Page 5

CHAPTER FIVE

Levi

He keeps staring at my lips.

“Do I have something?” I ask Mav, wiping some queso from the corner of my mouth. “Did I get it?”

Mav blinks himself out of whatever trance he was in. He clears his throat and digs into his nachos. “Yeah. You also have some cilantro in your teeth.”

“Damn. Thanks,” I say, using my fork as a mirror to pick it out.

We’re at our favorite taco joint in Arborville. The authentic quality kind, not the generic drive-throughs where everything tastes the same. That doesn’t stop me, however, from slurping on the slushy I picked up at the gas station on the way here. Cherry ice and guac. Yum.

“What do you want to do tonight?” he asks, rubbing his stomach as he leans back in his seat. “Some DND?”

“Actually…” I trail off, fingering my phone next to me, an unopened text message mocking me. “Asher invited me to a party.”

To say I was blown away would be an understatement. There’s a party going on tonight to celebrate their win this weekend against CGU, and he wants me to meet him there. When he first approached me for a date, I guess I was an idiot for thinking it would be something sweet and romantic. He did say that this was a pre-date hangout, so I guess romantic candles and flowers might still be in my future.

“A college party?” Mav asks, choking on his soda. “We’ve never been to a college party before.”

“A frat party,” I correct. “We’ve been to parties before.”

“Playing Anarchy in Joshua’s basement doesn’t count.”

I slump in my seat and pout. “Should I not go?”

“I didn’t say that,” he argues, and his eyes find my lips again. Damn, did I get the whole restaurant on my mouth? “What did you tell him?”

“I haven’t responded yet.” I open up the message when an idea strikes me. “Hey, Mavyyyy .”

He tilts his head but then he realizes what I’m getting at. He shakes his head firmly and narrows his eyes. “No.”

“But—”

“No.”

“It could be fun.”

“It won’t.”

“Come on, I made you come. You can do this for me.”

He stutters and his jaw drops. “You can’t use that as a reason!”

“Why not?” I argue, crossing my arms over my chest like a petulant child. “It was good, wasn’t it? I got all sexy and you called me baby.”

“Which I’m severely regretting now,” he mumbles under his breath.

I pout and my heart races. “Wait, you do?”

I didn’t think Mav regretted what we did. It was an amazing experience for me—giving head for the first time to my best friend—but maybe it was just pity on his part. The thought that I potentially made him uncomfortable sends a jolt of panic through me. What if he hates me now? He’s my best friend. I couldn’t stand it if he?—

“Levi, breathe,” Mav says, reaching across the table for my hand. He squeezes it tightly, rubbing his thumb across my palm, and the touch grounds me. “I didn’t mean it, okay. You were very sexy, and I loved every minute of it.”

I let out a choked cry. “You mean it?”

“Of course,” he says sweetly. He picks up my hand and kisses the back of it, holding it against his lips for a second. “I’ll go to the party with you.”

“Yeah?” I ask, wiping a single tear away with the back of my hand. “Are you sure?”

“It could be fun,” he says, but he cringes as he does.

“It will be,” I say. I don’t know why I do it, but I lean over the table and press a quick kiss to his unprepared lips. “Thanks, Mavy.”

He blinks back at me in a daze until a slow smile works its way onto his lips. “Yeah, no problem.”

“This is a problem.”

I bite the corner of my lip worryingly as I look around the crowded party. Yeah, this is not okay. Mav and I stick out like sore thumbs. We had no idea what to wear, so we both settled for something sensible. Turns out, wearing button-downs and khakis to a college party isn’t exactly the move. We keep getting odd looks from football bros as they pass us, and I even think someone snickers in our direction.

“Well, it’s too late to go back and change now.” I take his hand in mine and tug him. “Should we maybe get a drink?”

He nods. “Just a light one. We’ve never drank before.”

Damn, we are such losers. Either way, I agree that we should keep things light. We make our way into the crowded kitchen and look at our options. I take one whiff of the beer coming from the keg and that’s a no for me. Mav holds up something that looks like an energy drink on crack and shrugs. He pours a little for himself in a separate cup and then hands me the rest. I cringe when I sip on it. It’s a far cry from my slushies.

“Do you think Asher is here?” I ask, standing on the tip of my toes to look over the crowd. “Should I text him?”

Mav furrows his brows and his jaw clenches. It’s a weird look on him, but I don’t have the time to question him about it before he points ahead of us. “Don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”

I look at where he’s pointing and my whole body flushes because Asher Rashford is so insanely hot. He’s wearing something only a bad boy from a romance novel would wear—a leather jacket paired with the tightest black jeans I’ve ever seen—and I’m struck. I’m not prepared for the way his face splits into a wide grin when he sees me or how he sidesteps all the girls that try to come onto him as he makes his way to me.

“Levi!” he shouts over the music, stopping directly in front of me. He looks almost sheepish as he runs his hand through all that luscious hair. “I’m so glad you made it!”

“Well, yeah…” I say lamely, taking another sip of my drink. It tastes disgusting, but they don’t call it liquid courage for nothing. “Um, hi.”

“Hi,” he says back, still looking way too enthusiastic at the sight of me. “You look great.”

I can’t believe that’s true, but when he says it that way it’s hard not to believe him. “Really?”

