Sweet Surrender [18+]

t h i r t e e n

SO. MUCH. COUCH. SEX. Fair warning, guys. If graphic sexual content is not your jam please skip this chapter. Thank you.

"Hey, dipshit, tell Lauren that I'm at the library," April commanded, slinging her backpack over her shoulder, as she headed toward the front door.

Ignoring her hostility and the crude nickname, Josh simply replied, "Sure."

April had every right to be pissed with him, which was why he never argued with her. He understood she was fiercely close and loyal to Lauren, but if Lauren accepted him back then why couldn't April?

With an afternoon football game on mute on the TV, Josh focused on some reading material on his laptop as he checked the score intermittently. Lauren needed to meet with a study group at the library for an hour, leaving Josh in the living room and April in her bedroom.

"I'm going to kill you," April hissed slowly and softly in his ear.

"Jesus fucking Christ," Josh yelped loudly, jumping slightly and effectively knocking his computer off his lap.

The way she laughed sounded like a maniacal and murderous villain in a movie. April looked like a typical college student on a lazy Sunday afternoon wearing black leggings paired with knee high black boots, a long multicolored turtleneck sweater thick enough to keep anyone toasty, and a messy blonde bun pinned to the back of her head.

She definitely didn't look like an evil sociopath, but that didn't stop Josh from wondering if he should start sleeping with one eye open whenever he spent the night with Lauren.

"You shouldn't take God's name in vain, ya know," April chastised smugly, standing behind the couch to watch his reaction.

"Says the person who wants to kill me." Josh glared at her, picking up his laptop from the floor and wiping off any dust or stray food crumbs. "What the fuck?"

She casually shrugged her small shoulders. "Should you really be that surprised about my intentions if you hurt her again?"

Swiping a hand down his face, he shook his head in frustration. "Lauren and I are in a really good place right now, and I don't plan to fuck that up."

"Just because you love her doesn't mean you won't hurt her, cockwad."

Josh sharply tilted his head, frowning at her. April dramatically rolled her eyes and took a loud deep breath.

"Are you seriously this fucking dumb?" she demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.

He continued to silently stare at her dumbfounded. Was his feelings for Lauren that obvious? Did Lauren know? Josh believed Everett took a lucky stab about being in love with Lauren, but how did April know? Maybe she didn't know and was just messing with him.

April huffed and shook her head as a few blonde tendrils fell loose and framed her heart-shaped face. "You're a fucking idiot if you believe no one knows you're in love with Lauren."

"What?" Josh croaked out frantically, his eyes wild with surprise.

"You really are a fucking dipshit. Anyone with two eyes can see how much you love her."

"Does Lauren know?"

"On some level I think she knows," April replied carefully.

"What the fuck does that mean?"

She wanted to roll her eyes again but took another deep breath instead. Other than his boy-next-door good looks and genuine charm, April couldn't see what her best friend saw in this moronic jock.