Page 142 of The Surprise Play

It makes me smile every time I think about it, but she’s been borderline clingy, asking to meet up whenever I’m free.

Some people would tell me those are big red flags and I should stay the hell away, but I seriously don’t want to.

I love spending time with her, and when she asks to meet up for lunch in her dorm room and I find myself half naked on her bed while she experiments with her first blow job, I’m not gonna complain about that.

It was fucking awesome, and I made sure she knew it. The shy smile she gave me as she watched in fascination while I jerked and came into a wad of tissues will be permanently burned in my brain.

“I get it,” she whispered. “Making you come like thatistriumphant.”

I scooped her hair back over her shoulder, pulling her toward me and kissing that blushing grin.

Damn, she’s so fucking sweet.

And I’ve spent my week hanging out with that sweetness any chance I can get. I’ve been a good boy and haven’t skipped class or practice, but I’ve basically been MIA from everything else, skipping a night out with the guys and bailing on multiple lunch invitations so I can be with Satch instead.

It’s not a great habit, and I’m gonna have to break it, but I get the feeling that Satch needs me right now, and I want to be there for her.

Grabbing the huge teddy bear that only just arrived last night, I tuck it under my arm and head out of my room. She doesn’t know I’m showing up at her door this morning, but there’s no way I’m not gonna be the first person to wish her happy birthday. It’s also Valentine’s Day, so I get to lavish her with extra gifts, and Mr. Teddy here is gonna be the first.

It’s been fun shopping for Satch. Between Blake and Mrs. Satchwell, I’ve come up with a bunch of cool ideas. I’ve probably gone a little overboard. Satch will no doubt tell me I shouldn’t have, but yes… yes, I should.

She deserves all the treats, and I want to be the one to give them to her.

Strolling into the kitchen, I open the fridge and grab out the ingredients for a protein smoothie. I’ll quickly down it before heading over to see my girl.

“Seriously?” Grady walks in behind me, eyeing the teddy bear I just deposited on the kitchen chair so I could free my hands up.

“What?” I glance at his dry expression and grin. “It’s awesome, right?”

“I guess.” His frown turns skeptical, then kind of sadas he pulls out the chair adjacent to the large stuffed animal and looks kind of glum.

Shit. He probably would have bought something this big and cheesy for Teah on a day like this.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur, spinning around to lean against the counter. “Shit, man. I’m really sorry.”

He gazes at me, his dark brown eyes darting over my face before returning to the table. “For what?”

“For getting shitty with you last weekend when I used up all the hot water. For not understanding what you’re going through.”

He shrugs.

“You ever gonna tell me what happened?”

With a heavy sigh, he rests his head in his hands and mutters, “She dumped me. Isn’t it obvious?”

“Yeah.” I nod. “But why did she dump you?”

His swallow is thick as he starts tracing the grooves on the table. “She said…” His expression crumples. “It’s humiliating, bro.”

Oh man. What the hell did she say to him?

“Come on,” I gently coax him. “You can tell me anything. You know all of my embarrassing shit.”

He gives me a side-eye before finally admitting, “She said our relationship was boring. That I was too serious and didn’t know how to have fun anymore. We’d been together too long, and I was too comfortable, apparently. I wasn’t putting in the effort anymore.”

“Is that fair?” I ask, annoyed at her for being so harsh on the guy.

He shakes his head, but then his shoulder hitches. “Maybe. I don’t know.” Closing his eyes, he mutters, “Itold her I’d try to do better, but she said it was too late. She doesn’t love me anymore.”