Beside

9 - haunt

"Jellybean. I'm serious."

"..."

"Stop ignoring me."

"..."

"I'm sorry, okay? I won't hold Sarah's hand again. Happy?"

"...Yes."

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

F O X

I squeeze harder, teeth gritted, as scalding water beats down on my back.

One palm presses against the slick tile, the other is wrapped around my cock as if I can jerk her out of my mind—her skin, her fucking mouth, the way she looks at me, all doe-eyed and sweet. She's got no idea. I'm cursed.

I can't get her off my skin. Can't stop feeling her flushed skin, the warmth between her thighs, and the way she moans when I touch her.

My hand moves faster, head bowed. I'm so fucked in the head for this. I don't even like her. She's just some shy, doe-eyed girl playing house in my apartment.

That's all she can be. 

I can't risk a single flicker of feeling.

My hand moves faster, rougher, punishing myself for how badly I want to bury myself into the heat between her thighs—

I groan low in my throat, muscles seizing. It's brutal.

And then guilt hits just as hard.

I stay bent over, panting, pressing my forehead to the wall. Water drips off my chin as I catch my breath. I'm pathetic. It wasn't enough.

Maybe I like her. She's too hard not to like.

I lift my hand, glaring at it like it's the thing to blame.

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

c h r i s

Sunlight filters through the trees like soft, golden bands. We're walking through a painting. "How do I say, Charlie, behave, in Spanish?"

"Charlie, pórtate bien," I reply, rolling the words off my tongue.

Cam looks at Charlie, who's now pulling toward another patch of wildflowers on someone's front lawn. "Charlie, pórtate bien!"

He gives her side eye.

"He's not impressed with my bilingual skills," Cam mutters.

"He just needs more practice."

There's a glowing thread between Cam and Charlie, floating in the air. I blink a few times, but the thread doesn't go away. It pulses gently.

Cam grins. "You and I should do this more often. Get out, talk about life. Leave the boys behind more."

"Except Charlie," I point out.

"Of course. He's a girl's girl."

No matter how much I try to shake it off, my mind drifts back to Fox. I can still feel the vibration of his groan, the heat of his skin. His touch turns me into someone I've always wanted to be.

I look away, watching as Charlie sniffs at a trail of grass, searching for treasure.

Cam glances sideways at me. "You're pretty quiet."