“So you two creeps just listened to us fuck? You dirty little shits,” I say, cracking up laughing. “Don’t worry. We’ve heard you two fucking like bunnies. It’s kinda hot.”
Brayden smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He opens his mouth like he might say something, then shuts it. I’m curious, but don’t press.
We make our way into the theater. I’m surprised to see that though they’ve kept the original architecture and style of the old theater, they’ve recently remodeled the seats to those cool ones the new theater has. I follow Brayden to the very middle at the very top and plop down beside him. As we wait for the movie to start, I inhale half my snacks.
It’d be way more fun if Mia and Drew were here.
Kinda lonely without them.
“What do you think they’re up to?” Brayden asks, clearly on the same wavelength as me.
“Your boyfriend is probably cuddling my girl as we speak,” I say with a laugh. “MiMi’s a cuddler. It’s not his fault.”
“Yeah,” Brayden agrees.
My heart does a twist inside my chest as I remember he’s been with her in intimate ways and knows all about her cuddling.
“Sasha was so pissed,” I say gleefully. “Nothing satisfies me more than the look on her face when her daddy told her no.”
“I still can’t believe you bid so much money,” Brayden groans.
“It was either me or my mom. Trust me, you do not want to go on a date with Cougar Wendy. I’m still in therapy from the last time she went all horny housewife.” My words are said in jest, but they cut with a bitter edge.
“How’s therapy going?”
When Mia wasn’t talking to me, I casually mentioned to Bray when he was over that I needed to see my therapist. Had he not encouraged me to go, I might not have. And, believe it or not, I think it helped me wrangle my brain some so I could get Mia back. I guess I owe the guy.
“We regularly rehash my childhood, my insecurities and fears, and my strained relationship with my parents. It’s a delight.”
He reaches over and squeezes my thigh. “Don’t be like that.”
“Like what?”
“Playing off something serious. I know it sucks to talk through that shit, but you’re better for it, you know?”
His hand lingers on my thigh and my traitorous heart clenches painfully in my chest. It feels like a betrayal to MiMi because I like his hand there.
Friends can touch.
There’s nothing sexual about my friend comforting me.
Then why are you sporting a boner, Ashton?
I rest my bucket of popcorn on my stupid dick and clear my throat. “Your mom excited to see me again?” I ask, turning to waggle my brows at him.
He chuckles, finally removing his hand to dig into the bucket for popcorn, which oddly enough does nothing to calm the state of my dick. “She’s thrilled. Are you sure your parents aren’t going to miss you for Thanksgiving? I mean, Mia’s parents are dicks and Drew’s are gone, but you actually do have family.”
“My parents don’t do Thanksgiving,” I say with a grumble. “Not in the traditional sense. We usually eat Cornish hens at some French restaurant my mom loves, meeting up with my grandparents. Pops interrogates Dad about his accomplishments, while Dad desperately tries to impress him. Mom and Grams get fucked up on wine while I count the minutes until I can leave.”
“No pecan pie?”
“Fuck no.”
“What a waste. You’re in for a treat then. Mom goes all out.”
I laugh. “Sweet Molly knows the way to my heart. Food.”
“Are you sure it’s cool if Drew and I tag along next weekend? I know it’s your parents’ cabin and all, but—”
“Dude,” I cut him off. “The cabin is massive. Plenty of room. Plus, since we all cook for shit, the lodge up the hill from it offers five-star gourmet meals around the clock. The bar is pretty sweet, but I only know that because I go there to escape my parents. I don’t want to escape you guys. The stocked bar in the cabin will be plenty.”
I’m looking forward to the getaway weekend. When Mia mentioned Drew bid on the ski weekend at the auction, I was quick to suggest we use my parents’ place. The ski resort our cabin is on is one of the top-rated resorts in the country. And free. Well, to us it’s free. My parents paid a fuck-ton for that cabin—one they only go to once a year for their anniversary in January.
My phone buzzes and anxiety trickles through me. I dread the thought of it being another message like the one I got last night. A video from an unknown number.
Fucking Travis.
It’s one thing to fuck with me, but that video was something that fucked with the ones I care about. He’d obviously recorded the four of us dancing at the Halloween party. The dancing was fucking hot, but what disturbed me was when Drew lifted his mask. Bray walked over to him and kissed him. It all happened so quickly, but each incriminating second was recorded. The text that followed after said, “Does your daddy know his hockey coach is a very naughty boy?”