“No, if word got back to my father, I’d hear about it from him.” Pinching his lips, he typed a message and then showed it to me. “What do you think?”
Grey
Believe what you want, but as soon as I had reception, I checked my messages and contacted you.
“I think it’s straight and to the point. How can you debate that?” Though I was sure she would find a way. “Send it.” I sank into my seat and crossed my arms over my chest. Would he use me for advice with this girl now? It was what he would have done had we not hooked up at camp. Was this the new normal?
He squeezed my thigh as he peered at his screen. “That seemed to settle her down.” After blowing out a breath, he said, “Fuck.”
“Yeah, fuck.” I closed my eyes. Maybe I could catch a nap and not have to discuss Ella anymore.
TEN
GREY (GREYSON)
Ella had proved just like all the rest. How had I not seen it? I turned my phone on Do Not Disturb and tucked it into my backpack. As I peeked at Malik, snoozing next to me, my heart twisted. It felt appropriate to inform him of the situation with Ella, but it also felt wrong. Like I was cheating on him.
I gnawed my thumbnail, watching him sleep. I wasn’t cheating. We had an agreement. Friends with benefits. He understood that keeping my connection with her was necessary.He agreed to it.
But then why the pained expression on his face when I informed him of the text messages? Had I seen things that weren’t there? No, I understood him too well to be wrong. I leaned back in my seat and stared at the bottom of the luggage rack. How would our situation change when we got home? Would it?
My gaze flicked to the back of Tex’s blond head. Tex knew about us, so at home, we could be ourselves. At home…fuck, I could have Malik anytime I wanted. Which was all the fucking time. I glanced at the bulge in his shorts and slipped my hand closer to his, resting on the seat, my pinky finger brushing against his.
With a soft smirk, he wrapped his pinky finger around mine, and warmth flooded my chest. Even half asleep, he was affectionate with me. Everything would be okay. Nothing could come between us, not even Ella or my dad. We’d always have our friendship.
“Isit wrong to be sad we’re home?” It was mid-August, and we had one day to relax before classes started. I strolled behind Tex and Malik with my duffel slung over my shoulder. I still hadn’t turned my phone on. Hopefully, Ella had gotten the message and stopped texting for now.
Tex opened the front door and stepped aside. “After you.”
“Thanks, man.” Malik entered the house.
Patting Tex’s shoulder as I passed, I tossed him a quick smile and stepped inside. “What’s for dinner?” Even though we’d stopped in Payson at a fantastic Mexican restaurant, I was already hungry. And not for Malik for once. Okay, for him too, but it could wait until we unpacked.
“I’m sort of in the mood for pizza.” Malik stopped in the hallway to the bedrooms. “All that healthy food at camp is making me crave melted cheese, grease and carbs.”
“Me too.” Tex shut the door and waltzed into the room. “I’ll order some now, and it should arrive by the time we unpack.”
“Great, let me know how much I owe you.” I followed Malik through the hallway and entered my room. So much had changed since I’d left it, but it had started here. How had I believed I could avoid Malik? I possessed zero willpower with him, never had.
I threw my duffel on the bed, unzipped it and unpacked.
After a few minutes, Malik appeared in my doorway, knocking on the jamb. “Hey, what do you say we stay in tonight and…I don’t know, cuddle with a movie?” The side of his mouth quirked.
I dumped my dirty clothes into the hamper in my closet, my cock rousing. “Yeah, sounds good.” I’d have to maintain some semblance of control. Tex would probably be with us.
“Okay then.” He left the doorway.
After tucking my duffel into the closet, I strolled into the main room with my phone in my hand. It was time to check whether Ella had chilled. After turning off Do Not Disturb, my phone dinged with notifications. “Fuck.” With a sigh, I dropped onto the end of the couch, tapping the screen.
“Is that Ella again?” Malik stood in the kitchen with an open Gatorade bottle.
“Yep.” I scrolled. This instance held only two messages, though the last one requested a FaceTime call.
“Who’s Ella? The woman your dad set you up with?” Tex rounded the couch and fell in next to me.
“It is. She wants me to call her.” I rubbed my brows. I didn’t feel like talking to her right now, but if I didn’t, she might never leave me alone.
My phone rang with a FaceTime call, her name scrolling across the top.