26. Alec

26

ALEC

I t's been days since the Coffee and Cocoa kickoff event, and I haven't seen hide nor hair of Tessa since then. Despite my best attempts to ignore it, I can't shake the feeling of guilt that's been creeping over me. I keep seeing her face, and the hurt in her eyes and it's been eating at me.

I might feel guilty for hurting her, but I have to admit I'm relieved that she's backed off, finally. Still, I probably ought to talk to her at some point, just to make sure she isn't going to retaliate against us.

As I walk across campus I spot Tessa ahead of me, moving quickly. I call out to her but it's as though she doesn't hear me, and she moves faster.

I quicken my pace, determined not to let this opportunity slip away. As I approach, I see her glance over her shoulder, clearly spotting me. She tries to change direction, but I'm faster. I catch up with her and gently block her path.

"Hey, Tessa," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "Can we talk for a minute?"

Her eyes widen in surprise, and I can see the tension in her shoulders. "What's this about, Alec?"

I swallow, feeling the weight of what I'm about to say. "Look, I know we've had our issues so maybe it's best if we just stop antagonizing each other. What if we just both agree to walk away and stop this back-and-forth game-playing shit?"

Her expression softens slightly, and I notice the guarded look in her eyes. She nods slowly. "Alright. If that's what you think is best, then I agree."

Her quick acceptance surprises me. I fully expected more resistance, a confrontation, even, but she seems genuinely willing to agree to a ceasefire. As she turns to walk away, I can't shake the uneasy feeling that settles in my chest.

I'm relieved, but the ease with which she agreed gnaws at me. I can't help but wonder if there's something she's not telling me, or if she's simply resigned to the way things are.

I head back to the frat house, still feeling a twinge of unease. I need to talk to Jace about all this.

As I walk inside, I spot him lounging in the common room, flipping through Netflix. He glances up when I enter, a lazy smile on his face.

"Hey, Alec. What's up?" Jace asks, tossing the remote aside.

I drop into a chair opposite him, tapping my fingers on my knees. "I just talked to Tessa. She and I agreed to drop the messing around. It was almost too easy to get her to agree, as a matter of fact."

Jace raises an eyebrow, his expression shifting to one of mild confusion. "What do you mean? We wanted her to leave us alone. Isn't that what we've been aiming for?"

"I guess," I say, leaning back in my chair. "But it felt like she agreed too quickly. I thought there'd be more pushback, I guess. I'm just worried that we might have missed something."

Jace shrugs, the smile returning to his face. "Look, Alec, all we wanted was for her to leave us alone. We got what we wanted, so why overthink it? If she's willing to step away, let's not look a gift horse in the mouth."

He's got a point, I suppose. Maybe I'm just letting my guilt cloud my judgment.

"Yeah, you're right," I admit, nodding slowly. "We got what we aimed for. I guess I'm just a little on edge after everything that's happened."

Jace pats me on the back, his grin widening. "Don't sweat it. We've got enough on our plates without worrying about Tessa. Let's just focus on finishing strong with the toy drive and proving we've turned things around."

I nod, feeling a bit more reassured. Jace's confidence is infectious, and it helps me refocus on the task at hand. The toy drive is crucial, and it's where our efforts should be directed. I get up, determined to put my lingering doubts behind me and channel my energy into making sure we finish strong.

Days pass, and I try to convince myself that pushing Tessa out of our lives is the right decision. Yet, despite my reassurances, a gnawing emptiness lingers.

Tonight's the last frat party of the semester, a chance to unwind before the holiday break. In an attempt to distract myself from the persistent thoughts of Tessa, I decide to let loose and maybe find someone to hook up with. A random fling should be enough to shake off the lingering regrets.

As the party rages on, I scan the room and spot a girl who looks like she's enjoying herself. Her smile catches my attention, and I make my way over, hoping to spark a connection.

"Hey," I say, giving her a slow smile.

"Hey," she replies, holding up a cup of cider. "I'm Layla."

"Alec," I reply. "You enjoying the party?"

We chat for a while and I flirt, laying on the charm thick, just like Jace would.

Layla and I eventually find ourselves in a quieter corner of the room, and as I inch closer, I realize something doesn't feel right here. There's no spark, not like there was with Tessa. Layla is fine and all, pretty in a generic sort of way but she doesn't have Tessa's soft curves or her sassy wit.

When the moment arrives to close the distance and kiss her, I hesitate. The thought of Tessa, of what we had—or what we could have had—stops me dead in my tracks. Layla wrinkles her brow, eyes narrowing in confusion.

"Are you okay?" she asks, her tone shifting from flirtatious to irritated.

I struggle for a response but find myself unable to offer any convincing excuse. "Sorry, I guess I'm just not feeling it."

Her frustration is palpable. "God, then just forget it," she snaps, turning on her heel and storming off.

I watch her leave, feeling a pang of regret, not just for the awkwardness of the situation but for the emotions bubbling up inside me. The party continues around me, but I no longer feel like being part of it. I make my way back to my room, my thoughts consumed by Tessa once more.

As I sit on my bed, staring at the empty space where she used to be a part of my life, I can't shake the feeling that something is missing. I thought pushing her away would bring relief, but instead, it leaves a void that nothing else seems to fill.

My mind drifts back to the last encounter we had before everything went to hell. I recall the way she writhed against me, the way her warm pussy felt around my cock. My hand drifts to my pants and before I realize it, I'm already half-hard, fisting myself in my hand.

A low groan spills out as I touch myself, imagining it's Tessa who's touching me. Her skin is soft but her grip is sure as she slowly strokes me up and down. Fuck, oh God yes.

I imagine her looking up at me with her wide, green eyes, biting her plush lower lip. "Is this okay?" she asks in my head.

"Perfect," I mumble, picking up speed. Her body moves closer to mine, her breasts pressed right up against my chest. I love the way they feel against me, so warm and enticing. The scene grows as I close my eyes.

"Don't stop," I say to her and she starts moving her hand a little faster, then rubbing the spot at the tip that has me gasping in pleasure.

"You're amazing at this," I whisper to her. "Making me feel so good, sweetheart."

"Just want to make you feel good," she whispers back. "Like how you make me feel."

Her fingers move off my shaft and I mourn their removal but before I can protest, she's sticking them in her mouth, licking and sucking them. When she pulls them out, I watch with a heated gaze as she moves her hands back down to stroke over me once more.

Then her mouth descends on me and I nearly come undone as she licks my tip, then wraps her lips around the head and applies hot, wet suction.

"Shit!" I curse, hips bucking up into her mouth, but she reaches out to push me back down, continuing her ministrations.

Her fingers caress my balls, teasing them with short, almost ticklish strokes while her mouth moves up and down on my length, her head bobbing as she hollows out her cheeks and sucks hard.

I'm on the edge within a few moments of this and I bite back a strangled cry as I come, my body tensing as I release down her throat.

But then the fantasy ends and I look down to find my hand covered in my spend. I make a face as I start cleaning it off with some nearby tissues, then swipe at my belly where some landed.

Why can't I get Tessa out of my head? Why am I so obsessed with her? It's like she's got a direct line into my subconscious at this point. I can't go anywhere or do anything without thinking about her.

As I sit back in the bed, crossing one foot over another, I lean back and cover my face with my arm, trying to drive all thoughts of her out of my mind.

It doesn't work and her smiling face pops into my head. I want to be near her, I want to touch and caress her, but more than that I want to see her smile again, to make her laugh or feel her hand in mine.

Am I falling for Tessa Collins?