Page 17

SEVENTEEN

TEDDY

Cherry Pumpkin: ? y wont you let me go 2 the party

Not My Brother: Because you’ll just block me again after. It’s better to say we broke up.

T hat message is a punch to the throat. I hate it with everything in me.

Cherry Pumpkin: no it’s not and no i wont

What is this feeling that’s clawing at my insides?

Why does it feel like I can’t breathe?

And why isn’t he responding?

Cherry Pumpkin: did u fall in2 a manhole

Cherry Pumpkin: did the rats get u

A few minutes go by and there’s no response and no read receipt.

Is he really ignoring me now?

Did he block me back?

I can’t take this anymore.

It’s been hours and he’s not even opening the messages.

Even though I should be going back to the dorms, I grab my stuff and head to Rhys’ mom’s house instead. Coach will probably be pissed for me getting back so late but we have an evening game tomorrow, so it’ll be fine. I can nap or whatever if I have too.

The air is biting cold as tiny snowflakes fall. It’s beautiful and about as peaceful as this city gets. The streetlights make the snow glow a little and even though it hurts to breathe, I enjoy it.

When I get to the building, I can’t remember if I have to be buzzed in or not. There’s only been like three times I was in here, picking up Tobi or whatever. The door opens so I jog up the short flight of steps and enter, coming into a spacious lobby with a uniformed employee behind a desk counter thing.

“Hello, can I help you?” the doorman asks, looking up from the computer screen.

“Yeah, I’m just visiting a friend of mine.”

The man looks me over and I give him what I hope is a reassuring smile but it’s probably not.

“Does your friend know you’re coming?” he says friend weird. Does he think I’m trying to be discrete about a hook up? Kinda presumptuous of him.

“No, I’m trying to surprise him.”

He lifts an eyebrow at me, gives me a very judgmental look, then sighs. “What apartment?”

That’s a great question and one I should probably know since I walked my ass over here in the snow at ten pm on Thanksgiving when I should be sleeping because of our game. If Coach finds out I’ll be in so much trouble.

I rack my brain and think I remember the right one. “One N.”

He does something on the computer and asks my name. “I’m sorry, but you don’t have permission to be let up. I’ll have to call.”

Shit.

“Sure.” I shrug like it’s no big deal, but what the hell am I going to do if Rhys tells him no? It’ll be so awkward!

“Miss Cameron, so sorry to bother you this late,” the man says, giving me a look. “I have a Teddy Ellis down here asking to come up.”

I don’t hear what she says, but he responds with, “Of course, thank you, Miss Cameron. Have a good night.”

He hangs up the phone and gives me a straight lipped look.

“Elevator on the left.”

I smile at him but am pretty sure he’s plotting my death. “Thank you!”

Rushing for the elevator, my Crocs squeak on the shiny floor and I impatiently wait for the doors to open without looking back. I think he’s a shape shifter or something. He might eat me and not in a sexy way.

When I get to the right floor, I step out and look up and down the hallway. I’m not entirely sure which way to go but a door opens and a pissed off Rhys steps out, so I head in his direction.

“Thank fuck you’re alive.” I shove my hands in my pockets and try not to run down the hallway.

“What are you doing here?” His arms are crossed and for some reason, I want to squeeze between them and his body. Make him hug me.

“You didn’t respond.”

“I didn’t want to talk to you.”

Ouch. That hurts right in the chestle plexus.

“Why not? I’m trying to help.” He can’t actually be thinking of taking Tobi. He would just make everything more awkward by talking about stupid science shit that no one understands. Then throw a temper tantrum when no one wanted to talk to him.

Rhys growls and grabs a handful of my shirt, jerking me into the apartment behind him.

I wave at his mom as we pass her. “Happy Thanksgiving, Miss Cameron.”

“Thank you, Teddy,” she says skeptically.

What is she confused about? It is Thanksgiving, right?

“Don’t talk to her,” Rhys snaps and shoves me into his room, closing the door and leaning against it.

