7. SWEET JOCK GUY

7

SWEET JOCK GUY

Summer

I walk alone on campus, hurrying to my first lecture and make it just in time in to class, taking a seat next to the walkway in the center.

Students continue walking in. Most look fresh and energized, genuinely excited to be here, but there are a few sullen faces. If I had to guess, they are the ones taking the class again. It's crazy how you can almost see the difference between them.

Aside from looking visibly younger, you can gauge how many years a student has been here by the level of hope and the twinkle in their eyes.

The seniors look like this is a waste of their time and would rather be anywhere else; tired, uninterested and resentful.

Lord, may I never repeat a class. I don't want to be sharing classes with freshmen I'll look down upon. So I can't drop the ball. I need to be on my shit, like high school. No slacking. I've got stay focused and study. Study. Back then when they weren't rocking my world, we were studying together…

I groan inside. Why the fuck are those memories still there? It's insane how everything reminds me of them somehow.

What's it going to take to actually forget them?

A familiar cologne fills my nostrils and I look up. Caleb is taking the seat in front of me and I look back down. Fuck my life.

The professor walks in, setting his bag at the podium.

"Welcome students to Macroeconomics 101. I am Professor Brown, and I will be facilitating this class this semester," the balding black professor says.

The class starts and he takes us through what we can expect, as per the course pack, before the lesson. I try to focus on the contents of the material, but I can't help my eyes falling to Caleb's neck, specifically the tattoo of the hickey I gave him.

I remember how he woke up that rainy Saturday and called his tattoo artist friend to tattoo him that very morning. He was ecstatic. I thought it was insane, the guy who tattooed him thought he was insane, but his brother boyfriends understood. After that, we all got tattoos to commemorate our relationship.

The only four I have—I separated them between my two under-boobs—and theirs are on their chests over their hearts. They tattooed themselves in the Chinese character for summer. And I tattooed their initials in Chinese as well; JA on the right and CH on the left. JACH. More like jerk now.

I sigh inwardly. Idiot moves.

I need to find out how much to get it erased or covered. I could get away with it if the next guy doesn't Google them, I'll tell them it means one love or something. But I'll be fucked if that person understands Chinese letters.

Fuck, I was such a stupid girl in love.

I definitely need to be watched next time I fall in love.

And now here he sits, knowing exactly what he is doing sitting in front of me.

"That's it, that's where we end today, students. Don't forget to check out your assignments on the portal. It's best you get to those as soon as you can, and we will start that material next class. Till next time," the professor says, ending the lecture I hadn't been listening to.

Well, fuck me then.

I start collecting my things as Caleb gets up from his chair to let the other students out. I do too. He doesn't look back, just walks out with his things. That stings a little. But whatever. I leave too. My next class is luckily in the same building, so I am not going far.

Caleb is waiting with a boy I don't recognize as I exit the room, and I should have known better than to think he would just walk out and ignore me. His eyes are on me as he says bye to the boy and walks my way. I don't stop walking, heading to the vending machine. I regret not bringing a water bottle. I need water.

"Hi, Bumble." He steps next to me.

"I am not bumble , Caleb." I hope I sound as bored as I am pretending to be.

"You will always be Bumble to me."

A surge of anger rises speedily in my chest, and I whip my head to him.

"I'm sorry, look, we need to talk." His face is serious. Turning away, I punch the product I want before I insert the money.

"Summer, please. Let us explain what happened at least." He sounds exhausted.

"I don't care for any explanations you and your band of liars have. There is nothing else to discuss. I don't want to hear anything from any of you and…" I look him in the eye and his face morphs into disbelief the more I talk. "I'd appreciate it if you send the message to the others as well. Stop trying, it won't happen. I'm moving on, so should you." I bend and pick up my drink.

"This campus can be big enough for all of us, so please stay out of my way…" I start retreating, walking backward. "I'll stay out of yours."

He doesn't respond, just stands there watching me go. I turn when I can't stand his sad face and stomp to my next class. Taking my seat in the next class, I realize my heart rate is sprinting. Ugh. I hate that I still have such strong reactions to them.

Luckily, I don't have any more classes with any of them, and by 3 pm, Hazel and I have a late lunch at a taco spot on campus. I am starving. And my head is buzzing. There is already so much academic work to do.

High school taught me you need to start working hard when the semester starts because if you don't, the work will overwhelm you. So I have a studying schedule every day because consistency is everything.

I meet Hazel outside and we walk in together.

She exhales loudly and we hook our arms together.

"Long day?"

"Dude, you have no idea. I have another class in 25 minutes, and I am already very regretful," she says.

"You only had three classes. What's so heavy?"

"We have an assignment due next week."

I can't help but laugh. That was fast. I have two in three weeks but whatever.

"They won't even lube you into college, just straight for the ass dry, huh?" I grimace and she chuckles.

"I wouldn't know about any of that, have never really done any anal." She shrugs.

I raise an eyebrow. "Not even mouth and finger stuff?" I lower my voice, a little horrified at her.

I'm not a professional, but I like sex and I'm not about to prohibit myself to the pleasure my body was made to feel. I'm a little greedy, I want it all. I guess another reason four boyfriends with their own styles and kinks just worked. They each gave me something the others couldn't and together I had everything I wanted and needed.

"No, my anus has only one job and it's overworked on that as it is, it doesn't need a second." We share a look and burst out laughing as we walk to the counter.