He leans down and I nearly pass out when he kisses my cheek. He hovers his lips next to my ear. “The cutest one at the party.”

This has to be a dream.

A cough behind us knocks me out of my thoughts. We both turn to look at Mav who’s got his arms crossed over his chest, an almost angry look on his face. Of course, he’s pissed. I haven’t introduced him. “This is my best friend, Mav. He’s the one I build spaceships with.”

“Hi, Mav.”

“Yeah.”

I narrow my eyes at my best friend. What’s his deal? This is Asher Rashford and he’s acting like a jerk. Asher doesn’t seem to notice or care. He just continues to smile at Mav before turning back to me. “Think you want to dance with me?”

I get nervous because I’ve never danced with a guy before. Well, if you don’t count Mav and I playing Just Dance . I guess this is a week of firsts for me. If I can suck a penis—dick—I can definitely dance in front of a room full of people.

“I don’t know how,” I say honestly, toeing the ground because this is mortifying.

He just shrugs and links his pinky with mine. “I’ll show you. Dance with me.”

I look back at Mav, almost pleading with him to be okay with being left alone. He must see the nervous excitement in my eyes because he gives me a roll of his eyes and a curt nod. I swear I want to kiss him. He’s the best friend ever. I turn back to Asher. “Yeah, I can dance.”

He leads us away from Mav and the kitchen and into the living room that’s been converted into a dance floor. I down my drink quickly and set it down on a passing table. I’m surprised by how it hits me. I’m a little fuzzy as Asher brings me to the middle of the dance floor, and I’m still shocked he’s okay being seen with me.

He places his hands on my hips and pulls me flush against him. That big strong body pressing into mine, I almost faint. There’s a sensual song playing in the background, and I let him lead me. We grind against each other, and I can’t help but let my hands wander. I have a free pass to touch him however I want, and I’m sure as hell going to take advantage of it.

I run my hands up his firm chest and he takes me by surprise when his hands wander lower and settle on my ass. Not that I’m complaining. He can touch me wherever he wants, especially when there are two of him.

Wait, what?

I really shouldn’t have eaten five tacos before coming here because before I know it, I’m barfing all over Asher Rashford’s perfectly shiny black combat boots.

“Shit,” he says, placing a hand on my shoulder to steady me as I straighten back up. “Levi, are you okay?”

“Levi!”

Mav comes running up next to me. Without any hesitation, he takes the sleeve of his shirt and wipes off vomit from the corner of my lips. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t feel good, Mavy,” I say, coughing as I clutch my stomach. “Oh God…”

I don’t know what happens next because suddenly I’m outside and the cool air assaults me. I’m bent over and vomiting into something green and prickly. My throat hurts so much and the bile stings as it comes back up.

“It’s okay, Levi.” Mav rubs my back. “Let it all out, baby.”

“Is he okay?”

I recognize Asher’s voice, but I don’t recognize the venom in Mav’s that follows. “No, he’s obviously not. I’m taking him home.”

“Wait, let me call you a ride,” Asher says and just craning my neck up to look at him makes another rush of nausea hit me.

“We’re fine,” Mav snaps. He pulls me against him, and I’m getting vomit all over his shirt, but he doesn’t care. “Go.”

Asher looks like he wants to argue. He clenches his fists at his side but huffs through his nose. He turns to look at me, and there’s concern marring his beautiful features. “Text me when you get home safe, okay?”

I can barely even nod before Mav’s leading me away. I don’t know how Mav manages it, but he picks me up and guides my legs around his waist. Mav’s a skinny guy like me, but he has height to his advantage. I close my eyes and try not to puke again from the swaying motion as he carries me. All the while, he’s whispering soothing words into my ear that I can barely understand.

When I open my eyes again, we’re in my bedroom and Mav is stripping me out of my clothes. I can’t move so I just let him tuck me into bed without a fight.

“You’ll be okay,” he says, leaning over to kiss my forehead. “You just need to sleep it off.”

“Stay,” I whine, pulling at his arm when he goes to leave. “Stay with me, Mavy.”

Mav bites his bottom lip and looks back at my bedroom door. I’m not coherent enough to try and consider what he’s thinking. Either way, it doesn’t matter because he’s crawling into bed beside me.

But he can’t be comfortable with all those clothes on, can he?

“What are you doing, Levi?” he whispers, breath hitching when I start to unbutton his shirt.

“Too many clothes,” I mumble dizzily, pushing his shirt off his frame, and exposing all his creamy freckle-covered skin. “Take your pants off.”

“Levi—”

“Get naked with me, Mavy,” I slur, already unbuckling his belt. My clumsy fingers can’t seem to get his button undone though. “Stupid buttons.”

“Here, I got it,” he says, and his own fingers seem to tremble as he undoes his pants and pushes them down his hips.

“Underwear too.”

“Levi. You’re drunk.”

“Am not.” I pout. I fumble my way through getting his underwear off, accidentally touching his dick and making his breath hitch. When he’s completely naked beside me, I starfish on top of him, skin against skin, and breathe a sigh of relief. “That’s better.”

“Levi…”

“Hush,” I say. I try to press my finger against his lips but end up smacking him in the face. “Sleep.”

I close my heavy eyes and let Mav’s scent envelop me. Safe. That’s what I feel right now.

Like nothing can touch me when I’m with my Mavy.