Chapter Twelve

M y bag shifts on my shoulders as I press the doorbell, putting me slightly off balance. Grunting, I shift it back into place as the door opens.

"Hey, come on in," Wyatt says.

"Thanks," I say as I step inside.

"Clay will be right down. He took a quick shower after practice."

"It's all good," I tell him as I follow him deeper into the house.

"Hey Grace," Beckett and Brett say in unison.

"Hey guys, how have you been?"

"Good," Beckett says.

"Can't complain. You hanging out here tonight?" Brett asks.

"As long as it's okay with you."

Beckett chuckles. "Mi casa es su casa."

"Thanks." I smile.

I don't know why, but him telling me that his house is my house makes me relax. While I've always been more comfortable around guys, there's something about this group that really puts me at ease. They feel like my people even though they aren't.

"Do you want a drink?" Brett asks as he opens the fridge.

"Water would be great," I tell him as I set my bag on a dining room chair.

"What do you have in there?" Beckett asks.

"School stuff and some candy," I say as I start to pull the bags of sweets out.

Reese's, Almond Joy, Starburst, and gummy bears.

"What's this?" Brett asks as he pulls a bag of candy out of my backpack while he sets my water down.

"That is mine," I say as I try to snatch the bag away from him.

The guys chuckle as I jump in the air, trying to reach.

"Do you have to be a giant?" I mumble.

"Jelly beans, huh?"

I huff. "There is nothing wrong with SweeTARTS jelly beans…or Sour Patch ones."

"I didn't know that people actually ate jelly beans," Beckett teases.

"Can I try some?" Wyatt asks.

I shake my head as I finally manage to grab onto the bag. "Nope, I don't share, the rest of the candy is fair game, though."

The guys laugh as Brett hands over the bag.

"What's going on down here?"

I turn and lightly suck in a breath when I see Clay. His hair is still damp from his shower, and his shirt clings to him like a second skin, while his gray sweatpants sit low on his hips.

Gray freaking sweatpants.

Don't guys know that's like crack for women?

They have to wear them intentionally.

"You're drooling…" Beckett whispers, pulling me out of my head.

I look over at him and glare before I look back at Clay. "The guys were just teasing me about my candy choice."

He glares at the guys. "Be nice."

Brett places a hand on his chest. "Who, me?"

Clay rolls his eyes before looking back at me. "Do you want to study down here or up in my room?"

"Wherever works best for you." I shrug.

"I need to get some studying done," Wyatt says.

"Same," Brett and Beckett say in unison.

"We all study together then?" I ask as I look at each of them.

The guys share a look, and Clay shrugs. "Works for me."

"I'll order pizza. Grace, what do you want on yours?" Brett asks.

"I'm not picky."

He shoots me a pointed look. "That's not what I asked."

I roll my eyes. "My favorite is ham and cheese, but I know that's not everyone's cup of tea. Just get what you guys normally do, and I'll eat some of that."

"Interesting choice," he mumbles as he taps away on his phone.

"Come on, let's sit in the living room. It will be more comfortable," Beckett says.

I follow the guys into the living room and sit against the arm of the couch. Clay drops down on the other side and grabs his textbook from the coffee table.

"Do you need any help?" I ask Clay softly.

He shoots me a smile that hits me right in the feels. "I'm good right now. I'll let you know, though, if it changes."

Unable to form a sentence, I nod and look down at my textbook. Everyone jumps into their own projects. Occasionally, one of the guys will grumble, but other than that, it's quiet. It takes me a while to settle in and get to work because I keep looking at Clay through my eyelashes.

I don't know why, but today he's more distracting. It's like I can't pull my eyes off of him.

It's a problem.

"You okay?" he asks quietly.

"Yep. Sorry." I say as I duck my head to my chin.

Clayton just laughs and shakes his head.

He caught me staring. How embarrassing.

I don't know how long we all study for before the doorbell rings.

"Fucking finally," Brett says as he tosses his book down and gets up to answer the door.

"I'll grab the plates," Beckett says as he stands, and Wyatt gets up and follows him.

"Did you get a lot done?" Clay asks.

I shut my book. "Enough for now. You?"

"Same."

Brett walks back into the room and sets the pizza boxes on the coffee table. "Dinner is served."

"How much do I owe you?"

Brett scoffs. "Your money isn't any good here, Jelly Bean."

I hold up one finger. "First, Jelly Bean?" Then I hold up a second. "And why isn't my money any good here?"

"Brett shows he cares by buying us food. Go with it," Beckett says as he comes back into the room with plates.

Wyatt follows him with bottles of water and napkins.

"Thank you," I tell Wyatt before looking back at Brett. "While I appreciate you buying it, I can pay for my share. It's not a big deal."

"Don't fight it. Trust me, you won't win," Clay tells me.

"There's one thing you need to know, Jelly Bean, I always get my way," Brett says as he opens a pizza box.

"Okay, Jelly Bean? What am I missing?" Clay asks as he grabs a slice and puts it on my plate.

"Thank you," I whisper, and Clay shoots me a smile.

"Your girl likes jelly beans, so I figured it was fitting."

Clay turns toward me and raises a brow. "Jelly beans, huh?"

"They're good." I shrug.

"Should we watch a movie?" Beckett asks, pulling the attention off of me.

The guys fall into a discussion on what to watch while I sit back and take it all in.

