nothing going on, is there?”
My eyes widen. Thankfully, Chad can’t see my surprise.
Wes, on the other hand, stares at Chad like he’s crazy. “Why would you think there’s something going on between me and Squid when I just banged some girl in a shower?”
I’m impressed by his quick lie and then realize he’s not lying.
Chad doesn’t ask another question, and I hear him and Nicole talking in the kitchen. Wes grabs the remote and starts aggressively changing the channel. I wish I could sit by him, kiss his face, and hug his shoulders. But I can’t. After Chad’s rudeness and Wes’s acceptance of his unwanted reputation, it’s clear we made the right decision. Being in our bubble is a good thing right now.
There’s also the other notion that even if Wes and I were in the open, I’m not sure what we are exactly. I know we’re together, but are we the type that hug and hold each other in public? Will we have nicknames and say sweet nothings from across the room?
I keep this curiosity in my head through dinner. The mood lightens, and the four of us talk and laugh through the meal. Wes is the ultimate storyteller. I’m amazed how he can take a trip to the commissary and turn it into a theatrical retelling. I’m in awe of him. Nicole and Chad seem to be equally as enthralled.
Wes and I do the dishes, and then we watch some television. As the time passes and there’s no sign of them leaving, I retire to my room, knowing I won’t be able to be alone with Wes tonight. After changing and curling up under the covers, I pull out my phone and send him a text.
Today was a good day.
It was. Best part: I might not have to shower for, like, a week.
LOL. If you want to do laundry with me on Tuesday, then you might have to reconsider.
Noted. Balls will be scrubbed.
With a laugh, I plug my phone in and close my eyes, dreaming of a boy who surprised a girl in a locker room.
I wake up with a jolt. A loud sound woke me, but I’m not sure what it was.
Or did I dream of a noise and then woke up?
I’m a little disoriented as I hear some rustling though the wall. At first, I assume it must be Chad and Nicole. Looks like they decided to not care that his sister is in the same apartment and are getting frisky. I lie back down and cover my head with my pillow, ready to drown out the sounds.
I pop up again, realizing the wall adjacent to mine isn’t Chad’s.
I rise from my bed and walk down the hall toward Wes’s room. The door is closed, so I knock softly and listen at the sound of heavy breathing coming from inside. Twisting the handle, I open the door and see Wes on his bed, gripping his chest and breathing in short, rapid, heavy breaths. His face is red, and his body is coated in sweat.
I bust the door open and run to his side, falling to my knees and looking into his face. It’s twisted as he tries to breathe.
“Wes, are you okay? Do you need help?” I ask him, his expression telling me he’s pained to see me here.