Chapter Twenty-Four

"C lass dismissed. Have a great day and make good choices," the professor says as everyone rushes out. I dig my phone out of my bag as I walk down the hall and see a text from Peyton.

Peyton: Yo, bitch. Meet me at the coffee shop. I'm feeling neglected.

I groan. All I wanted to do was go back to the dorm and take a quick nap before my next class, but it looks like that's not going to happen.

Me: Will do. Order me the largest coffee possible, please?

Peyton: Your wish is my command, your highness.

I roll my eyes at her sarcasm as I change directions and head to the coffee shop. The trip across campus takes me no time at all. Walking into the busy coffee shop, I look around and spot her sitting in the very back.

"Excuse me," I say to someone as I push past them.

"Hey gorgeous, where you going?"

I ignore his flirting and keep going until I make it to Peyton. She looks up from her phone and smirks.

"Took you long enough."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. This for me?" I ask as I point to a cup on the table, not in front of her.

"Sure is. This is the largest sized white chocolate mocha I could get you."

"You are a goddess," I mumble as I pick it up and take a sip.

"So…where were you last night? You never came home."

"Starting this already?" I groan.

She raises a brow. "I'm waiting."

I take a deep breath. "I stayed at Clay's place."

She hums as a smile plays on her face. "You stayed at his place after a date…"

I nod. "That's what I said."

"Did you two…" She makes a motion with her fingers.

"Do you really have to be so immature?"

"Yes, yes, I do. Now spill."

I take my time responding and take another drink.

"Come on, don't leave me waiting," she pleads.

"Yes, Clay and I were intimate." I cringe at my description.

"Intimate?" Peyton chuckles. "Can you not say that you had sex?"

"Peyton, really?"

She leans forward on the table. "Say it. Say sex. S-E-X."

"Fine, we had sex," I say through gritted teeth. "Are you happy now?"

"Very. Now tell me, was our boy good to you?"

I look down and turn my cup.

"He was. It was everything I could have wanted," I admit softly, leaving out the fact that he was a virgin too.

"Good. That's all that matters," she says as she leans back into her chair.

"That's it?"

"Talking about sex is more my thing than yours. I'm not going to push you to talk about something you rather leave private, especially in public."

"How kind of you."

She sighs dramatically. "I know. I'm the best, aren't I?"

"Oh, for sure. Now tell me, how have you been?"

"You mean besides being neglected by my best friend and roommate?"

I roll my eyes at her antics. "Yes, besides that."

"Just living the dream. Working my ass off and taking classes. You know how it is."

"I hate that you have to work so much," I say, shaking my head.

"Don't we all? That's the way of life, though. The way I look at it, it might suck now, but down the road, my student loans won't be nearly as bad as most people."

I laugh. "That's one way to look at it. Optimistic, I like it."

"I try."

"Do you work this weekend?"

"I have Friday off. Why?"

"Want to go to the game with me?"

She taps her finger to her chin. "I don't know. Since you're dating a player, does that mean you get better seats now?"

I roll my eyes. "I can get us better tickets."

"And you'll buy the snacks?"

"Sure."

"And we can go to the party after the game?"

I point at her. "Now you're pushing it."

She tilts her head as a smile plays on her face. "Am I, though? Better give me an answer."

"Yes."

"Yes…"

"Yes, to everything." I sigh.

She claps her hands and smiles. "Excellent. Yes, I would love to go with you."

"How nice of you," I deadpan.

"I only hope that Clay is okay with it?"

I frown. "Why wouldn't he be."

"Well, you guys are just starting to date. If I were him, I wouldn't want you going out with someone who looks like me. I mean, I'm a fucking catch. For all he knows, I could steal you away. I'm your roommate after all. All those late-night pillow fights…"

"You're ridiculous," I say, laughing as I shake my head.

"But you love me," she quips.

"I do. I really do." I pause. "Do you really think girls do that, though?"

"Do what?" she asks as she takes a drink.

"The whole naked pillow fight thing."

Peyton looks at me like I'm crazy. "No. That's just some made-up male fantasy."

"Out of all the things they could fantasize about, why do you think they choose that?"

"Babe, let me give you a piece of advice. Never, and I mean never, try to understand the male brain. If you do, you'll drive yourself crazy."

"Touché."

"Hey, are you guys using this chair?" a guy says as he comes up, pointing to the extra chair at our table.

"All yours," I tell him.

He smiles. "Thanks."

I look back at Peyton and see her looking at her watch.

"I need to head to work. Will you be home tonight?" she asks as we stand.

"Yeah, I'll be there when you get home."

"Sweet. I'll see you tonight then," she says as we step outside.

"Have a good shift."

We give each other a quick hug, and I watch her walk away. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out of my pocket and see that it's my mom.

"Hey Mom," I say as I answer the call.

"Hi sweetheart, do you have a few moments?"

"Yeah, I'm just on the way to the library to get some studying in before my next class," I tell her as I start walking in that direction.

I guess a nap really isn't in the cards for me today.

The wick catches, lighting the candle on fire.

