23
Rhett
“Just like that. Have fun. See you tomorrow.” I wave my hand. “Fuck. I was speechless.”
“I like Sienna,” Adam says.
“We all like Sienna,” Maverick adds. “Don’t fuck this up.”
“You know what the real mindfuck is?”
“What?” Heath asks.
We’re having a low-key night at Prickly Pear before we head to the Frozen Four in two days. Just a couple of beers to clear our minds and help us sleep. The place makes me think of Sienna now and our speed dating adventure, but it’s empty tonight, save a few locals sitting at the bar.
“Now all I want to do is go see her. Is this some sort of reverse psychology she’s using on me?”
They laugh at me. Damn, it feels good. Phone tucked away, hanging with the guys, not a single worry to be found among the lot of us.
“And Carrie?”
I lift my beer and take a sip before answering. “I blocked her.”
Adam is the first to speak after several seconds. “You blocked Carrie?”
“Yep.”
“Well, damn. I’m speechless.”
“It was time,” I say by way of defending myself because in all honesty, it doesn’t feel great. But neither did ignoring her calls and feeling like an ass every time Sienna was around.
We spend the next couple of hours hanging out at the deserted bar. We’re slow to finish our beers, but it doesn’t matter. We’re all feeling good when Jordan shows up at the bar to give us a ride.
“I can’t believe you assholes didn’t invite me and then called me to drive you home.”
“It was a roomie thing,” Mav says, climbing into the passenger seat.
“Then why did you come?” I ask jokingly.
“Oh, Rauthruss, you’re going to miss me next year. Don’t even pretend otherwise.”
“Someone’s buying me chicken nuggets,” Jordan says as he pulls away from the bar.
We make a stop for fast food and then Jordan takes us to the apartment. I catch the door before Maverick closes it. “I think I’m going to the dorms.”
Heath makes a sound like a whip cracking.
“Oh please, like you have any room to talk.” Adam shoves at his shoulder.
“See you guys in the morning.”
“Don’t be late for practice,” Adam calls over his shoulder.
Sienna answers the door, eyes half open. “What are you doing here?”
“Surprising you.”
“You look nice.” Her eyes are slits. “And I look like this.” She waves a hand in front of her baggy T-shirt and bare legs. Her hair is piled on top of her head, making her look a foot taller than she is.
“Nice shirt.”
That gets a sleepy smile out of her. “I got it from this boy who gave me a black eye.”
“Now, that sounds like an interesting story.”
I close the door behind me and follow her to her bed on the left side of the room.
“Oh shit.” I lower my voice to a whisper when I see Josie sleeping in the bed on the opposite wall.
“Don’t worry. She sleeps like the dead.”
I kick off my shoes and take off my jeans and T-shirt before climbing into her small bed.
“Now I understand why we always stay at my place,” I say, moving closer to her.
I cuddle her against me, breathing her in. Damn. I had no idea it was possible to miss someone like this. Carrie and I were always apart and I still didn’t miss her the way I missed Sienna today.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better,” she says, grabbing my hand and pulling it up under her tits.
I was already sporting a semi just from being in the same room with her, but thanks to her soft, perky boobs I’m now jabbing her in the ass with my dick. And her ass is covered by some silky panties that are absolutely not helping the situation.
“Sorry, I didn’t come here for that, but my dick doesn’t care about my good intentions.” I close my eyes and try to think of anything but sex, but when Sienna grinds back into me, I lose that battle completely.
“Neither do I.”
The next afternoon, I corner Maverick in the weight room. “I need your help with something.”
Lying back on the bench press, he finishes his set before racking the barbell and sitting up. “Anything. What’s up?”
After I’ve got Maverick on board, I head to campus to find Sienna. I wait outside of Moreno Hall where she has class. When she comes out, her head is downcast and her phone in hand.
Mine pings in my pocket and I retrieve it as I continue to watch her.
Angel: Hey, handsome. Want to grab dinner? I’m starving.
Me: Sure do. You look good in red.
She stares down at the message for a long time, then her head pops up and she scans until she finds me. I push off the bike rack and meet her halfway.
“Stalker much?”
“I’m one of the friendly ones.” I take her backpack and sling it over my shoulder. “I have a surprise.”
“Does it include food? Because that wasn’t a lame excuse to make plans. I really am starving.”
“I’ve got you covered.”
24
Sienna
“Where are we going?” We’ve been in Maverick’s SUV for thirty minutes and I have no idea where we are.
“You’ll see,” Rhett insists.
Everyone else is grinning. They’re all in the know and I’m not.
“Have I mentioned that I don’t like surprises?”
“You’ll like this one.” He leans over and presses a kiss to my lips. “Promise.”
“We’re here,” Maverick calls from the front seat.
Eagerly, I peer out the front window. Color lights up the night sky as we’re waved into a dirt lot to park.
“A carnival?” I can practically smell the popcorn and funnel cake from here.
Rhett holds my hand, swinging it lightly, as we walk toward the sound of rides and games intermixed with happy squeals of delight.
His friends push ahead of us to get tickets.
“Be right back.” Rhett joins them and Ginny looks back and notices I’m alone.
“Are you excited?” She beams at me, and I want to be as excited as she wants me to be.
“Yeah. This is amazing.”
“He really likes you,” she says, looking over my shoulder. I follow her line of vision to Rhett. “And so do I.”
She hugs me and then bounces off to Heath. Rhett’s headed back with a Cheshire cat grin.
“Rhett, this is the nicest thing. I love it really. Thank you.”
“It’s not over until we ride all the rides, angel.” He holds up a long string of tickets.
I scan the carnival. Tall rides that spin and rock. We’re standing next to the octopus and a girl is screaming loudly while she holds her hands over her eyes. My stomach dips with unease.
“Let’s do this,” Maverick calls, heading off toward the rides.