We order and grab our tacos and our drinks, before walking to a table. The place is abuzz with students. Some sitting down, most just buying and rushing to their next class. This feels a lot more fast-paced than high school. There's definitely a higher state of anxiety here.

"But on the plus side, my Act-Sci professor is a shnack," she says as we plant our asses on the chairs.

"At least we have Micro and Stats tomorrow."

"Yes, I can't wait. So…" she wiggles her eyebrows. And I already know where she's going with that. "Did we see Mr. Fine number 2?"

I laugh at her. "You mean Mr…" I trail off when they walk into the shop, my world stopping for a minute.

Fuck. I close my eyes and mutter a 'fuck' under my breath. I look back to my food and Hazel clears her throat. Looking up, she has a huge grin on her face and I groan.

"They are looking," she whispers unhelpfully, leaning in, and I scowl at her. But she is enjoying this a lot. "No, they are crying for you." I focus on her and not on my flaming cheek.

"I don't care," I say through my teeth and take a bite of my taco.

I know it's stupid, but I hope it's messy and I look awful. But because the universe is an enemy of progress, Logan and Trevor's pose walks in.

They greet each other and now the whole place has eyes on them. I don't fail to notice how all the girls are basically drooling.

Ugh.

Someone walks our way and I look up to find Logan and Trevor in his tow. Hazel, because she's an idiot, pinches me under the table and I hide a wince and a laugh as the two jocks approach with grins on their faces.

"Pretty girls who ran away last night," Trevor says, his eyes on Hazel.

We both smile back.

"We didn't run, we had to go to bed," I say and realize once again I've said the wrong thing because Hazel nudges me with her shoe.

"I mean, not that we aren't used to being up that late, we just…wanted to be ready," Hazel babbles and I stare at her in disbelief.

"Well maybe you can make it up to us," Logan says and I quip my brow to him.

"Can we sit?" Trevor asks and I laugh nervously but shift.

Maybe this is exactly what I need. A solid distraction.

"So, besides football, what are your majors?" Hazel asks, picking up a fork to actually eat her tacos with a fork when her hands and mouth are right there. Picking mine up, I take another bite.

"I am doing Marketing and PR and this fella is doing Biochemistry," Trevor replies.

"Ooh." I blurt out my surprise, and the boys chuckle.

"What? Are you surprised I'm doing a 'nerd' course?" Logan says playfully.

"Yes. Very much," I say.

Logan grins. He is actually really cute, especially when he's smiling.

"So, what you do?" he lowers his voice and I think he's flirting. I smile and look away.

"I'm doing Econ and she is Act-Sci."

"Word? So you're like a little genius, huh?" Trevor bites his lower lip at Hazel and she blushes. She fucking blushes.

"I mean, it's what I do." She shrugs with a grin.

"So, we had a great time last night," Logan says, looking at me.

"And we want to extend our invite," Trevor says.

"Another party?" I ask, a little hesitant.

"Yeah, we have chill sessions every day for the first two weeks, then the big parties on the weekend. Y'know, to welcome all the new comrades in the struggle." Trevor smiles.

"Uh…" That sounds like a lot. It seems Hazel shares my feelings.

"I mean, you don't have to come to all of them, but I'd like to see you again this week," Logan says and it sounds almost like a date.

"Yo, yo!" another guy comes from behind me, stands in front of us and I am glad he interrupts the moment. "Hello, pretty girls."

"Hi," Me and Hazel say, almost sing songy.

"Don't mean to interrupt but this dummy has class in ten minutes." He looks at Trevor as I look at the watch on my phone.

"Shit," Trevor says and he moves.

"I am leaving too I have a class," Hazel says standing.

"Bye, babe," I say to her as she disappears with the guys. I scoot to the seat where Hazel was to give me and Logan some much needed space. Consequently, I face the guys' table outside surrounded by girls.

What the fuck?

Jaden is grinning like a kid at Disneyland. I know those girls aren't that interesting.

"Ahem."

I almost jump, and my cheeks get hot from embarrassment. Shit Logan is still here.

"So, which one is the ex?" he asks, helping himself to my juice. Lack of boundaries. I don't know him like that, but I say nothing.

"Um, that's a complicated answer."

"So more than one?" he asks, smirking with curiosity.

"I don't want to have that conversation. Can we…move on to other things…maybe?"

"Aight, I guess it's deep then. But you are single, right? Because I was serious earlier on."

A man who gets straight to the point. Another point for him.

"Yes, I am single, but I was trying to do this single thing, y'know?"

"So, you a nun for now?" He grins.

I swat his solid muscles.

"You might say that."

"Summer, I like you. I just like being around you. Your pace is cool with me," he says.

It makes me take a real look at him. Would it really be a bad idea to give this Okie a chance? He's handsome and a bit smart.

"Um, we can hang out then sometime when I have some free time," I say and he smiles. He really is nice.

"I don't mean to be forward but…" he looks at my phone and I grin.

"Right…my number. Here." I open my phone, open the contacts app, and hand him my phone. He punches it in and gives it to me.

I smile. "You didn't write your name?"

"I figured it's presumptuous of me. I know girls sometimes like naming us things like…Taco Jock Guy. So, I won't take that freedom away from you."

I can't help my cackle. It fills the shop and people turn my way as I clamp my mouth. "That's hilarious."

They turn too, but I quickly move back to Logan.

He shrugs, amused. "I know these things. I've lived long."

"And you are so right. I was going to write Sweet Jock From Party."

He laughs. "Aah, you see. Now you are just charming me."

I laugh again.

It feels great to laugh again.