Page 64 of Filthy Little Pretties

Straight to hell with all my thoughts.

Me: Homework…how was the rest?

Bert: Open your bedroom door, and we’ll tell you.

What?My feet scramble against my bed to get me to the floor but halt as I start to run. Shit. My head swings around the room, looking for the things I don’t want anyone to see.

No dirty laundry or open journals. Perfect.

I finish my small sprint to my bedroom door and yank it open. “Hi.”

My smile matches theirs, and I can’t help but feel a little swoony. Grey’s leaned against the doorjamb, thumb running across his bottom lip, and Liam’s standing behind, just barely, a hand gripping the back of his neck and his other holding a small white square box.

It should be illegal for them to travel together.

Grey leans down, kissing my cheek, using my waist to push me back into my room. Liam follows, kissing my other cheek, and hands me the box that smells delicious.

“What’s this?” I question, turning around and watching them explore my room.

“You know what it is, Cherry,” Grey answers, pulling my eyes as he makes himself comfortable.

“Hold on. How’d you guys get up without a keycard?”

They look at each other and smirk leaving me without an answer as they invade my space.Whoa, this is weird.The last time Grey and Liam were here, they were twelve. It’s definitely a different vibe now. Friendship isn’t the right word for us, even though it is. We find comfort in each other’s company, in a way we can’t achieve with any others, but it’s the craving we all feel that brought them here tonight. The same craving that had us crossing lines at the lake. The thought gives me pause before I inevitably sink just a bit deeper into us.

Grey toes off his shoes and relaxes back on my bed, grabbing the remote control. My teeth find the inside of my cheek as I quietly remind myself he’s off-limits. He pats the bed, and I nod, but first open the box to see it’s my favorite chocolate chip cookie from Levain Bakery on Third. I can’t help but breathe it in, squeezing my shoulders upward and letting the memories fill my senses.

“Your room’s the same. It’s a trip, Van,” Liam says, running his hand over the horseback riding awards that still occupy the bookshelves.

“It’s weird to have you in it again. Last memory I have is you letting me paint your nails. Remember that?” I giggle and close the box, more interested in watching Liam look around my room.

He looks like even more of a giant than he usually does, walking alongside the memory of him.

Liam passes me, stopping just as he does, and leans down, whispering in my ear, “I’d let you paint more than my nails now.”

So much for keeping it together. I hold the small box in one hand and rub my other hand on my neck, hoping to rub my blush away as I attempt to change the subject.

“Perv,” I tease. “What are you guys doing here? It’s a Wednesday night. Don’t you have homework?”

“We’re good.” Liam smiles, stepping away.

“Is it a crime to want to hang out with our best friend?” Grey adds.

I smile, shaking my head, and turn around to walk to the bed, climbing on next to Grey. He’s staring at the television, but I don’t think he’s actually watching it. Something’s off. My eyebrows draw together as I scoot closer to him. “You okay?”

Grey keeps his eyes on the cooking show as he lifts his arm for me to cuddle. I don’t even hesitate, molding myself to him, hearing him release a breath.

“I am now.”

I want to push, find out what has all that worry nestled in on his forehead. But his fingers begin to absentmindedly play with the ends of my hair as he lets out a more relaxed breath. So I give him more of what he needs and lay my head on him as I reopen the box.

“You have to share, though,” Liam directs, standing at the side of the bed and looking down at me.

“Yeah. We both get a piece,” Grey says to the television, dragging his attention to my face.

I know they’re talking about the cookie, but for a moment, everything inside of me melts into mush.Damn, I’m the perv.

“Totally.” I smile, breaking it into three pieces. “Here, friends.”