Perfect.

I drop the lighter on my desk and look around. My room is picked up and smells like Febreze fresh linen. I even went as far as to put fresh sheets on my bed. I don't know if Grace is going to stay over tonight, but I want to be prepared in case she wants to.

Hell, I want her too.

"Come in," I say when someone knocks on my door.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

I look over my shoulder and watch Grace step into my bedroom.

"Hey, I was just picking up. You're early."

She tilts her head to the side as she looks around. "Is that okay?"

"Of course," I tell her as I take a step toward her.

I pull her into my arms, and she grabs onto my biceps. She stands up on her tiptoes, and I lean down and meet her for a kiss. She makes this little humming noise that makes my blood run hot. Somehow I manage to break the kiss and rest my forehead on hers.

"Hi. How are you?"

"I'm good. How are you?"

"Better with you here."

I watch as a blush covers her cheeks and she smiles. I love the way her body reacts to me.

She clears her throat and shakes her head. "So what are the plans for tonight?"

"Well, I figured we would go downstairs and make something to eat. Then, we can study if you need to, or we can watch a movie. It's up to you."

"A movie sounds good. What were you thinking for dinner?"

"I think we have chicken or salmon and then rice." I cringe. "Not the most romantic dinner, but with being in season, I need to make sure I stick to the right diet."

Grace laughs. "I grew up with a hockey player, I get it. I'm good with either."

"Come on, let's go eat." I reach down and take her hand in mine, and we leave my bedroom and head downstairs.

"Should we make food for the other guys too?" Grace asks.

"Did someone mention food?" Beckett asks as he stands next to the couch.

I groan. "Don't invite him."

Grace slaps me in the stomach with her free hand. "Be nice." She looks over at Beckett. "We're making dinner. Do you want some?"

I shoot Beckett a look over her shoulder, silently telling him to say no.

He smirks at me before looking back down at Grace. "Nah, I'm good. I have plans, and I'm about to leave."

Grace cocks her head to the side. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, Jelly Bean. You two have fun." He moves to the door and says over his shoulder, "You two crazy kids don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Grace shakes her head at his use of the nickname Brett gave her. Seems all the guys deemed it her name.

"So our options are endless," I joke, making him laugh as he steps outside, shutting the door behind him.

Grace turns around and faces me. "Did you just kick your roommate out so we could have the place to ourselves?"

"I would never," I lie.

"Clay, I don't want the guys to hate me and feel like they can't hang out at home because I'm here."

I squeeze her hand and reassure her. "Hey, they love you. You have nothing to worry about. Besides, I didn't ask, they offered."

"Are you sure?" she presses.

"Positive. Now come on, let's go make some food."

Grace nods before turning toward the kitchen. "Where do we start?" she asks.

"How about you sit, and I'll make us dinner."

"Are you sure?"

"Don't worry, I got this." I lean down and give her a quick kiss.

Grace moves to the island and sits down. I move around the kitchen with ease, grabbing everything I need.

"Can I play some music?" Grace asks.

"Sure. You can connect to the speaker if you want," I tell her, nodding to the one that lives on the counter.

"Sweet. Thanks."

While I work, Grace turns on some artist I've never heard of.

"Who is this?"

"Noah Kahan. I'm kind of obsessed with him right now. Along with Hozier."

"Should I be worried?" I tease.

"Oh, one hundred percent," she deadpans, making me laugh.

I can't help but smile when she starts singing about it being the season of the sticks.

"I've never heard this song," I tell her as I put the salmon into the oven.

"I stumbled across his live one night, and I fell in love. I've been playing him pretty much nonstop ever since."

"It's pretty good," I tell her as the song ends.

When the next song starts to play, Grace sighs and gets this wistful look on her face. "I love this song."

I round the island and hold out my hand to her.

A little line forms between her eyebrows. "What are you doing?"

"Dance with me."

"Really?"

"Really, now come on and restart the song."

"Okay."

Grace smiles while she restarts the song and then jumps off the stool and takes my hand. I pull her body into mine, and she rests her head on my chest. The man talks about how nothing could keep him from his woman, and I can't help but agree with him. Nothing could keep me away from Grace. Not now. When the song ends, I reluctantly pull away to check on the food.

"Will you send me that song?"

"Sure," she says as she takes a seat again.

I move into the kitchen and check the pot of rice on the stove. The timer shows that the salmon is almost done as well.

"It smells good."

I shoot her a smile. "Let's just hope you think it tastes half as good as it smells."

"I'm not worried."

The timer goes off, and I pull the salmon out of the oven and set it on the counter. Grace jumps up before I can protest and grabs the plates.

"Shit," I mutter.

"What's wrong?"

"I forgot to make a vegetable."

Grace laughs. "I think skipping your veggies for one night will be fine, old man."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. Now relax and let's eat," she tells me as she starts plating the food.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted this to be perfect."

Grace reaches over and places her hand on my arm and squeezes. "As far as I'm concerned, it is. Now come on, let's sit and eat this before it gets cold."