Speaking of Syd…
“Shit.” Reluctantly I pull away from my best friend and pull out my phone. “Syd. I left her at school alone.”
“No.” Nate is already getting up, brows drawn in a frown. “We have to go get her.”
He’s right. Christ, what if the bullies got her? How could I have been so stupid? Lack of sleep has screwed with my brain.
“Hey, West. Breathe.” Nate pats my arm. “I’m sure she’s fine.”
“Like you are?” I growl, and he winces.
But a knock comes on the door before I can work myself up into a good panic, and when I rush and open the door, she’s there.
“Missed me, boys?” she asks with a smile, and I just drag her inside.
Neither I or Nate reply to her question. No need.
The answer is damn obvious.
“Hey, Cupcake.” Nate is sitting on his bed, his back propped on two pillows, his shirt back on. He grins cheekily at her. “What’s up?”
“You skipped school.” Her gaze flits between me and Nate, settling on him. “You okay?”
“Yes. Look, sorry I worried everyone. Those painkillers are damn strong, that’s all. I overslept.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re not sick.” She bends over to kiss his cheek, and I can’t help but remember kissing her, my body reacting without conscious thought, tightening with desire.
Turning sideways to hide my hard-on, propping my hip against the wall, I fold my arms over my chest and tell my dick to calm the fuck down. You’d think I’m twelve with all the boners I’ve been springing these past months.
Though they aren’t random these days. It’s all Syd.
“And Kash?” She glances around, as if he could be hiding in here, behind the curtains or under Nate’s desk. “Where is he?”
I scowl at the mention of his name.
“Kash. Name rings a bell….” Nate scratches at his jaw. Guy needs to shave. His stubble is darker than mine. “Oh Kash! Right.”
“Jerk.” She gives him a playful shove.
“He said he had to work. Something about tutoring. He should be back soon.”
Interesting that Kash checked in with Nate. I file that information away, my attention still on Syd, at the way her tank top molds to her tits, the curve of her waist, at the way her mouth curves in a smile.
God, her mouth.
“Tutoring.” She sits down on the bed and crosses her legs at the ankles, leaning back, and I swallow hard as her tank top rides up, baring her stomach. “I got him those students. Glad it worked out for him.”
“You and Kash are tight, huh?” Nate’s eyes are impassive, his grin fixed. “Best buddies?”
“Not really. Not any more than you and him.” She tosses her curls over her shoulder, then fiddles with the hem of her tank top. “Still, I’ll be sad to see him go.”
I think of how he helped us make up, how he helped when Nate was so bad off at the party, and though I hate how much Syd likes him, I guess he could be a good ally.
Nate sits up, frowning again. “He’s leaving?”
“He said so. Don’t you remember?”
“Damn,” Nate says. “No, I don’t remember a thing. I was out of it that night.”