Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

JULIEN

My elbow cracks against something hard. "Ow, fuck."

Slowly blinking my eyes open, I frown at the big toe stuck in my face. How in the hell did I wind up at the foot of the bed? Liz and I had been studying for our chem quiz and… I must've passed out.

Raising up, I can just make out Jay's slumbering form in the darkness. Sandwiched between him and Ry is a sleeping Liz.

Things between Jay and Ry have been eerily calm the past couple of days. They placed a moratorium on the shit between them for Liz's sake, but I know the tentative truce is temporary. It's only a matter of time before things explode, and I'll be stuck in the middle of the destruction.

Trying not to wake anyone, I slink off the end of the bed but miscalculate the distance to the floor and land on my ass. At the noise, the bed sheets rustle, and a mumbled groan goes up. Jay rolls over to his side, his hand going to Liz's hip. Ryder curls an arm around Liz and spoons her from behind. The sight of the three of them together makes my heart ache. How did everything get so screwed up between us?

Tiptoeing across the hallway to my room, I crack the door open and peek in. Elijah is curled up on my bed, lightly snoring. I debate whether to climb in beside him and go back to sleep, but I'm unfortunately very much wide awake.

Desperate for caffeine, I trudge into the dark kitchen, my body sore from lying in an uncomfortable position. Turning on the hood light so I can see what I'm doing, I pop a pod into the coffee maker and fill it with water. As I impatiently wait for my coffee to brew, I stretch my arms and legs in an attempt to relieve some of the stiffness—and about jump out of my skin when Liz materializes out of nowhere.

"Sorry," she whispers, her sly grin saying otherwise.

It's the third time this week she's scared the crap out of me.

"Seriously considering putting a bell on you," I mutter.

She walks into me and wraps me in a hug. "Please don't."

"Did I wake you?"

"Haven't been able to fall asleep. Been awake all night. Heard you get up," she sleepily replies.

Ry saunters in, scratching his bare chest and yawning. His amber eyes grump at me. "Thanks for loudly falling out of the bed."

I shoot him the middle finger. "Jay didn't wake up."

"A herd of elephants tap dancing on his chest wouldn't wake him up."

True.

Liz transfers her hug from me to Ry. He bands an arm around her lower back and greets her with a kiss.

"Good morning."

"I don't consider three to be morning. The sun needs to come up first," she says.

The coffee maker sputters and coughs before finally clicking off. After adding sweetener, because plain coffee is vile as hell, I take a sip and immediately scald my tongue.

"Next time I zonk out like that, carry my ass to my room. Jay kept kicking me in the face."

"Why the fuck is everyone up at this ungodly hour?" Jay walks over and wraps his arms around Liz from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder. Ry doesn't say a word.

"Blame Jules."

"Nope. Not my fault. I'd still be asleep if someone's toe wasn't trying to embed itself in my brain."

"Whatever," Jay replies, kissing the top of Liz's head before stealing my coffee.

I attempt to rescue it, but he retreats behind Liz.

"Asshole."

"Finders keepers. This is really good. You should make yourself some."

"Major asshole." I start making a fresh cup and park myself in front of the Keurig, prepared to guard it with my life.

"Hey!" Jay says when Liz snatches the coffee from his grasp.

"Finders keepers," she parrots, grinning.

"Anyone hungry for pancakes?" Ry asks.

Liz and I raise our hands. Jay walks into the pantry and comes out with a box of cereal. Instead of pouring some into a bowl, he starts eating it dry.

"Don't be gross." I grab a bowl from the cabinet and set it down on the island counter next to him.

"April's coming today, right?" Jay asks.

Liz passes the coffee cup back to Jay. "I can't wait to meet her."

She takes a Cheerio from Jay's hand and lobs it up in the air. Jay catches it in his mouth, and they high-five in celebration.

"Is she staying in E's dorm?" Jay asks.

"I told Elijah she could crash here."

"We're kind of at capacity."

Ry offers a quick, workable solution. "I can stop by Target later and pick up an air mattress."

"She can sleep at my place," Liz offers.

"I'll mention it to Elijah."

Jay leans a hip to the dishwasher. "Mom wanted me to remind you they were driving up tomorrow."

Our parents are coming to watch me play since it's a home game.

Jay looks at Liz. "Just a head's up. They're going to invite you to Thanksgiving."

Liz's reaction is immediate. She jerks backward, colliding with Ry, her face white as chalk.

