Page 2 of Project: FU (Longwood U #3)

NOLAN

There’s a viral video that I haven’t been able to avoid seeing of Kelsey throwing a tantrum outside the frat house as she throws her things from the boxes and screams at poor Galin at the door, demanding to be let in.

“HE SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE THE BALLS TO FACE ME AND TELL ME WHY HE’S brEAKING UP WITH ME!”

The comments aren’t kind.

Out of context, it should look like I’m being an absolute dick.

In fact, if she’d been teary, picking up her box and saying those words, she’d have internet-land on her side.

But for the very few people who show her support for the fact she’d just been dumped without an explanation, the rest are of the mind of ‘ good for him ’ and ‘ you’re fucking crazy . ’

I’m still furious. Days later, and I think my anger has truly settled in and helped me numb everything else. I’ve been clinging to it, maybe unfairly. You shouldn’t let yourself become numb to what you’re feeling. That’s not healthy.

But someone who voluntarily gets gang banged on video when they’re in a committed relationship for more than a year doesn’t deserve the hurt she’s caused.

What kills me after watching her videos and seeing her responses is that she doesn’t have any idea that I know about her little foray into slut world.

Don’t get me wrong, you want to slut it up, do it.

Live your best life. I’m all about exploration, satisfaction, and having a healthy sex life, no matter what that looks like for you.

I’m not at all okay with slutting around when you have a boyfriend unless said boyfriend is on board with having an open relationship. For the record, I’m not, and that’s not a conversation we’ve ever had.

Kole has been sending me texts almost every hour with ways I can get back at Kelsey. She’s calling this Project: Fuck You. Actually, it sounds like Kylen came up with the name for this. He’s getting on board with payback.

There’s a part of me that knows I should just let it go. I’m not going to find any satisfaction from fucking her mother, which is still Kole’s very first choice of payback.

The thing is, I love Kelsey’s family. Her brothers are awesome. I’ve spent a lot of time at their house because her family lives close. Her father is the hockey coach here on campus. A man that retired from coaching in the NHL, which I think is pretty cool that he’s here coaching now.

Her younger brother is a student here. He’s quiet, shy, and fucking adorable. I see him around often. I love that he’s gotten comfortable enough with me that he’ll stop and chat for a minute.

I don’t see her older brother often, though he’s here two or three nights a week. He graduated a couple of years ago, but he still takes a class from time to time. He’s almost the exact opposite of his younger brother. Always ready to smile, loud, happy, and outgoing.

Then there’s Hannah, the baby of the family. She’s a lot like Kelsey but without all the victim-me personality. Hannah is sweet, perky, and chaos, in all the best ways. She is the more moral version of Kelsey.

It’s interesting. Now that I’ve seen that video, it’s like all the blinders I’d had concerning Kelsey have been stripped. I see her tantrums. I realize the way she’d manipulated me to support her in things she’s very obviously in the wrong about.

Like with cheer. There are so many times she’s come back from practice complaining that Joelle is always picking on her.

I’ve been inclined to believe her. Even when my frat brothers and her cheer mates, Elijah and Ezekiel, have told me what actually went down at practice, I still thought that maybe Kelsey is telling me the truth.

Looking back, I can see she didn’t feel upset about the way she was treated.

She wasn’t hurt or struggling. She was always pissed.

The words she chose should have tipped me off.

Unfairly not putting her as lead when she’s the most talented.

Making her work harder than everyone else because she was three minutes late to practice.

Kelsey didn’t want to be held accountable. She wanted special treatment. I enabled that behavior.

It’s Friday night, and I’m far too antsy and pissed to stay in. The guys’ laughter. The loud bangs. Knowing someone is getting fucked in the basement.

Nope, I need to get away.

I mean to head to Lathan’s apartment above the bar downtown. Lathan is the Whitaker twins’ older brother. He attends school here, too, though he’s chosen to live off campus. Unlike Kylen and Kole, he has no interest in frat life, though they’ve tried to get him to join DIK.

I’ve tried to get him to come to Confessions for some paydays. I kind of think it would be funny if Kylen or Kole came across his videos in editing.

Lathan wants no part of it. I’m not sure he really cares for college life at all. He’s there long enough for classes. Otherwise, he’s not on campus.

His parents helped him get a two-bedroom apartment. It’s tiny. The rooms are barely big enough for beds, but it’s his, and he’s away from campus.

