Page 85 of Puck Your Friend

Wes drops to the floor on my other side, his shoulder pressing lightly into mine. “I remember that. You were always taking pictures at crazy times.”

We flip through the pages. Grainy shots of the lake. A crooked one of the mess hall. Logan and Ford in life jackets two sizes too big. Jace caught mid-laugh, eyes squinting against the sun. I took a lot of candid shots of them eating or being stupid. A few awkward selfies with them, as I couldn’t see what I was doing.

Wes taps a photo near the back. “Oh man, I haven’t thought about that tree in so long.”

Below the wide shot, there’s a close-up of our carving. It’s way more uneven than how I recall it in my head. But we were kids.

My fingers run over it, wishing I could transplant that tree to our backyard. It saw so much of our friendship from the first minute to the last second I saw them. “I still draw it. Whenever one of you slipped into my mind.”

Jace shifts closer, his hand wrapping gently around my ankle. “We never stopped thinking about you, either.”

Ford hums from behind me. “We would’ve found you, eventually.”

Jace drums his fingers on my leg. “We should print more of these. Make a wall. Camp, this year, everything.”

Ford hums. “I agree. We all have a lot of pictures. We should cover a wall in them.”

A smile pulls at my lips. “I like that idea. It feels right.”

The last of the boxes are loaded in under two hours. The movers are fast, polite, barely needed direction. One of them hands Logan a signature screen.

“We’ll take the donations first. Should be about an hour to unload, then we’ll meet you at the house with the rest.”

Logan signs and nods. “Perfect. See you soon.”

Only the keepsake bin stays sitting by the door. I didn’t want it on the truck. Too easy for it to get lost.

The apartment is bare. The kind of empty that feels like no one ever lived here. I kept it clean, like new. We don’t even have to do a once over.

I walk to the kitchen and press my palms flat to the white-tiled counter. “I moved in here when I was twenty. Thought I’d stay until I could afford something better.” My breath catches on a half-laugh. “Some part of me thought I’d die here.”

Ford steps in behind me, the floor creaking under his weight. His hands find my waist. “You’re out now and on to better things. That’s what matters.”

I lean back into him. His chest is firm as he braces my weight. Clove and campfire smoke wrap around me. I breathe it in and let myself sink into it. My center warms with need, and I rub my thighs together.

His grip tightens as a bulge presses into my ass. “We’ve still got timebefore we have to go.”

I turn in his arms and pull him down into a kiss. It lands hard. His mouth opens against mine with a groan that vibrates down my spine.

Jace steps up beside me, brushing my hair off my neck. His lips find the skin behind my ear. He knows it will have me moaning in no time.

I gasp against Ford’s mouth.

Wes inhales. “I can smell how wet you are, Gorgeous. I don’t think we’re leaving here until we make sure you’re satisfied.”

Logan’s voice comes quiet from somewhere behind me. “Fuck.”

I pull back and shake my head once, breath ragged. “No, I don’t want to make us late for the movers or you guys for practice. I need to learn to control this horniness.”

Jace’s voice is warm at my neck. “That paperwork you brought home said this might be a side effect for a while. A little quickie won’t hurt.”

I press my thighs together, shifting against Ford like it will help. “It’s like my body is trying to make up for all the years I forced its instincts into the closet.”

Wes leans in, mouth brushing my shoulder. “We feel the same way. We’re just as horny as you.”

Ford lifts me easily, setting me back on the kitchen counter. “You went years without this. It’s not a problem. Let us take care of you.”

His hands are already at my leggings, working them down. Wes peels his hoodie off me with a growl as he reveals I’ve beennaked under it this whole time with no bra. Their touches aren’t slow. They’re certain, as if they’ve memorized every part of me already.