37. Ava

37

AVA

G od, I hated how nervous I was feeling. Not that nerves were anything new to me—it was just something I felt on competition days. I didn't get nervous at school, nor around boys, least of all going to a hockey party.

Today, all of that seemed to change. My hands shook as I slammed the locker closed. God, I knew Halloween would be crazy, but a silly naive part of me didn't think it could get worse. I guess it made me a bitch, but I was content with letting Grayson lead. Letting him get that written note. Whatever was going on, I felt like he could take it. He led a whole team of rowdy guys. Why should this be any different?

I ran out of the hockey facility back to my car, where Cruz immediately took notice of the panic on my face.

"Ava!"

Cruz called my name as soon as I got in the car.

My hands shook as I tried and failed to hold on to my steering wheel.

"Princess," he called out a little more gently.

The moment I felt his hand on the back of my neck, it centered me. I calmed down enough to explain to him what I had just seen.

"Fuck," he cursed. "We really need to talk to Micah and Gray."

All I could do was nod.

I pulled out my phone and noticed Micah had never replied to my earlier text. Without letting myself think twice, I called Grayson. I really needed him to tell me everything was going to be okay.

"They must be busy with party prep," I told Cruz.

His hand slid from the back of my neck to my cheek, his thumb caressing me.

"It's going to be okay. No one is going to hurt you. You have us three watching your back."

I managed to give him a small smile when he said that.

"We need to go to the shop and figure out our costumes."

Cruz scrunched his nose at my words. "I'm not part of your group. I don't see the point in dressing up."

I scoffed. Because he had been spending most of his days with us.

"You can't embarrass me if you're going as my date."

I bit my lip as soon as I'd said that. I hadn't told him I would be bringing him with me as my faux date, but judging by his pleased smile, he didn't mind.

"Guess I can't embarrass you, huh?"

We spent the day together because neither of us wanted to be alone. Waiting for the Halloween party might just kill us.

Since neither Cruz nor I wanted to be alone, we got ready at my house. It seemed like a safer option than being at his apartment more than necessary and besides, my daddy was at work.

I was glad that I often bought two outfits every year because I usually changed my mind at the last minute. The short overalls were a little too tight since I got them freshman year, and my body had gained muscle since then. They hugged my curves and ass in all the right places. My colorful striped shirt covered my breasts and nothing more. I had taken a red sharpie and written the words "Good Guys" on the front of my overalls. My hair was in two pigtails, and my lips were painted a darker nude than I normally wore.

Once I heard the bathroom door open, I grabbed my purse. It was showtime and Cruz and I needed to get going. I would start to feel better once the four of us were back together. There was safety in numbers—safety in each other.

Cruz stepped out wearing all black, which wasn't all that much different from his regular attire. The only difference was the mask on his face.

"Who the hell are you supposed to be?"

" El Zorro ," he said like it was obvious.

I opened my mouth to say that maybe he should have also gotten a cape, but then let it go.

"Whatever, let's go."

He trailed behind me a little slower than he usually did because of all his injuries. With everything going on, this morning was starting to feel like it had been more than just a few hours ago.

By the time we got to the hockey house, people were already starting to line up so they could be led inside. Since I was part of ZGT, I took Cruz's hand in mine and led him into the front of the line.

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes when I noticed Miller was at the door. Thank God the hockey boys coordinated this time because if I had to go another year with Miller as an F.B.I.—Federal Body Inspector—I was sure I would kick him in the balls.

Girls loved when he groped them so they could be allowed inside—me not so much.

"Ava, you look delicious today." He leered as he looked me up and down.

I felt Cruz step closer to me, his hand wrapped possessively around my waist. Miller looked at it, and I could tell he didn't like it, but stepped to the side, allowing us inside.

Most of my sorority sisters were already there. Trying to find Micah and Grayson would take time, since all the hockey players were wearing the same thing. At least they would be together, sticking to our rule of sticking in pairs.

Cruz and I were off to the side when he leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"There's our boy."

I felt a shiver go down my spine as he said that. The dynamic between the four of us was unusual and intense—maybe a trauma bond? But he was right, though, Micah was ours.

I took a moment to take him in. He was on the other side of the yard. A sea of bodies separated him and us.I'd known Micah the longest, and I had never seen him so at ease with himself as I did now. Some people crumbled under pressure and others found growth.

