Page 36 of The Deception You Weave

"I would ask if you were into one of them but I think we all know you've already got more on your plate than you can handle."

I hold my hands up and laugh. "Guilty." It feels so fucking good to be out with two awesome girls who aren't judging me for what's going on in my life right now.

I really fucking needed this.

"Doughnuts to take back?" Ella asks once we've cleared our table and are about to make our way to her car.

"Is that even a question," Violet mutters. "The guys will disown us if we show up without any."

With three massive boxes of Krispy Kreme, we head back to campus.

I feel lighter than I have in a long time.

Scooting forward from my spot in the back seat, I poke my head between the two front seats as both Ella and Violet belt out Billie Eilish lyrics like their lives depend on it.

"Thanks for this," I say once the music has dropped out. "I really needed to just get away."

"Any-freaking-time, girl," Ella sings. "You still up for yoga Sunday?"

"Hell yes."

The guys practically pounce on us the second we step foot into the dorm.

"Back the fuck up, animals. We bought them, so we get first dibs," Violet announces, making them all do as she's told.

After taking one each, we let the starving men descend on the boxes.

I'm still laughing at them as I back toward my room.

"There's a little surprise for you in there," West says with a wink when he notices me making my escape.

My heart jumps for a minute, but then I remember just how protective they are and know for a fact that I'm not about to find the devil waiting for me.

And I'm proved right when I swing my door open to find none other than Luca Dunn sitting at my desk studying as if he lives here.

"Hey," I say, walking in and dumping my bags on the end of my bed.

"Doughnut?"

His eyes grow wide as they drop from mine to the plate in my hand.

"Um… yes."

"Take it."

"I'm not taking yours."

"Luc," I say with a laugh. "It's fine. We had tacos. I'm stuffed."

"Share?"

"Sure." Lifting it from the plate, I take a huge bite before passing it back to him.

My chin drops when he stuffs the entire thing in his mouth in one bite.

"And the girls claim you're sexy. They have no idea what they're missing," I deadpan as he chews.

"What?" he mutters, his eyes twinkling with delight. "Don't tell me you're not burning up for me right now," he says once he's swallowed.