The next time I wake up it's to the very annoying sound of my alarm for cheer practice. I groan, peeling my eyes open as I reach over to turn it off. Xan's arms are wrapped tightly around my waist and I reluctantly pry them off even though I'd much rather snuggle up to him and go back to sleep. Sadly I can't.

Xan grunts and tries to tug me back onto the bed as I get to my feet but I slip out of his grasp. "Where are you going?"

"I have cheer practice, I can't miss it unfortunately." I reply through a yawn. I lean over and press a kiss to his lips, hating that I have to go. "Go back to sleep, text me later."

He hums and pulls the blanket tighter around him. I quickly get dressed in a pair of leggings, a sports bra and a t-shirt, trying my best to be quiet. I give Xan's sleeping form one last look before grabbing my cheer bag and going to the bathroom. After relieving my bladder, brushing my teeth and applying deodorant I pull my hair up into a ponytail. There's a sparkle to my eyes that I don't ever remember being there even with the dark bags from lack of sleep under them. It makes me wish I would've went for Xan to begin with. It's crazy how fast things can change.

Divya is waiting by the door when I exit the apartment. She eyes me with a smirk quirking her lips as we descend the stairs. "Get any sleep last night?"

I laugh. "Honestly? Not much."

"How'd things go?"

"Hard at first but good. We both admitted to having feelings for the other, I don't think I've ever been this happy. He just... makes me feel good." I sigh dreamily.

"Well I'm happy for you." She shakes her head with a smile. "Draven asked me out last night."

Wait... what!

My eyes widen. "He did? What did you say?"

She scoffs. "Obviously I said no. You know he's getting married at the end of summer."

I shrug. "Yeah but it's an arranged thing by his parents. Two rich families merging, they aren't actually together and Ace even mentioned that Draven doesn't want to go through with it." I gasp and grab her arm as an idea hits me. "What if he ended up being the one and he gave up his inheritance for you?"

Divya and Draven would make the cutest couple ever.

She frowns. "You've been reading too many romance novels. Things like that don't actually happen in the real world, Len."

Divya is a glass half empty kind of person. She goes into most things with the worst outcome in mind and is usually surprised when things actually go good.

"Not if you don't give him a chance." I huff.

"We all can't be as lucky as you finding the one while a junior in college." She teases, bumping my hip with hers.

I roll my eyes at her but can't help giving a laugh.

I'm a little sluggish at practice but try not to show it. I push through our workout and the repeated steps of the routine we're working on and by the time it's over I decide I deserve a coffee and a scone. I should get a reward simply for having the willpower to get out of bed with a naked Xan under the covers. That in and of itself is a miracle, I'm not sure if I could do it again.

When I enter the coffee shop close to my apartment building I immediately spot a familiar lean form standing in line at the counter and a smile spreads across my face. I walk up behind him quietly and slip my hand under his coat, taking him by surprise. He turns around quickly with a mean scowl on his face that melts instantly when he sees it's me.

"Good morning." I say happily.

He looks so handsome with his messy hair and the pillow imprint still on his cheek.

He presses a kiss to my lips that has me sighing and leaning into him. "Good morning." He murmurs back, his dark eyes shining down at me.

"Next." The barista snaps at us.

I give her an apologetic smile. "Sorry."

I forgot where we were for a minute there.

We order our coffees and my scone which Xan ends up paying for even through my objections.

"You headed to class?" He asks, brushing a strand of hair that had escaped from my hair tie behind my ear.

"I'm gonna go home and shower first."

After sweating through practice in addition to our middle of the night round of sex, a shower is much needed.

He flashes me that damn grin. "If I would've known that I would've stayed in your bed."

I have a feeling if he had I'd be late for class today.

"Next time." I reply, happy with the idea even if it would be a major test of willpower. "Wanna meet up after class?"

I'm like a fiend, itching for my next fix of him before he's even gone.

"I can't, I have a tutoring session." He bites his lip ring and thinks about it for a second. "You could come walk the dogs with me?"

"I would love to." I agree and glance at the time on my phone. "I have to go or I won't be showering and I feel gross."

He gives me another kiss then I reluctantly pull away and head toward my apartment building. I glance over my shoulder at him and he's still standing there watching me walk away. I give him and smile and he grins in return before turning and walking in the other direction. Just as I round the block I spot Jax headed toward me on the sidewalk. He smiles at me. It's a small, slightly embarrassed smile but a smile nonetheless.

"Hey." I greet him as he approaches.

I don't want things to be awkward or weird between us. He's Xan's best friend and our two minute date shouldn't affect their friendship.

"Hey, Lennon." He replies.

"Sorry for running off like that last night." I apologize.

And I am sorry. I should've told him no when he asked me out, it wasn't right for me to try and use him to forget Xan.

"It's all good."

I shake my head. "No, it was rude and you didn't deserve it."

