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twenty-seven

Blake

After Cleo kissed me and then became a track star before my very eyes, I found myself at 88UP, the off-campus bar where most of the SFU and Laughlin University kids hang out.

Tonight, I’m docked at the bar, nursing my fourth Manhattan, wondering where the fuck I went wrong .

She kissed me for fucks sake! But why does it feel all wrong? Was she uncomfortable? Was I a bad kiss—I’ll stop that thought right there. I’m an amazing kisser.

A large figure plops down in the seat beside me, the guy already smelling like he’d had a shot—or four—as he turns to me, smiling lazily.

I recognize Ryan Jones almost immediately. He’s a huge, light skin black guy with insane tattoos and a model-like face—Tu’s words, not mine, but he is fucking gorgeous. Ryan gives me a sad watery smile, looking exactly how I feel. He turns back to the bar, waving down Nova, tonight’s bartender. She’s a student at SFU and I’m pretty sure we hooked up last year—that’s beside the point… She walks over to us with a large smile, clearly happy to see the captains of both the hockey and football teams tonight.

“Jones…” She breathes, bending over on the bar as she looks him up and down quite disgustingly.

Ryan scoffs at the action and waves her off… And I mean that in the literal sense, he holds up his left hand and lazily waves her off .

Nova scoffs as she walks away, getting another bartender to service the jock. He orders four shots of vodka, I give him a lazy smile downing the one he’d offered me before turning to the man.

“Why are women so fucking confused?” I slur, resting my head on my hand.

“Tell me about it, brother.” Ryan sighs, downing his second shot with ease.

“I mean first they’re hot then they’re cold. Yes, then fucking no,” I mumble.

“In then out? Motherfucker, are we singers?” He grins lazily and I chuckle because fuck his sister has me in a bar, quoting some singer to him.

Ryan takes a long inhale before letting out a deep sigh. “I completely get you, dude. Why do they have to be so complicated? Like do you love me or not? Do you just want to fuck me like I’m some cum slut? Am I a boy toy or a boyfriend— Wait not that one… She doesn’t do relationships.” He frowns dramatically downing another shot.

Cum slut? What type of freaky—

“Why is it that every girl on this fucking campus wants me? And the one woman that I want to be with can’t be fucking bothered?” He slurs, eyes hooded as he looks over at me.

“Preach, brother.” I raise my glass, downing it and missing my mouth by a little but I don’t care. Why should I care? Cleo obviously doesn’t.

“I should text her, shouldn’t I?” We say in unison and immediately hold our noses because we’re immature like that.

“I’ll do it if you do it!” We shout again at the same time and chuckle as we each pull out our phones.

Ryan Jones may be my new partner in crime after all, move over Jace.

“ ‘What are we?’ and send.”