The Game That Breaks Us (Us 3)

Bennett grins and flops down on my bed. “Nah. I think I’ll stay right here and enjoy the show. You don’t have anything to hide from me, sweetheart.” He winks.

I take a deep breath so that I don’t yell at him or send him a death glare.

Bennett James is dancing across my last nerve and I haven’t even been awake fifteen minutes.

“Fine.” I give him an evil smile and shimmy out of my shorts. I don’t even care that Elle is in the room and getting a show as well—living in a dorm together we’ve seen each other in all different stages of undress, it’s just how it is.

I turn around and bend over, searching through one of my drawers, purposely wiggling my ass in the process. I hear Bennett hiss, and I smile with satisfaction. I grab a pair of jeans and put them on with my back turned to him. I glance over my shoulder and give him a coy smile.

I leave my tank top on and grab a loose, over-the-shoulder, purple sweater from my closet and tug it on. My hairbrush sits on my dresser and I grab it, swiping it through my hair before pulling it up into a messy bun.

“I’m ready. Where’s your shirt?” I grin at him as he stares at me dumbfounded from the bed.

“Th-The floor.”

I search the floor and find his white button-down, tossing it at him. “A little dressy for breakfast, don’t you think?” I laugh.

He shakes his head, trying to clear his thoughts. “Yeah,” he mumbles. “Better swing by my dorm and change.” He glances at Elle as he stands and puts his shirt on. “Do you want to come get something to eat with us?”

She shakes her head and crosses her leg, her gaze focused on her phone. “Thanks, but I’m meeting some friends.”

“What friends?” I ask, confused.

“Celine and Makenna. They live across the hall from us.” She points like I don’t know what across the hall means.

“Oh, right.” I shake my head.

“You’d like them,” she tells me. “If you didn’t spend all your time studying and with lover boy.” She nods her head at Bennett.

He chuckles. “I’m sorry for keeping her from you.”

“You better be sorry,” she chortles. To me she says, “We’re in need of a girls’ night. What do you think?”

“Sure.” I grab my purse off my desk and sling it across my shoulder. “I’ll see you later.”

Bennett follows me out into the hall. I see a group of three girls standing by the elevator and I quickly veer in the other direction to the stairs. Bennett chuckles behind me.

“What are you so scared of?” He laughs behind me as I start down the stairs.

I halt and whip around. “You’re wearing the same clothes from last night. You know what people would think.”

He grips the banister and leans down to where I stand three steps below him. “So what? The entire campus already knows we’re dating, so I’m pretty sure they assume we’re having sex as well.” My cheeks flame and his mouth parts in surprise. “Are you a virgin?” I look away and start down the steps then, embarrassment clinging to me like a second skin.

It’s not like I chose to be a virgin. There was just never a guy I liked enough and my dad and brothers made it even more difficult on top of that.

We reach the last stairs and I sprint forward to push open the door but Bennett’s faster. He comes up behind me and holds the door closed with his body pressed against the back of mine. My breath falters and I freeze.

“We’re not done talking Grace.”

I whip around. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

He peers down at me, his hazel eyes taking in more than I wish they would. “There’s loads to talk about.” He moves a little bit closer, which puts our bodies completely aligned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know I needed to. What’s it to you?”

“Fuck, Grace. I just … I don’t know. I feel like I should’ve known.”

“I’m your fake girlfriend Bennett—so my virginity really isn’t any of your business, and if I’d fucked half the student body that wouldn’t be your business, either.”