"Thanks." He nods and shifts his feet. "So where'd you run off to?"

My stomach flutters when I think of last night. Sure it didn't start out well but finally admitting my feelings to Xan and hearing he reciprocates them was freeing. I only wish we would've had the conversation sooner.

"Xan." I bite my lip and sigh. "I shouldn't have been on that date with you, not when I have feelings for him. I was just so confused about where his head was in everything, I was upset about the lunch date misunderstanding, and I wanted to forget him. I was a mess. I was being truthful when I said I had a crush on you though."

"Had being the key word." He chuckles lightly.

"Yeah..." I trail, my lips quirking. "I like Xan, really like him."

"Since he didn't come home last night I'm guessing he likes you too."

"Yeah, we're together now. I hope we can be friends because I know you mean a lot to him."

"Of course." He nods and glances at the ground then his brow furrows. "Wait, what did you mean by lunch date misunderstanding?"

"The morning when I came out of his room and you said he was on a lunch date it was with his Mom and Aunt for his Dads Birthday."

His eyes widen as the realization hits him. "Shit." He pinches his eyes closed tightly and covers his face with his hand. "Oh my god, Lennon, I'm sorry. I was so hungover that day, I didn't even realize it was his Dads Birthday and all I remembered was him saying lunch date. Shit." He runs his fingers through his hair. "And then I asked you out." He lets out a humorless laugh. "Wow, I'm such a dick. Xans pissed at me isn't he?"

He was pissed we were on a date but he didn't seem mad at Jax in particular.

I shake my head. "I don't think so, he didn't act like he was."

"I'm sorry." He repeats still looking distressed.

"It's okay, you didn't know. We talked it out and we're good now." I assure him.

In fact I question if we would've ever admitted our feelings to one another if we weren't pretty much forced to after spending a few days apart. Would we have just continued doing things as we had? I wouldn't want to go back to the way we were before, unsure of what we were doing even though I enjoyed it.

"Well I have to go but I'll see you around." I say, knowing if I don't hurry up and get home I won't get to shower. "Bye Jax."

"Bye Lennon." He gives me a small smile and we walk our separate ways.

The rest of my day goes by quickly. I text Xan in between class and work on a paper while I eat lunch. Mama calls as I'm leaving my last class of the day.

"Hey, Mama." I answer the call with a smile.

I love hearing from her and my Dad when he has a moment to talk. I miss them so much even though I do love the freedom of doing what I want while away at school.

"Hello, Sunshine." She greets me. "You sound happier than a hog in mud." I let out a little laugh and she lets out a hum. "Hmm, what's got you so happy today?"

"Not what but who. I've been seeing someone and we made it official last night." I can't help but gush.

"Well tell me all about your new beau before the boys have a chance to scare him off." She demands and I can picture the eager smile on her face.

"I'd like to see them try." I snort, thinking of Xan being even a little intimidated by my brother and cousins. "He's great. He's so good to me. He makes me so happy. I don't think we ever don't have something to talk about and we text all day. We cook together. Oh my god, can he cook, Mama. You'd be impressed. He makes me laugh and he always makes sure I get home okay. H—"

"I'll bet he does." She mutters playfully.

"Mama!" I scold her and she laughs.

"As long as he's good to you I'm happy for you. What's his name?"

"Xander Ko but he goes by Xan. He's a Junior too, pre-Med, works at the local animal shelter and tutors underclassmen in his spare time." I brag.

"Well he sounds pretty impressive. Send me a picture of him so I can put a face to his name."

"Okay, hang on." I pull the phone away from my ear and go to my photos. I click on one of the many pictures he's sent me. It's my favorite one. He's got his arm draped across Jax's shoulders and he's grinning. His dark gray eyes are shining with laughter, his dyed hair falling over them. I crop it, cutting Jax out and save it as my Lock Screen before sending it to my mom. "Okay, I sent it."

After we get off the phone she's gonna show anyone who will listen that picture.

"Well, I'll be... he's handsome, sunshine." She says a moment later.

"Thanks, Mama."

I'm smiling so big my cheeks ache but I can't stop. I talk with her for a little while longer until she has to go.

Tayens in the kitchen when I step inside our apartment.

"The roles were reversed around three this morning." She says, giving me a smirk.

I smile at her, completely unbothered. "I hope you enjoyed it."

It's only fair.

"Well it woke both me and Ace up so..." she trails.

"You did not!" I laugh.

"We did." She nods. "Now tell me everything. How the hell did things change so fast last night?"

So I tell her what happened.

"Do you think Jax purposely left out the lunch date was with family? Wouldn't he have known who it was with?"

"We actually talked this morning and he didn't know because he was hungover. Xan said he threw up in the trashcan in the middle of him telling him." I explain.

"Hmm, I guess that makes sense." She shrugs. "I don't know, he's still sus but if you're happy, I'm happy."

I'm definitely happy.

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