“But chicken?”
“I like fried chicken.”
“You’re sadistic.”
“It’s not like I fried Clyde or Jordan...yet.”
“Colt!” Em scolds, punching me in the arm. “That’s awful.”
I chuckle and drag the supplies out on the balcony. It’s not huge but we never use it, so for now it will house the chickens.
“I can’t believe we have chickens. What are we going to do with them?” Em crosses her arms over her chest, the action forcing her tits up.
I stare, unashamedly and groan when I get flashbacks to the other week. I’ve been trying to be good and not grind myself against her ass every morning when I wake up. But it’s getting harder and harder. In more ways than one.
I clear my throat and push the images out of my head. “Go back to the next farmers’ market and sell eggs to the dude that lost his chickens?”
“You’re unbelievable.” She turns around and picks up Clyde. Or is it Jordan? I can’t tell. They both look the same. Same beady little eyes. Same orange brown feathers. They’re identical.
Em disappears into the bathroom before returning Clyde-less. She grabs Jordan as well and takes him into the bathroom.
“What are you doing with them?” I call out.
“Putting them in the bath so they don’t escape.”
“Good call. Bring me some chicken,” I yell. I’m already getting hungry and all I’ve done is open the box.
“Get it yourself. I’m not being an accomplice. How could I look Clyde and Jordan in the eye knowing that I fed you their second cousins?”
I shrug, walking inside to the kitchen where I pick up a crispy fried chicken wing and take a bite. “Hey, Em?”
“What?”
“Kiss me,” I tease.
Em’s eyes widen, and her mouth drops open. She’s asked me every day for the last seven months to kiss her and now she hesitates. Her eyes dart between my mouth and the chicken wing in my hand.
“No, fuck off.”
I throw my head back and laugh as I walk back out to the balcony.
14
Emerson
Austin and I have had coffee every day between classes for the last couple of weeks, so I don’t cause Colt any extra distress. I’m not sticking to his no dating rule. It’s a dumb rule and completely irrational of him to set it.
Though Austin and I aren’t dating, for Rome and Keely’s sake we are. Austin’s cool and much nicer than Colt makes him out to be. We’ve studied together a few times. He’s studying business, because he’s a realist and doesn’t think playing ball in college will pay off in the long run. Smart.
Unlike Colt who is hoping he’ll make it pro. But if anyone on the team has a chance at going pro, it’s Colt. He’s a superstar. I wish he’d focus on his studies as much as he does ball though, because if it doesn’t work out, he won’t have anything to fall back on. Yes, he goes to classes, but he still hasn’t chosen a major. He’s picking whatever classes interest him and it’s not going to result in a career.
I pull out my phone to send Austin a text. He had a test today and we’d been practicing all week for it. It makes up twenty percent of his grade.
* * *
Me: How’d the test go?
Austin: Great. Pretty sure I aced it. So thank you.
Me: Don’t thank me. It was all you. What are your plans for the weekend?
Austin: Keely and I are going to a movie tonight.
Me: Ooh, that’s exciting. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
Austin: Never. Tomorrow night, want to meet me at a party?
Me: which party?
Austin: Rome’s ; )
Me: Hell yes.
* * *
Who am I to turn down a chance to make Colt sweat? I haven’t heard the end of it for weeks. Every time I mention Austin’s name, I get told to keep my legs closed. I’m not sure if Colt worries I’ll do it and lose him money, or whether he’s being Colt and protecting me. It’s hard to tell sometimes.
* * *
Austin: Great, I’ll see you tomorrow night.
Me: Enjoy your date night.
* * *
Austin sends a single emoji in response. The fingers crossed emoji. I laugh, convinced Keely is harboring some deep-seated feelings for him too. If one of them took the risk and made the first move, they’d both realize how stupid they’re being.
If I’m playing matchmaker for Austin and Keely, I need to make her see exactly what she’s missing out on.
I need a game plan.
And there’s only one person who can help.
Colt.
I can’t ask him.
Screwing up my face, I cross campus and head toward the coffee shop for some recon. I need to get to know Keely before I can do anything. Apart from the fact she resembles Alice in Wonderland and loves to read and the few useless facts I’ve learned by watching her at work, I know nothing about her.
I’m disappointed when I walk into the coffee shop and find she’s not working, but then I remember Austin said they were going out tonight, so she’s probably at home getting ready.
Instead I order a coffee to take away and head home.
Colt’s not there when I get back to the apartment, so I assume he’s at the gym, or the courts practicing. He’s the only guy on the team that trains year-round. Most have a break after finals and don’t start up again until pre-season, but Colt goes hard all year.
I kick off my shoes and flop down on the sofa to read when my phone buzzes in my hand.
* * *
Colt: Help.
Me: What’s wrong? Where are you?
Colt: Under the bleachers with Louise.
* * *
I roll my eyes. He’s with a girl and texting me. Typical.
* * *
Me: Who’s Louise?
Colt: The chick from the party the other week when you were making eyes at Austin.
Me: Don’t remember. I’m sure whoever she is she can help you much more than me.
Colt: That’s the problem. She can’t.
* * *
I’m almost too scared to ask but I do anyway.
* * *
Me: Where is she?
Colt: On her knees in front of me.
Me: And you’re messaging me? What the hell is wrong with you?
* * *
Seriously, if it were anyone else, the woman wouldn’t stand for being treated like that, yet, Colt gets away with it every time. I don’t understand. He has no sense of decency and it doesn’t matter how much I tell him to fake it, he doesn’t.
* * *
Colt: It’s fine. Leanne has no idea what’s going on.
Me: I thought her name was Jane?
Colt: I thought you couldn’t remember?
Me: Selective memory. I block the bad. Pretty sure she’s called Jane.
Colt: Is she? I could have sworn she said Leah.
* * *
I shake my head.