"He looks good," Cruz added, and all I could do was nod.

Before I could let Cruz know I would go and fill him in on what was going on, the most annoying voice began to talk to us.

"Ava, darling, who's your date?" Livy asked as she came to stand in front of us.

Her hair, like mine, was also in pigtails, and her overall shorts rivaled mine, too. She had on a colorful cropped plaid shirt, and her face was painted with cutesy scarecrow makeup.

Cruz gave her a dismissive once-over.

"I'll be right back."

He then walked away and left me alone with Olivia. I asked her to dance with me. To try and make things not so awkward, because she should be glad of the effort I continued to make to try and stay far away from Grayson.

When Micah approached us, Livy took the opportunity to begin flirting with him. God, I'd forgotten she was talking about getting with him, and judging how Micah looked tonight, she would not hesitate to have him in her bed.

Now I was in a closet with Micah because we needed privacy, but I found that I also didn't want to share him with anyone else. Except I hadn't minded when Cruz called him our boy.

God, I was jealous of the fact that he could end up in bed with my sorority sisters.

Last time I had initiated our heated kiss, but this time here alone, it was as if Micah was going out of his mind as much as I was. He pulled me into him and began to kiss me as if he had been drowning without me.

When we broke apart, both of us were panting for air. Micah's hardness was pressed against my lower belly, and God did that fucking turn me on.

I didn't let myself think twice as I dropped to my knees, my hands holding on to the waistband of his sweats. Maybe it wasn't fair of me, but I didn't want him to go seek in Livy something he could get from me.

"Is this okay?"

"Yes! Fuck, yes."

The sound of his voice coming undone had my panties getting wet.

I pulled down his pants along with his boxers and his dick sprang free. He was long and hard, the tip of his dick leaking with precum. His head hit the wall as I took him deep into my mouth.

"Shit," he hissed as I began to suck him.

I took him as deep as I could go, gagging around his dick as he hit the back of my throat. I could tell Micah liked this because as soon as I did it his dick twitched in my mouth.

When I pulled back, you could hear the pop his dick made as he left my mouth.

He let out a ragged breath, then finally made eye contact with me again.

"You can fuck my mouth if you want to," I whispered, and watched as his nostrils flared.

His hand came down and his thumb played with my lower lip.

"You're so fucking pretty," he told me as he pushed his thumb inside of my mouth. His pupils dilated even more when I sucked it. He pulled it out and then guided his dick into my mouth. "But the way you look sucking me off…fuck."

This time he grabbed the back of my head, gripping onto my hair as he began to fuck my mouth. My eyes watered, and my pussy got wetter. I needed him, but I also wanted to give him this.

I began to move my hands in tandem with my mouth. Micah's breath got uneven, his thrusting faster.

"Shit…baby," he groaned, and I felt desire spread all over me. "I'm going to…pull…if…"

Ignoring him, I took him in deeper and let him finish inside of my mouth.

I had barely pulled back when we both jumped at the sound of Grayson calling our names. Micah fixed his pants as I got up. Grayson's and Cruz's voices sounded a bit erratic, and Micah immediately opened the door.

The four of us looked at one another. Grayson's mask was pulled up on top of his head. His eyes were wild, and I bet it was due to the fact that he hadn't been able to find us.I was glad that Grayson and Cruz were close enough and broad enough that they blocked the rest of the partygoers from seeing me. I was sure I was a hot mess.

Grayson looked at Micah, and then at me. Something about my face made his eyes flash with hurt, but I couldn't pinpoint what.

"What happened?" Micah asked, his eyes on Gray.

When I turned to look at Micah, I noticed he was looking at him the same way he used to look at me when he thought he couldn't have me.

Grayson's throat bobbed before he spoke.

"We got worried when we couldn't find you two anywhere."

My cheeks flamed, but all I could do was look apologetic. Cruz, who had been right behind Grayson, took a step forward with a mischievous smile. His eyes were on Micah as he leaned down toward me. I could feel his lips on my ear as he spoke.

"You missed some, princess."

I held my breath at his words. But then he moved his face a few centimeters and as his tongue peeked out to lick the corner of my lip, my gaze got caught on Grayson's.