"I… I can't. The house. I'm not ready to see it yet," she stammers.

For a second, I'm confused until understanding creeps in. Shit. Her home where her family was brutally murdered. Where she was attacked. Even though she doesn't remember that night, she knows what happened there. If Daniel hadn't told her first, she would have found out through doing a simple online search.

Jay looks stricken. "I'm sorry, I didn't even think. I'll make sure to tell Mom and Dad not to bring it up while they're here."

Our parents have been dying to see her, but we've kept putting it off. Didn't want to overwhelm her more with too much, too soon.

Clutching the paper towel Ry offers her, she dabs at the stain on her tank top. "It's okay. I think I'm going to skip my classes today and spend it napping."

She wakes up most nights screaming from nightmares of the man who attacked her. She describes him as a faceless man with heterochromatic eyes. One brown and one blue. She doesn't know if it's real or something her imagination conjured.

"I think I may join you," Jay says, which garners a harsh look from Ry.

"We have that quiz," I remind her.

She sighs. "Dammit."

Time for a distraction.

"Speaking of sleeping beauties, want to wake up Elijah?" I waggle my eyebrows.

My brother is the first to jump in with suggestions. He lives for practical jokes.

"Water balloons?"

"Hell, no. Not getting my brand-new mattress wet."

I've survived every prank Jay has subjected me to. Out of all of them, including the shaving cream and honey fiasco—don't ask—the water balloon prank was the worst. My mattress didn't dry out fast enough and mold started growing on it. It smelled like old shoes. Mom freaked out when I woke up with swollen eyes and a head-to-toe rash. Turned out, I was allergic.

"Race you," Liz calls out, already dashing out of the kitchen.

We take off after her, our bare feet drumming the floor, the noise likely waking our neighbors below.

Bursting into my bedroom, I fling the door wide, and it cracks against the wall. "Wake up, sunshine!"

"Holy fuck!" Elijah startles awake and tumbles off the side of the bed, taking the sheet with him. "You assholes!" we hear him shout from the floor.

I belly slide over the bed, and air explodes out of his lungs when I unceremoniously land on top of him.

"Morning, handsome."

"I'm going to kill you."

My grin is a mile wide. "You want to kiss me?"

He scowls up at me. "Kill, not kiss, you little shit."

Elijah tries to push me off, but I grab his wrists and press my weight down on him.

"Uh-uh. You said you wanted to kiss me. Got to give my man what he wants."

Elijah gives in immediately, opening for my tongue to sweep inside his mouth. His breath hitches as I move my hands deftly over his chest, feeling the rapid thump of his heart beneath my fingertips.

Pillows rain down from the bed. I don't know what's going on above us but whatever Jay and Ry are doing are making Liz shriek with giggles.

"Say flubberjizz ." Ry says.

"What does that even mean?" She laughs harder. "Julien, help!"

"A little busy," I reply as I try to pin Elijah's arms above his head.

"Say flubberjizz , and we'll let you up," Ry tells her.

" Flubberjizz! Flubberjizz! "

"What the hell is flubberjizz ?" Elijah says.

"Don't care."

I kiss across his clavicle to his neck.

Liz's head pokes over the side of the bed.

"Good morning, Elijah."

"Hey, Liz," he replies breathlessly when I lightly suck just behind his ear.

She smacks my ass, and I involuntarily jump.

"Shit! Watch the balls," Elijah exclaims.

I cup his dick, and he bites back a moan.

Jay peeks down at us. "Are you about to fuck?"

My hands slide underneath Elijah's shirt. "Yes, so get out of my room."

"I want to watch," Liz says, which stops me in my tracks.

I lift off Elijah, and he sits up. Liz blushes when four sets of eyes gape at her.

"I was joking." She grabs Ry's and Jay's hands and pulls them up. "Come on. I'm hungry for those pancakes. Feed me," she says and sends me a wink.

I can't help but feel grateful for this small moment of playful levity amid all the chaos consuming our lives. It feels like old times. Just the five of us. Best friends hanging out. The shared laughter and smiles. The poignancy of it hits me deep.

I wait for the door to close, then push Elijah onto the messy bed.

"You're all mine now, baby," I whisper, my lips grazing his ear.

Before I can claim him completely, he suddenly flips us over, his face poised above the tent in my shorts.

"Other way around, sweetheart."

Elijah takes out my cock.

Best. Morning. Ever.