Three Little Mistakes (Blindfold Club 3)

I kept my gaze locked on his and took an unhurried sip from my glass, leaning casually against the counter. Even without clothes, I was the one in the position of power here. I had all of the information, including who he was.

My lack of urgency to respond only made him more anxious.

“Em?” he called out, glancing down the hall. “Seriously, dude, what the hell are you doing here?”

Just what you never could.

“Ross?” Noemi’s hurried footsteps pounded down the hall, and she came into view a half second later, her hands cinching closed the belt on her silk robe. Her wild hair was loose around her shoulders, and makeup smudged under eyes. This girl looked like she’d been properly fucked, and Ross figured it out instantly.

The boy’s face was fucking priceless.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded of him.

His focus left her and swung back my direction, horror in his eyes at what he’d been upgraded to. “I can’t find my flash drive that has MacKenzie’s practice test on it. Did I lend it to you? Or maybe I left it here?”

“I don’t think so.”

It was then that Ross noticed the pile of clothes on the floor that we’d shed earlier, and I didn’t bother hiding the grin. It was petty, but I disliked everything about the guy, from his stupid, pretentious look, to the way he’d put his needs before hers. He moved to the desk in the living room where her laptop rested, and opened a drawer.

“I don’t believe,” my tone was threatening, “she gave you permission to look for it.”

He straightened and turned. “So, you do speak English. Em, who is this guy?”

“Her boyfriend,” I spat out.

I hated that word. The immaturity of it, because God knew I wasn’t a boy, but there wasn’t another word adequate or appropriate to use that Ross would understand.

“Her what?” Ross’s voice cracked. He turned to Noemi with disbelief smeared on his face. There was disbelief on hers as well. We hadn’t used that label, but our arrangement was a relationship. I dared her to deny it, but she wouldn’t. If anything, she looked pleased.

“You could have just called,” she said, her voice tight.

“I did, but you didn’t answer and I need it for class tonight.”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but it’s not here. I save everything to my Dropbox, so I wouldn’t borrow it.” She motioned to the door. “You should go to the labs or the library and check the lost and found.”

He nodded, looking deep in thought. “Can you call over there? I’m going to swing by John and Derrick’s place next. The flash drive is white with a Cubs logo on it.”

The way Ross didn’t wait for her answer and began to move toward the door made me realize he expected her to say yes.

“No,” she said, her voice quiet. “No.” This time was louder, confident. “I know you don’t like doing that kind of stuff, but you have a phone, Ross. Be an adult and use it. I’m busy.”

His mouth hung open, probably shocked she’d said no, but he snapped it shut. He gestured to me and the clothes on the floor. “Yeah, I guess so. Thanks for all your help.”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

I asked as he yanked the door open.

He turned and glared at me. “What?”

“As much fun as it was having you interrupt Kool-Aid time, you’ve got something that doesn’t belong to you.” He didn’t get it. “You didn’t have to break in.”

He still didn’t understand, and looked at Noemi.

“Your key,” she said.

Ross pulled his keychain out in a huff, extracted the key, and held it out to her.

“No,” I said. “I’ll take that.”