My cheeks heat, I grit my teeth and shoot him a glare, but all I get back is a wink and a lip twitch as he closes the door behind him.
For a beat, silence swallows the room.
I try to act fine, and like my thighs aren’t still wobbling from being open for so long.
“So,” I say brightly, dropping onto the bed beside Jenni. “Our writing projects. Chris, do you want to share your ideas first?”
Chris clears his throat, pulling out his notes frantically. Jenni just stares at me before rummaging through her bag.
I shift in my desk chair, trying to pretend I don’t feel wrecked, and a little wet. “Right. So, I was thinking about a story on—”
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
I flinch, annoyed that my stomach immediately tightens whenever I hear my damn phone going off. Zach just left, so it’s not him, which means it’s either my father piling more work on me… or someone is ready to tear me down again.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Sighing, I grab my phone to silence it, but not before catching glimpses of the notifications.
Unknown:The entire dorm heard you moaning like a good little football slut just now.
Unknown:Zach’s leaving?
Unknown:Wonder who’s going to suck his dick tonight since you ditched him with a boner the size of Montana.
My hands shake as I lock the screen quickly.
“Honey,” Chris says, his voice a little hesitant. “Are the messages getting worse?”
Well, shit. I thought I was hiding my reaction. Guess not.
I can’t lie. Not to the only friends I have here.
“Yeah,” I say quietly. “I guess they saw Zach come in here.”
I toss my phone on my desk just as Jenni rests her hand on my knee. “This sucks, Honey. I feel like it’s escalating.”
“It’s fine.”
She gives Chris a look before turning back to me. “It doesn’t feel like you’re fine. Do you ever think that Zach’s actions are contributing to the situation?”
“Zach’s actions? He’s done nothing but support me. Hell, he wants me to live with him, so I don’t have to put up with people in the dorm. I’m the one hesitating.”
She tries to hide her eye roll, but I see it.
“Yeah, we all know he threatens bodily harm to anyone who looks at you the wrong way.” She nudges Chris with her elbow. “But…”
“But?” I lift a brow, trying to sound amused instead of defensive.
“But maybe the issue is how visible you are together. Every time people see you two, it’s… obvious. It gives them something to talk about.”
I blink at her. “So what—you want me to hide?”
“No,” she says quickly. “I think just… being less public might help. You know, fewer grand gestures for people to pick at. Who knows, I bet if people thought you were taking a break, they’d stop.”
“Are you seriously suggesting she pretend to break up with Zach because some anonymous assholes can’t stand seeing her happy?” Chris asks in disbelief.
Jenni shifts uncomfortably. “Not actually break up. Just… maybe stop adding fuel to the fire.”