Chapter 4

4

Baylor

“ O h, yum! I want some.” Taya grabs a slice of pizza off my plate and the annoyance simmers under my skin. I want to yank it out of her hands and tell her to go get her own.

Ryes made some valid points last night. I’ve been overlooking a lot of shit. Her selfish behavior. Her greediness. The fact that she whines in a really annoying voice when she doesn’t get her way. How she only ever talks about herself or girl drama. And then there’s this. When it comes to a man’s food, you don’t touch his plate unless you ask real real nice, making promises to his cock he can’t refuse. Yet, she’s sitting there eating my entire slice of pizza like I told her she could have it.

After last night, I’ve decided I’m calling it quits with her. I just haven’t had a chance to do it yet. I wasn’t going to be a coward and do it by phone. But I’m also not going to be a dick and do it in front of all our friends, so I’ll wait until after school. The theater incident was the final straw for me. I can’t handle being with a girl who’s blatantly rude and doesn’t even acknowledge the fact. Hindsight, I should’ve ended things sooner, but I was freaking out about my sexuality. But after what happened last night, that’s no longer the case.

Man, it was so fucking epic. The pressure, the friction…the intensity. It was a trifecta that led to one hell of an insane explosion. And the best part was, Ryes acted like it was no big deal. We got each other off, went and grabbed some food and then played video games until we crashed. Nothing changed between us. It felt just like old times. And when we got up this morning, everything was still cool between us.

After months of agonizing over it, it happened. We crossed a line. And there isn’t a shred of regret or disgust. I still don’t know what the fuck that says about me, but I know my best friend is right there with me. It’s not like I can picture kissing him or cuddling up together on the couch while we watch a movie. The idea of spooning him in bed and calling him baby is fucking laughable. But that rough, raw aggression…that dominating power… Yeah, I definitely wouldn’t mind hitting the mat again.

“Hey, man!” Ryes holds out his fist for a bump as he takes his seat across from me. I feel Taya stiffen at my side before she turns away. She’s bitter about him calling her out last night. She had the nerve to tell me this morning I shouldn’t be his friend anymore. Another reason for me to end things. The guy’s been my best friend for over ten years. She’s just some girl who’s been in my life for a quick minute. She’s smoking crack if she thinks I’d ever choose her over him. The girl I end up with one day better get along good with Ryeson or else she’s history.

“How was chem?” he asks, rolling his eyes at my soon-to-be ex’s attitude. “Mr. G give any insights as to how hard the test is going to be tomorrow?”

I shake my head around a mouth full of pizza, trying to get it down before Taya steals my last slice. “Nah.” I swallow. “He just said to make sure we knew all the terms. You want to study together after school?”

“We have plans.” Taya whips around, glaring at me. Not after I break up with her we won’t. But she doesn’t know that yet.

“I have to study. You can pick out your outfit for the party with the girls.”

She looks upset, but for once, I don’t care. If she breaks up with me first, that will make my life easier. Then I won’t have to deal with the tears or the questions or a public outburst. Girls can be so fucking dramatic. That’s another thing about Ryes, he’s not about the drama. He avoids it like the plague. Which is how I know our little secret will always be safe. He’d never tell a soul what happened between us because he wouldn’t want the backlash of the gossip.

“You good if we study at your place?” I ignore her tantrum and turn my attention back to my buddy.

“Yeah. That works.” He nods. “But Jess is in town, so I might swing by her place for an hour. I’ll let you know when to head over.”

The pizza goes down jagged, settling low in my gut with a thunk. Jess is a steady hookup for him. They’re neighbors with benefits. Anytime she’s back in town from college, they fuck. I’ve never taken issue with it before. In fact, I envied him for his arrangement. No strings, just sex when the mood strikes. An older chick who doesn’t want to talk to him for hours on the phone every day. But right now, there’s a jealous feeling snaking its way around my nerves.

“How long is she in town for?” I ask, clearing my throat, trying to shrug it off. I don’t want shit to get weird again. There’s nothing to be jealous over. Sure as fuck isn’t like he and I are going to be a couple or anything.

“She’s just here for the weekend. Hey, do you think Chase will be cool if I bring her to the party?”

“Yeah.” I nod. “I think he’d be fine with it.” Me, not so fucking much. That jealousy is constricting tighter. Maybe I need to rethink my breakup until after the weekend. It seems like I need a reminder that I’m into tits and ass, and that I’m not some jealous queen wanting to tell Jess to fuck off.

There’s a commotion at the end of the table and we both turn as the voices get louder. Cassie and Chase are in another fight again, which seems to be their MO lately. Cassie’s constantly upset about something he did or said, and Chase is always trying to put out the fire. Only this time…it doesn’t sound like Chase is letting it slide. It actually sounds like he’s breaking up with the girl.

The gasp at my side has me looking at Taya. “They’ve been dating for a year,” she whispers. And? It’s been a year of fighting and make-up sex for those two. We all knew this day was coming. It was only a matter of time. Me and Tay’s day is coming too, but not until I get my shit under control and figure out how to stop feeling like a jealous girlfriend.