Tight

“No, I think that’s the last thing I need.” I tipped my beer back and finished it off. “I have to work all week anyway. I also got shit to do all day Saturday.”

“We’ll handle everyone, won’t we, Theo?”

“Yeah, a party sounds badass.”

“Nah, I really don’t think I’m up for it.”

“Dude, that’s exactly what you need. You’ve been in this funk for a long fucking time. It’s been forever since you let loose.”

I was shaking my head, but I knew this was already set in motion before I even got a word out.

“Besides, hanging out by yourself during the weekend is lame, bro. We can get some kegs, bring some food, and listen to some music. We can keep it low-key.”

I looked over at Raif and knew that this would be the furthest thing from low-key.

“Bring that girl you’re crushing on.”

I straightened. “What are you talking about?” I sure as shit hadn’t told them about Kennedy.

“Listen, I know some girl’s got you tied up in knots. We aren’t blind, man. If you don’t want to tell us about her, that’s your business. But bring her over, let her let loose with you. Maybe she’ll be able to get that stick out of your ass.” Raif and Theo started laughing and I glowered at them.

Thinking of Kennedy hanging out with me at my place, even if it was with a house full of people, sounded like pure fucking heaven.

“Ah yeah, dude. I can tell you are up for it.”

“There’s no girl, but whatever.” I didn’t want to tell them about Kennedy because I wanted to keep her to myself. I needed to keep my emotions private, intimate. Saying them out loud to these two fools would only cause more drama.

When the time was right, everyone would know, but until then, until I told her first, I was keeping things to myself.

Chapter Seven

Kennedy

I brought my pencil to my mouth and started chewing on the end, a bad habit I’d picked up when I started classes. It only got worse if I was having trouble on a subject. The act of my teeth gently biting into the wood, the sound it made, took my mind off of the stress momentarily.

I stared at the book, the words starting to mesh together into one jumbled mass. I’d been in the library at the college for the past three hours, and my head was starting to pound, this rhythmic beat right behind my eyes. I closed my eyes and set my pencil down, lifting my hands and placing my fingers at my temples. I started going in slow circles, trying to rub the tension away, ease the pain.

I’d been studying so hard these last few days, and that, coupled with the stress of wanting to tell Roman how I felt but being too afraid, was giving me a massive migraine.

The sound of a someone clearing their throat right beside me had me opening my eyes and looking to the side. I tipped my head back as I saw Roman standing there, this concerned look on his face, his brows lowered.

“You okay?” His voice was so deep, and despite the pain behind my forehead, I felt desire wash through me.

“Just a headache. I need to get something for it but I’m too lazy to get up.” I chuckled but then winced as the pain intensified. “It’s all this studying and stress.” I left out the part about some of that stress being from my growing feelings for him.

No, not feelings but love. Full-on, hardcore love.

He turned and I was left sitting there, confusion filling me. It was a good five minutes before he came back. Roman pulled out a chair across from me and sat down.

“Where’d you run off to?”

He set a small packet of ibuprofen on the table between us, then reached in his bag for a bottle of water.

“Figured I could help you out with the pain relief part.” He flashed me that lopsided grin that I loved so much.

I pushed my glasses up and grabbed the packet, opening it and tossing the pills in my mouth. I grabbed the bottle next, washing the pills down with room temperature water. “Thank you.”

He leaned back in the chair and smiled. It wasn’t one of those cocky, lopsided ones he tended to give everyone—the ones I got all hot and bothered over. It was genuine, as if he were truly glad that I’d taken what he’d offered.

He looked down at the book that was opened in front of me and leaned forward, bracing his forearms on the table and knitting his eyebrows. He tipped his chin toward it. “Bet that’s some advanced stuff, isn’t it?”

I shrugged but felt my face heat. It was, but I didn’t say those words.

“Yeah, I knew it was ‘cause you’re so damn smart.”