Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 167671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 838(@200wpm)___ 671(@250wpm)___ 559(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 838(@200wpm)___ 671(@250wpm)___ 559(@300wpm)
But now …
I breathe out a sigh. “You know, speaking of Mavis, I think I’m going to go see her.”
“Really? But isn’t that awkward?” Max mutters.
I tug at my piercing, trying to settle the nerves before I look his way and smile. “I need to make it right.”
He smiles back. “Of course.”
“I’m not planning on doing anything with her,” I say.
“I know,” he answers casually before picking up his book again.
I’m not used to us being so calm and … out.
It’s refreshing.
I head out the door and walk across campus to Mavis’s sorority, where I knock on the door and wait for the ensuing giggles from the girls perched at the windows. I don’t have to wait long for the door to open.
“Hi, Heath,” some random girl I’ve never seen before says. “You here for Mavis?”
Do they all know? Probably.
I snort. “Is she here?”
“She’s upstairs,” the girl says, “I’ll call her for you.”
“Thanks,” I say, and she closes the door.
I hear some footsteps running up and some muffled laughs. I peek at the window again, and all the girls duck for cover. I guess my good looks have all of them fumbling like schoolgirls. And I have to admit, it was definitely fun for a while. Especially to get some ass while Max wouldn’t look my way. But now I have him and Ivy… and I no longer feel the need to fuck everything I see.
The door opens up again to Mavis tilting her head at me. “Heath. Nice of you to show your face again.”
“Hi,” I say awkwardly. “Can we talk?”
She folds her arms. “Sure. Go ahead.”
“I wanted to apologize for ghosting you,” I say, narrowing my eyes when the girls all start to giggle again. “I didn’t mean to but my emotions got the better of me.”
“Emotions?” She frowns. “For who?”
I take in a deep breath. “Ivy and—”
“Wait … Ivy, as in that thief?”
I avert my eyes. “Things got … complicated.”
“Sounds like it,” she says. “But wait, you said ‘and’ … what else?”
I lean in and whisper, “Max.”
Her eyes widen, and she looks at me with her lips shut even though I can see her actual jaw drop. She’s basically gawking at me without actually wanting to show it.
“I told you, it’s complicated.”
“He’s your best friend,” she whispers.
“Yeah …” I rub the back of my neck. “We still are. It’s just that, now we’re more. Together with Ivy.”
Now her lips finally part as the shock begins to ripple through her entire body. “You’re in a threesome?”
I shrug. “Four if you count Silas.”
“WHAT?!” She steps out and shuts the door behind her. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Silas?!”
“Ha, yeah, it does sound like a good joke, but no,” I reply. “We’re all … fucking with Ivy.” I make a loop with my finger and shove the other index finger inside for added context.
But her godawful stare tells me that was a big mistake.
“Oh. Wow.” Her face scrunches up. “No wonder you’ve been acting all odd lately.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to put you on the side-burner,” I say.
She holds up a hand. “It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize.”
I frown. “I don’t?”
“You always asked me to hang out, not the other way around. So when you stopped, I kinda figured something important must’ve been going on.” She swallows. “Though, I always thought you were just hanging out with me to get into my pants.”
I rub my lips together. “I …”
She takes in a deep breath. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not. And I was a fucking asshole for trying.”
She nods. “Yeah, you were. Lucky for you, I was pretty much the only girl who wasn’t ever remotely interested in you that way.”
“True, but I’m not just interested in sex, okay?” I grab her hand. “I want to be your friend. Please.”
She smiles and narrows her eyes as she looks up at me. “You mean that?”
“Who else is going to curse these fucking teachers with me?”
The grin that spreads on her face makes all my worries disappear. “It’s about time they got a taste of their own medicine.”
I grasp her shoulders and pull her to me, hugging her tightly. “Goddammit, I missed you, Mave.”
“Mave?” She pushes me away. “Nuh-uh, no way. That’s what my brother calls me.” She shivers violently. “The thought of hearing that from your mouth makes me want to puke.”
I snort. “Oh, c’mon, you love him. Admit it.”
“Only because I have to or my mother will kill me,” she retorts. “Also, I doubt this will go well with Mom either if she finds out.”
“Don’t tell her I told you. Not yet,” I say, lowering my gaze. “She’ll kill him. Or all of us. And then Silas will torment me in the afterlife for telling you in the first place.”
She sniggers. “Fine. I’ll keep your dirty little secret, but you owe me.”