I don’t think I’ve ever been in here before. It smells like him and my dick is perking up because of it. It’s kind of messy, with clothes tossed on the end of the bed and on a chair. There’s hockey stuff sticking out of the closet. Team pictures, posters of his favorite players, and trophies are on the walls. It fits.

“I’m not fake dating you.”

My head whips around to look at him again.

“Why not? You want to fake date Tobi instead?” That bothers me in a big way. I don’t really know why.

Am I jealous?

Maybe.

He can’t kiss Tobi. Hold Tobi’s stupid hand.

That’s for me. Only for me.

I love Tobi but that would make me fight him for real.

I shove my hands back in my pockets, so I keep them to myself.

“No, I don’t want to fake date Tobi!” Rhys almost shouts and runs his hands through his dark hair. His bright blue eyes are shining, but I don’t know with what. I’m not good at reading emotions.

“What do you want, then?” I take a step closer to him. I want to comfort him, there’s clearly something wrong, but it’s like he doesn’t want me too.

“Why did you block me?” he demands, taking a step toward me but it’s more menacing than comforting.

I wince at the question. How much can I really tell him? Will he understand or think I’m dumb?

“You clearly don’t give a shit about me, which is fine, but you don’t get to turn around and pretend that you do when it’s convenient.” There’s pain in his voice, I think. I hurt him.

Fuck.

My heart aches at the thought.

I shake my head, not knowing how to say it. “You’re wrong.”

I grab the back of his neck, pulling his lips to mine. I care too much about everything. Why doesn’t he get that?

The kiss is hard. Me trying to soothe the sting of rejection while he punishes me for it. It’s biting teeth followed by a soft caress of a tongue. His hand slides into my hair and pulls, forcing a groan from my lips. Rhys leans his forehead against mine. I watch him, so fucking close he’s blurry but I don’t care.

“I do care.”

“You don’t block people you care about.” He clenches his jaw.

“I’m sorry.” I breathe him in and close my eyes. I don’t want to look at him when I admit the next part. Being vulnerable is, well, vulnerable. “I was scared.”

The grip in my hair relaxes a bit, and he sighs. “Scared of what?”

“Letting my team down.”

“So you just cut me off? That’s how little I mean to you?”

I open my eyes and look at him. His eyebrows are pulled together and there’s something lingering, like he’s holding something back.

I cup his face in my hands and give him a soft kiss. Why is this so hard? I just want to be a good person. I want to help him because it’s the right thing to do.

Squeezing my eyes closed, I say, “I want to fake date you because I can’t date you for real.” There. I said it. I hold my breath and wait for him to say something.

“How does wanting to date me lead to you blocking me?” His tone is softer now, like maybe he’s a little afraid of my answer.

I keep my eyes closed, not wanting to see his face when the next words come out. “Because I can’t have what I want and what if my head gets so twisty Magoo that I start throwing games for you? Let my boys down. Ruin everything.” I let out a deep breath and meet his gaze. “I’m sorry.”

I finally open my eyes and find him watching me.

One side of his mouth quirks up. “Is this really about sex? Because I’m not fucking you if you’re not going to talk to me afterward. I have more self-respect than that.”

“It’s not about sex.” I let out a huff of laughter. “Okay, not only about sex.”

He pins me with a look that clearly says he doesn’t believe me. I lift my hands up in surrender. “Do I like orgasms? Fucking duh but I also want to do this. It’s the right thing to do and I have a duty to my family’s honor.”

“Your family’s honor?”

“Yeah. It’s a thing. Look it up.”

“How is fake dating me bringing honor to your family?”

I sigh and drop my head back on my shoulders. “Why do you ask so many questions?”

“Because you make zero sense!”

“Tobi agreed to do this with you, which was a terrible idea on your part. He’s the worst. But he got sick or whatever, so I stepped in. Saving the family honor. Obviously.”

“And going to the dinner?”

“If you tell them we broke up and you take Tobi, that will be ruining both family honors, and they will probably hate you for that. Plus, I’m better. Tobi sucks.” And if I ever catch you touching him in a sexy way, I’m breaking every one’s hands.

“Sometimes I really wonder what it’s like in your brain.”