Interestingly, he’s rarely home either. I’m not sure where he goes, but Lathan Whitaker is leading a secret life somewhere.

Which is fine. I have a key to his apartment, and I’m allowed to escape there whenever I need to. Tonight is one of those nights. I’ll just hang out there. A place where there’s no chance I’ll run into Kelsey and there’s no memory of her.

I always meant to bring her there, but something always came up. I’m thankful for that now. Maybe the universe was telling me something.

“Nope,” I mutter as I walk down the sidewalk. “No more thinking of her.” I’m going to grab some pizza and crash at Lathan’s for the weekend. No Kelsey at all. No campus. No reminders.

Pizza means I need to take a right up here instead of continuing straight. Which brings me past the gay club.

I don’t feel like a hookup, and yet… It’s early, so there’s no line. With a sigh, I cross the road and head for the door. I’m not sure I even care to go inside. And yet… and yet…

It’s not crowded. The music feels extra loud because there aren’t as many bodies crowding around as there usually are.

The stamp on my hand designates me as not being twenty-one, so I don’t bother with the bar. I’m not thirsty and don’t care to pretend to be. Instead, I take a seat at a high table and look around. Why am I here? I don’t want to be. I’m in no mood for loud music right now.

My eyes stop scanning when I see a familiar figure and raise a brow. Huh. This is one of the very last places I imagined running into Skye.

Project: Fuck You, Kole’s voice whispers in my head.

I chew the inside of my lip as I study him. There’s no mistaking Skye Davenport. He has the same color hair as his sister. Like Kelsey’s, it's even a mess of curls. Skye keeps it on the long side, so those curls are always everywhere. His eyes are also the same color as Kelsey’s, but softer.

He is softer, and yet, that impression is counterintuitive when looking at him. Skye is tall with a lean build. There isn’t a lot of definition from what I can see through his shirt, except for his arms. I have a feeling he’s one of those guys who focuses on lifting over anything else.

Project: Fuck You .

It’s wrong. Very wrong. I like Skye.

Still, my feet have me crossing the space to him. Skye doesn’t notice me until I’m right there. He glances in my direction and then makes a double-take. I’m rewarded with a small smile and pinking cheeks.

I think that’s why I always have the impression that he’s softer than Kelsey. He’s bashful. I’m not sure Kelsey feels anything but self-absorption.

“Hey,” I yell over the music as I join him behind the high-top table. I stand closer than I would normally because it’s easier to have a conversation.

“Hi,” he says. His eyes meet mine briefly and then drop to the soda in his hand.

“I’ve never seen you here,” I comment.

“Didn’t know I’m gay?” he asks. These little glimpses of teasing have always had me intrigued by him.

“No, I knew that,” I say, grinning.

“You haven’t seen me here since you’ve had a girlfriend,” he says. “It’s you who hasn’t been here in a while.”

“Yeah, that’s fair.” I also don’t miss the tense of the word he used. Had. He knows. “Want to dance?”

He looks at me with surprise. “With you?” he asks, eyes flickering around the room.

My smile spreads across my face. “No. With my father. Yes me, Skye.” I offer him my hand as I take a step away from him.

His tongue pokes out of his mouth, licking his lips. I’m entranced by it for a second. Dance with me, I urge silently. Let me seduce you.

I watch his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows. My heart does a joyful little dance when he gets to his feet and places his hand in mine. His blush is going to be my undoing though. It’s so fucking cute.

As soon as we’re surrounded by people, I let his hand go and face him. His cheeks remain flushed as he awkwardly moves. He’s not into dancing. Something that makes me smile. I take his hips as I roll mine and pause, giving him time to pull away.

When he doesn’t, I slowly pull him against me, bringing him in so his legs straddle one of mine.

I practically vibrate with excitement when I feel that his dick is already hard against my thigh.

His cheeks flush as soon as he knows I feel him.

I grin and pull him against me, bringing our mouths together but not touching.

Close enough that he can feel my breath on him and we’re sharing oxygen.

I keep one hand on his upper back, guiding him to the music against me. With my other hand, I explore his tight ass cheeks.

“You can tell me to stop at any time,” I tell him.

He shakes his head subtly.

“Does that mean you want me to stop?”

Sky shakes his head again, more insistently this time.

I incline my head, brushing his lips with mine. “But you can. Whenever you want to.”

He swallows and licks his lips again. I’m so close that I feel the tip of his tongue against my lips. How far will he let me touch him?