In the past, I've always felt like my guy friends were only friends with me because they were friends with Kellan, but with these guys, I know they like me for me. It has nothing to do with Kellan, and as messed up as it is, I love it.

It's nice having something just for myself that he isn't a part of and that he can't take away from me.

"Does this movie work for you, Grace?" Clay asks.

I shake my head, clearing my thoughts, and look over at the TV. "Works for me."

I lucked out with this group of guys and I hope that doesn't ever change.

"Hey, sorry I'm late!"

I turn and look over my shoulder and watch as Grace bounds down the stairs.

"Hey, I'm glad you could make it." I smile as I stand.

She tries to blow a loose piece of hair out of her face, only for it to fall right back to where it was. "Dammit," she mutters as she sets down her bag.

Don't do it , I tell myself as I fight the urge to reach out and tuck it behind her ear. The urge to touch her is getting harder to ignore every day.

She's my friend.

Just my friend.

My very attractive female friend.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asks, pulling me out of my head.

"Yeah, sorry." I blink, trying to clear my thoughts. "So class ran late?"

Grace tugs her hair tie out of her hair and starts redoing her bun. "Yeah, the professor showed up fifteen minutes late and then thought it would be a good idea to go twenty minutes over to make up the time."

"That sounds horrible," I tease.

"It was, trust me." She sits down and starts taking off her shoes.

I kneel down in front of her and help her get the skates on.

"Thank you," she says when I'm done tying them.

"You're welcome. Do they feel all right?"

She stands and tests them out. "Good to go."

"Sweet," I say as I stand.

I take her hand in mine and pull her onto the ice. I love how her hand feels in mine.

Don't go there , I warn myself.

"Careful," I tell her.

"I've got this. I'm a pro now."

"Sure you are." I chuckle.

I hold her hand as I drag her around the rink.

How did Kellan never teach her to skate? Did he not realize how good it would feel to have his hands on her the entire time? Or is he just that selfish that he didn't want to share this part of himself with her?

It's none of your business.

"You're quiet today. Is everything okay?"

I smile down at her as I start skating backward. "I'm good. Just a little tired."

"Are you sure?" she presses.

I squeeze her hand. "Positive. What about you, though?"

"Are you saying I look bad?" she quips.

I roll my eyes. "I don't think you could look bad if you tried, but you are a little paler than normal."

Grace sighs with a small smile on her face. "I was up late last night studying for a test I had this morning, but I'm fine. Promise."

"How did the test go?"

"I think I passed. I should know by the end of the week."

"Good."

"How's hockey going?" she asks as she comes to rest against the boards.

"It's going. The season is still early, and we are all trying to figure each other out right now, but I'm not worried."

The only one who I'm worried about is Kellan, but I can't tell her that. If she knew, she would fret. Especially if she thought she was to blame for some of the tension.

"I have a feeling that this is your guys' year. You'll bring the trophy home."

I smile. "I hope so."

Grace smiles and pushes off the board, only when she does, she starts to lose her balance and starts to windmill her arms. Before she can fall, I reach her and pull her into me. Only I didn't consider the fact it would send us off balance.

I wrap my arms tight around Grace as I fall to the ground, with her on top of me, her legs resting against my hips.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" she screeches.

I cringe. "No need to yell."

Her hands move to the back of my head. "Did you hit your head?"

I grunt as she squirms against me. "I'm good. I promise."

She moves again, making me groan.

"Dammit, Clay, you aren't okay if you keep making pained noises!" she scolds.

She tries to sit up, but I hold her against me.

"Grace."

"What?"

I squeeze her hips. "I need you to stop moving."

Little lines form between her eyebrows. "What? Why?"

My eyes drop to her lips before I meet her eyes. "Because I'm a guy, and you're on top of me. Right on top of me."

Her eyes widen as her mouth makes this cute little "o" shape. "Oh…"

"Yeah, so when you get off of me, I need you to do it slowly."

Her eyes drop to my lips. Her tongue sneaks out and runs along her bottom lip, making me groan.

"I need to get off."

I chuckle as her eyes widen.

"I need to get off of you. Not get off like that!"

"I know what you mean, sweetheart. Just be careful, you have blades on your feet," I remind her.

At a snail's pace, Grace pushes herself up so she's hovering above me before she moves to the side, laying on the ice next to me.

"So…that was awkward…" she says after a few beats of silence.

Awkward isn't what I would call it.

The feeling of her body on top of mine…let's just say I now see the appeal.

She's my friend. Just my friend.

Now if only my dick would get the memo.

I roll over until I get to my knees and stand. As I hold out a hand, Grace's eyes drop to my dick.

Fucking A, don't encourage it.

"Grace," I say roughly.

Her eyes snap to mine, and she puts her hand in mine. I pull her up and hold onto her until she's gained her balance.

"You good?"

She blushes. "Yep. All good. So good…"

We start moving back toward the bench. The entire time, she keeps checking me out, out of the corner of her eye.

"You need to stop," I say gruffly as I try to get myself under control.

"Sorry, I can't help it. It's the first dick to ever go toward…there," she says as she waves a hand near her vagina.

I let out a pained laugh.

This girl.

"I'm glad we could be each other's firsts," I say without thinking about it.

She winks. "Same."

Images of being her first flash through my head at warped speed.

Shit, I need a cold shower. Now.

"You good?"

"Yep," I lie.

Last I checked, picturing your best friend naked and riding you while you suck on her breasts isn't good.

I'm going to hell.