“Fucking busy, okay!”

He smiles at me, runs his finger up my throat which makes me swallow. “You can’t get mad at me and block me again.”

“Promise.” I kiss his finger when he brushes it against my mouth. “You also can’t tell Tobi.”

“What? Why?”

“What part of ‘he’s the worst’ did you not get?” I sigh. “Do I need to Google science terms to make it make sense?”

“No, but I would probably find that process hilarious.”

I grab his hips and pull them flush with mine. Damn, that feels good.

He lifts that stupid eyebrow at me and smirks. “You’re not getting off in my room.”

“What? Why not?”

He laughs. “Because you have no volume control. These walls are thin, and my mother is awake.”

“Now you’re the worst.”

Rhys shoves a hand between us and cups me through my pants. I bite my lip and whimper to try to keep the sound down but he’s right, I’m so loud.

“You’re trying so hard, aren’t you?” He rubs his palm down my shaft and back up. I grip his arms just to have something to hold on to and gasp as my body trembles. “Stay quiet and I’ll keep going.”

“Rhys,” I say his name in a whine and plea.

“Shh.”

“I need—” I start to say ‘you’ but freeze. “To come.”

“I know.” He shoves down my pants and wraps his hand around me. “Fuck, you’re big. I have to say, I might love your cock.”

“Fucking taste it then!”

Rhys’ free hand slaps over my mouth. “Shh!” The hand wrapped around me stops moving and I damn near sob. “What did I say?”

“No, please. Keep going. I’m sorry.” I lean my face into his neck and cover my mouth with his skin. It’s so hard not to suck on it. Not to leave a mark. But I know he’d have questions if he did, and I don’t want to make this harder for him.

But he doesn’t stroke me again. I could scream.

“Are you going back to your parents tonight?”

He wants to chit chat?!

“No,” I groan, rolling my hips to try to get him to move. “Dorms. Game tomorrow.”

“You better get going then, it’s late.” He releases me and puts his hands on my shoulders. This time I do yell but I keep my lips against his neck to muffle the sound.

“I hate you.”

“Consider it payback for blocking me.”

“You’re so mean.”

“Remember that next time.”

Rhys grabs my jaw and ravages my mouth. It’s over too fast and I’m still left aching, but I manage to get myself put away so I can leave without flashing his mom.

I’m so damn cold when I get back to the dorms. I’m pretty sure my dick has crawled back inside of my body.

I’m curled up on my bed with every blanket I own trying to get blood circulating in my body when my phone goes off.

Not My Brother: Did you make it back? The rats didn’t get you?

That reminds me he needs a different nickname. He’s definitely not my brother but…

Teddy changed Rhys’ contact to Loves My Cock.

Cherry Pumpkin: no thanks to u

Loves My Cock: Maybe they were scared away by the size of your erection. You’re welcome.

Cherry Pumpkin: no way they arent scared of dicks. plus it was so cold it almost froze off!

Rhys changed Teddy’s contact to Fake Boyfriend

Loves My Cock: We can’t have that. Does it need a cuddle?

Fake Boyfriend: ye u should come here 2 give it a warm mouth hug

Loves My Cock: So tired. Sleeping now.

Fake Boyfriend: y did i want 2 fake date you again ure so mean 2 me

Loves My Cock: That’s a good question. Let me know when you figure it out.

Fake Boyfriend:

Fake Boyfriend: im going with u 2 that din-din no arguing

Loves My Cock: I suppose.

Fake Boyfriend: no supposing! its happening!

Loves My Cock: What if you get sick and I have to take Tobi to defend the family honor?

Fake Boyfriend: ill go anyway and shit on their rich people floor

Loves My Cock: That’s not very family honor-y

Fake Boyfriend: better than u fake breaking up with me 2 take my 4real brother with u as ur fake date

Loves My Cock: Is that jealousy I hear?

Fake Boyfriend: is that a band? how would i know what u hear

Fake Boyfriend: stop texting me i have a game 2morrow i need my beauty rest

Loves My Cock: Good night fake boyfriend.

Fake Boyfriend: dream of my cock