CHAPTER SIX
FOR THE RESTof the week, time moved at a glacial pace. I went to classes, did my homework, and took up some extra writing jobs to pass the time. I hated to admit it, but I was excited to see Damien and Alex again. I kept reminding myself that it was just a sex thing, that I shouldn’t let myself get attached, but I found myself looking forward to Damien’s goofy, playful attitude and Alex’s quiet, mysterious demeanor. They were an odd, juxtaposed pair, but they seemed to balance each other out. It led me to wonder whether I could fit into that mix for more than a couple of days, or if I would throw off the delicate equilibrium they had established in their years together.
Damien texted me on Friday morning as I sat in class. I nearly jumped at the sight of the notification since we hadn’t talked much through the week. I wondered again how he spent his time, if he was just too busy this week, what kind of work he—they—did. I snuck my phone into my lap and read Damien’s text. Alex will pick you up at 5 tonight at the same place we dropped you off. Feel free to stay the weekend. You know I won’t mind...
I hid my smile as I shoved my phone back into my pocket. Should I spend the weekend? What if they both got sick of me after spending so much time together? I told myself I’d figure it out before Alex came to get me, even though I already knew what I would end up doing.
After class, I rushed home, excited at the prospect of seeing them again. I had decided that I could pack an overnight bag, then decide later if I planned on staying or not. I hadn’t seen Leah much this week, which was abnormal, but she came into the kitchen as I was doing the dishes to fill some time before Alex arrived.
“Hey,” I said, giving her a quick wave.
“Hey,” she answered. She opened the fridge and grabbed a slice of leftover pizza. She ate it cold, not bothering to heat it up in the microwave.
“Where have you been lately? I haven’t seen you around the apartment much.” I was trying to keep the tone cordial after our argument a few days ago, as I wasn’t sure if she’d be angry at me or not. What right would she have to be angry? I asked myself. I had merely pointed out that she was being rude, which was the truth. I needed to stop feeling guilty for standing up for myself.
“Oh, I’ve been hanging out at Angie’s place. We’ve had a lot of work in our classes this week, so we’ve just been doing it together. You got my rent money the other day, right?”
“Yeah.” She had sent it through an app that deposited the money directly into my bank account, which made it convenient for me to pay the entire amount at once. The apartment managers charged an extra fifty bucks for separate payments, and we didn’t have that much to spare. It was easier this way.
“Well, I’ll be out for the weekend, just so you know,” I stated quickly, hoping she wouldn’t ask any questions.
“Oh really?” She smiled, arching an eyebrow. “Does this have anything to do with the guys from last weekend?”
“Yeah . . . I’ll be back on Sunday though.” I couldn’t help but return her smile, my cheeks reddening as I turned my face down and pretended to focus on the dishes. Thinking back, I wasn’t sure if I had ever been this excited about seeing a guy. All my past relationships could be summed up by one word: fine. They usually gave me some comfort, maybe the rare orgasm, but never the excitement, anticipation, and sexual satisfaction that I had experienced in just one week with these two.
“Well, have fun. But not too much fun,” she said with a wink as she walked up the stairs.
“Oh, I will.”
MOMENTS AFTER Ihad walked to the parking lot in front of the apartment complex, Alex pulled up in the same sleek, black car they had dropped me off in last week. I swung my bag off my shoulder and into my lap as I plopped down in the passenger seat. Alex flashed me a smile as I shut the door and glanced over at him. He was wearing dark jeans, a white t-shirt, sunglasses, and a leather jacket. Simple, but sexy. He looked like he was the main “bad boy” character straight out of a 60’s movie.
“Well, don’t you look nice,” he crooned. I had worn jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt with a low neckline that showed off my cleavage. I wore my coat over it, but left it unzipped on purpose. I had also put on some makeup before I left, but I now felt slightly more self-conscious and nervous for what activities might lie ahead.
Heat rose to my cheeks. I still wasn’t used to this much attention. “Right back at ya,” I said brightly. I was glad that he seemed to be in a good mood.
“We’re making a quick stop at the store. Hope you don’t mind.” Putting the car in drive and pulling onto the highway, a devilish smile appeared on his face when I yelped as he punched the gas, accelerating past the speed limit much more quickly than I thought possible. If I had known anything about cars, I would have guessed that this one was expensive.
He pulled off the exit not long after and into the parking lot of the grocery store.
“What do you need to get?” I asked.
“The necessities: food and alcohol. Plus, we’re having a few friends over later. Hope you don’t mind a small party.” He snagged the sunglasses off his face as we walked into the store, folding them and tucking them over the collar of his shirt then running his fingers back through his dark hair. God, he was hot.
We walked together through the store as he grabbed items from the shelves. “Grab anything you want,” he had told me, but so far the only thing I had put in the basket was a pack of chocolate chip cookies. He repeated the statement when we arrived at the alcohol section of the store, and I was much more inclined to look around. I ended up getting a bottle of cheap peach vodka, some 7up, and a 12-pack of wine coolers. He had grabbed three bottles of tequila and a couple cases of beer.
Feeling bold, I sidled up to him while he tossed his beer in the cart and asked, “Do you have enough condoms at your place?” He turned his head and looked directly into my eyes, his face unreadable, and I immediately felt heat rush to my cheeks. Smooth move, Serena.
But then, his lips curled into a devilish smile as he said, “Well, that depends on how much you want us to fuck you this weekend. And it also depends on if you actually need us to wear condoms.”
I noted his choice of words. Us, not me. “I’m on birth control, if that’s what you’re asking. I have an IUD, so no need to worry about me remembering to take pills, either. And I’m clean, so if you guys are too, we’re good.” Jesus. I was having a conversation in the middle of a supermarket about my choice of birth control, a potential (and probable) threesome, and the option of them fucking me raw so casually, as if we were just having a nice, normal discussion about the weather or what to have for dinner. I didn’t know what switch in me had flipped in such a short time, but apparently I was now a sexual deviant. Well, at least compared to my former self.
When we got to the register, I tried to hand him a 20-dollar bill and he simply waved me off. I scowled, but put my money away. I would find a way to slip it to him later.
The car ride back to their house was quick, and as we entered his neighborhood I marveled at the beautiful facades of the houses lining the street. How the hell did they live here, in this perfect-looking suburban neighborhood? Maybe one of them had rich parents. Or, maybe they were drug dealers. Okay, probably not the latter, but it could technically be a possibility. I reminded myself that I knew practically nothing about them, after all. I made a mental note to ask them exactly what they did for work. Damien had mentioned the tech company when I asked last weekend but didn’t give me details. Was he a manager, an IT guy? I had no clue.
We pulled into the driveway, and I helped Alex carry in the groceries we had bought. In the kitchen, we worked in silence putting everything away. I had opened cabinets on a whim until I figured out where everything went, with Alex silently laughing at my frustration while he neatly organized the refrigerator.
“I need that damn vodka,” I muttered.
He snorted, then said, “Damien will be home soon. We can all drink when he gets here, or when the party starts.”
“Why not now?”