Page 65 of Pinch

“Oh my gosh,” I groan, pulling the lever to flush it as I brace a hand on my forehead.

My arms tremble, and I wait several seconds for my stomach to unclench. When I’m pretty sure I’m done, I stand slowly, turning to the sink and scooping water into my mouth. I do it several times, doing my best to get the taste of that sauce off my tongue.

“It tastes good to me…” Dad’s voice is quiet when I return to the kitchen. “You okay, honey?”

“I don’t know.” My face feels cool and hot at the same time.

“Want some ginger ale?” Dad carries a can to where I pull out a chair at the small table in the kitchen.

“I think I’m going to wait.”

“Is there a bug going around school?” Mom walks over to put her hand on my forehead. “You don’t have a fever.”

“To be honest, I’ve felt kind-of off all day. I had a chicken salad sandwich from the cafeteria at lunch… maybe it had turned?”

Dad goes back to where he left the wine. “I never get anything with mayo on it anywhere but here.”

“That’s probably a good rule of thumb.” Mom returns tothe stove, where she turns the fire off under the wok. “Would you rather some broth? Chicken noodle soup?”

“No, thanks.” I stand slowly, picking up my purse. “I might just head back to the house. If I do have a bug, I don’t want to give it to you two.”

“Oh, no!” Mom makes a pouty face. “We didn’t get enough of a visit with you, and I’d cued upMermaidsfor us to watch tonight.”

“I love that movie!” I make a pouty face as well. “It’s perfect for this time of year.”

“I know.” She hugs me close. “It’s okay, baby. Cher, Winona, and Christina will be here when you’re feeling better.”

“What are your plans for Newhope? I’ve got two weeks left in the semester, so I’ll be pretty slammed, but I’ll try to get back over here before y’all leave town if I can.”

“Don’t stress about that.” Mom tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, looking into my eyes with concern. “We’re headed down next week, but we’ll be glad to see you kids at Christmas.”

Gigi, Mav, and I always fly to Newhope together as soon as Mav plays his last game. He gets a whole three days off for Christmas, and we do our best to cram in as much family time as possible.

Chewing on my lip, I think about Gavin and Christmas.

For the entire month, we’ve been sneaking around at the house. It’s been risky and uncontrolled and sexy. Perhaps the most dangerous was when he slipped into the shower with me.

The music on my phone had suddenly grown louder, and the exhaust fan switched on. My mind went straight toPoltergeist,until he stepped inside the shower curtain fully naked, with that perfectly chiseled body on full display.

His physique really is perfect. I know from Maverick they train with weights and stretch and do cardio in addition to playing strenuous games almost every night of the week. Seeing him like that, with his muscles so defined and his cock erect and ready, I was instantly wet.

He gave me one order. “Put your hands on the wall and don’t scream.” Then he took a knee.

It was probably the hottest experience of my life, and I can’t believe no one heard us.

So for the past four weeks, we’ve been sneaking around, and now the holidays are here. We haven’t talked about it, but I’m sure he’ll visit his family in Wilmington, which is miles away from our family in Newhope.

We’re not official. We’re fooling around, right? We haven’t said what we’re doing, but every night when he slips into my bedroom and holds me in his arms, I grow a little more attached.

The guys have a game tonight, but when I walk in, I see Gigi. She’s eating a bowl of pasta on the couch and watchingIsle of Dogswith Spanky lying on the floor at her side and Patsy curled in her lap.

“What are you doing home so soon?” She puts her bowl on the coffee table and sits up straighter. “Y’all didn’t have an argument… Did your mom offer to pay for college again?”

I shake my head, still unsettled. “My stomach’s messed up. I barfed, and I decided I’d better come home and go to bed.”

“Oh, no! Can I get you anything? Chicken soup?”

“No, it’s okay.” I put my hand on the stair railing. “I probably just ate something weird.”