Lover (Court University 4)

But then a twinkle flashed in her eyes as she leaned forward. “I think he secretly likes you.”

“Of course, he does,” I played off, like it didn’t shock me to hell every time I saw elements of that. That we were no longer rivals.

That we may even be friends.

It was still a bit much and nothing I’d ever voice in an open forum. I felt he’d share the same sentiment. As stubborn as myself in that way.

I popped a shoulder, grinning. “What’s not to love?”

With that, she grabbed one of my pillows off the couch, slamming me with it. I swear to God, this girl could put Mike Tyson to shame, and with that arm she’d had at her wedding when she’d flung her bouquet clear across the room at me, she seriously should consider a career as a professional athlete.

“Arrogant ass,” she chided, dodging when I tossed the pillow at her. “Always so smug.”

My laughter dissolved at what she said, how it sounded so similar to someone else. And like that someone knew, my phone pinged, Brielle’s name on the front.

Bri: Just wanted to let you know I’m on the road. Since you wanted to know?

I had, immediately texting her back.

Me: Thank you. Drive safe.

Bri: I will.

Me: I wish you hadn’t left.

No other texts came in, but since she was driving, she shouldn’t be texting anyway.

Try telling my gut that.

It clenched like someone clocked the son of a bitch, and I gazed up to find another’s eyes on me. December, of course, had been watching me. Always in my business.

Always caring about me.

She smiled in my direction, but it was a sad smile and one I didn’t want to see. It was like she knew what was plaguing me, conflicted me. I didn’t want to push Brielle, but she’d been more than adamant about a friendship and only that.

“That woman that was here before,” December said, and Bri was definitely that. She held a maturity far beyond mine and I believed before was out of my league. For a few reasons, but one being what happened here tonight. She called me on the shit with December, but it’d taken me time to see the truth. That I had let that relationship, as well as quite a few other things in my past, distract me. December leaned forward. “Is she just your mom’s friend?”

I really wasn’t ready for this conversation, still trying to figure all this out with Bri myself.

“She started as a stranger,” I admitted. “Ended up being my professor.”

“Your professor?” Her eyes widened.

I nodded. “But in between that she was something else. I met her at your wedding. Met her before I knew she was my professor.”

I couldn’t tell her what that something else was because, truth be told, I didn’t know. I just knew it felt like I’d fucked this up.

December tapped her fist on the coffee table, and before I knew it, she was dipping below it and sliding out a wood chest I kept an old chess set in.

“What are you doing?” I watched her dump the pieces out, getting them arranged on the board. After, she pulled up my leather ottoman and took a seat on it.

“I feel like this talk requires chess.” She laced her fingers, then grinned. “You have until checkmate.”

Chapter Sixteen

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