“Ba-dum? What’s ba-dum?” He sets me down on my bed and starts taking off my shoes, letting them drop to the floor.
“Did I say that out loud?”
“Mhmm,” he hums, appraising me with hands on his hips.
“It’s the sound of your heart.”
“I’m not sure my heart should be saying ba-dum. Maybe I should have it checked out by a cardiologist.” He sounds amused.
“Maybe.” I roll over, gathering my hands beneath my head.
Warm, rough fingers brush strands of my hair off the side of my face, tucking them behind my ear. “I’d offer to put your pajamas on for you, but I don’t want to get slapped.”
I mutter something, but I’m not sure it’s even English.
He laughs, and there’s the lightest press of something against my temple—his fingers? His lips?
“See you tomorrow, Van.”
Tomorrow.
Because Teddy McCallister is now in my life.
I fall asleep, still feeling the imprint of his lips on mine. Not even the alcohol could erase the feeling.
5
Teddy
I wake up to Zoey’s screech. Slamming my hands over my ears, I groan, “Mom, stop screaming.”
Her hand covers her heart, eyes threatening to bug out of her head. “You have got to stop sneaking in here. Give us the key back.”
Cole pops around the corner, lips pursed when he finds me on the couch in my boxers. “Dude, how many times have we told you this has to stop?”
“Where else am I supposed to go? My dorm is basically a twenty-four-seven revolving door of pussy thanks to Jude. The guy would be better off seeing a therapist like a normal person.”
“Do you see a therapist?” Cole crosses his arms over his chest in challenge.
“Of course. I video chat Phil once a week. Cool guy. He recently got hair plugs, though, and it looks hella weird, but good for him. I’m sure it’ll be great when they grow in fully.”
Cole looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “I can never tell if you’re being serious or bullshitting me.”
“’And that’s one secret I’ll never tell. You know you love me—'”
He holds up a hand. “Are you re-watching Gossip Girl again?”
“Chuck Bass is bae.”
He rubs his face. “Take a shower and put your clothes on.”
“Come on, Dad. I wanted some more sleep.”
“We,” he wags a finger between Zoey and him, “have class, so you can’t stay here.”
I roll my eyes. “I’ll lock up on my way out.”
“Nuh-huh.” He shakes his head forcefully. “You leave when we leave.”
“Fine,” I grumble, rolling off the couch. Scratching my stomach, I bend over and scoop up my pile of clothes. “I’ll go take that shower now.”
“Mhmm.” Cole watches me through narrowed eyes. “You do that. That was some kiss you and Vanessa had last night,” he taunts after me.
I stop halfway down the hall to react, looking back to find him walking over to Zoey in the kitchen. He wraps his arms around her from behind, and she giggles when he kisses her neck. I would never admit it to anyone, I’m a man and I have my pride, but I’m envious of their love. It’s so easy, and natural. It’s nothing like the cold and clinical ‘love’ I grew up around that I now realize was never love at all, but the word used as a weapon.
I think of the kiss, how Vanessa’s body felt clasped against mine, and swallow thickly. I can’t think about it—can’t allow myself to go there with my thoughts.
Locking myself in the bathroom, I clean up and put last night’s clothes on. They smell like stale beer and cheese from Harvey’s, but I’ll swing by my dorm and change before I go to class.
I’m going to have to do something about Jude bringing so many girls back to our room. I hate to cramp the dude’s style, but I need to be able to sleep and also not get crucified by my father for someone else’s mistakes. I already make enough of my own.
The most ironic part of it all is my dad changed his mind about me living off campus with Cole because he thought there was a higher chance of there being girls and parties.
It worked out for Cole and Zoey, though. He needed a roommate, she needed a place to live, and in the end they fell in love with each other.
Leaving the bathroom, my stomach rumbles at the smell of bacon and eggs.
“Mom, please tell me you made breakfast for me, too.”
Zoey rolls her eyes, setting out three plates. “I would never leave you out, T.”
I hug her side and kiss her cheek, getting swatted on the back of my head from Cole.
“Don’t touch my girl like that.”
“Come on, man. I didn’t mean anything by it, and you know it.”
I can’t help it that I’m a touchy person. I blame it on the lack of affection I had growing up. Now I’m trying to make up for it.
Cole grumbles something unintelligible around his mouthful of food. I sit down beside him, Zoey on his other side, and dig in.
“This is great, thanks, Z.”
“Thank Cole. He does most of the cooking.”
“Thanks, Dad. I’m honored you didn’t leave me out of breakfast.”
He sighs, looking to the heavens for answers. “Can I please have your key back now? You don’t even live here.”
I pretend to think for a second. “No.”
“I’m changing the locks,” he mutters.
“You can’t.”
“I’ll ask the landlord.”
We both know he won’t. “Okay, Dad.”
I’m tired as fuck after baseball practice, my muscles aching and sore. Sure, I work out regularly on my own, but Coach has been putting us through the wringer, and it’s showing in the way I can hardly move.
I pop a couple of Aleve before I pack up my stuff and head out, muttering goodbye as I go. I ignore the strange looks from Mascen and Murray. I’m too tired to worry about it, and I need to get over to The Burger Palace to see Vanessa.
I hope to God we can fool my parents this weekend, but my gut tells me that one dinner isn’t going to be enough to satisfy my father. The prick will enjoy dragging this out and making me sweat.
Getting into my car outside the practice facility, I shoot her a text, letting her know I’m on my way. I’m not sure if she’ll even have time to check her phone while she’s working, but if she does get the chance, at least she’ll know.
I’ve never been to The Burger Palace before. It’s a diner outside of town, and I don’t usually go anywhere except Harvey’s. I’ve never even been to the fancy Italian restaurant that Mascen’s girlfriend Rory works at.
Twenty minutes later I’m parking in the lot outside of the diner, cringing at the state of most of the vehicles there and praying nothing happens to mine while I’m inside.
Grabbing my backpack off the passenger seat—I figured I could get some studying in during the times I can’t talk to Vanessa—I groan from the pain in my right shoulder. I’m going to have to ice it when I get back to the dorm.