Sitting on the couch, I flip through my Netflix with annoyance. I have no idea what I want to watch, or if I even want to watch anything. I've been in the strangest mood ever for almost two weeks now. And the only person to blame for it is her. She's like fucking water that slips through my fingers no matter how hard I try to keep her in the cup of my hand. She's everywhere and nowhere at the same time, because I haven't seen her even once since she left the movies with her friends and Benson. And it sucks!

I huff and stand up from the couch, heading to the kitchen. I need a beer. And something to eat. Where is fucking Rodgers? He sent me a message almost an hour ago, asking if he could come to my place to hang out. The dude promised to bring pizza, so I didn't go out to buy anything myself. Now? I obviously regret it.

Opening the fridge, I stare at the apple pie my grandma made me take with me last week, when I went home for her birthday. I didn't want to upset her, so I agreed, intending to throw it away the second I hit the road. Yet... I didn't. I have been eating it slowly all week, and this last piece looks like the most precious treasure. Maybe because it is? My family was normal and happy... until the fucker ruined everything.

Ugh! I grab the bottle and quickly close the fridge. It's exactly what I don't need. I don't need to remember my father and all his mistakes and fuckups. My days are painful enough without me thinking about him all the damn time.

I put the bottle on the kitchen counter, ready to open it but someone knocks on the door. Finally! Clay took his time for sure. I stroll to the door, open it and my heart drops into my feet. Literally. What the hell is going on?!

"Hey man." Clay exclaims enthusiastically and pushes inside my apartment, ignoring my stunned face and handing me pizza boxes. "I hope you don't mind I brought Ava along. She was lonely, and Baker was bothering her. Again. So, I decided to save her from her misery and invited her to join us."

I don't even look at him, keeping my eyes peeled to her. She's wearing black jeans which end above her ankles, a pink knit sweater, and a bomber jacket. Her sneakers are flat, so she's as small as she always is. I bring my gaze back to her face and see fire dancing behind her irises. She doesn't like what she's hearing.

"If being your friend means you don't speak a word of truth, then I don't want to be your friend." She hisses harshly, veers ready to storm away. Clay rushes out of my apartment in a heartbeat, grabs her palm and drags her inside. She's trying to resist, but it's useless. She's twice as small in comparison to my best friend, if not more. "Clay!"

"I'm sorry, Ava." Rodgers says softly, beaming at her. "I didn't warn Colton about you being with me, so I thought if he felt sorry for the evening you are having, he wouldn't object."

She chews on her bottom lip furiously, sneaking a glance in my direction. As soon as she sees me watching her, she looks back and focuses her attention on Clay. "I don't think this is a good idea."

"Colt, tell her she can stay." Clay wiggles his eyebrows, staring me in the eyes. I shake my head and close the door, turning the key. I give the pizza boxes to my best friend and then shift my gaze to look at her.

"You can stay, Ava." I walk around them and go back to the kitchen where I left my beer.

The best decision is to act as if nothing is wrong, as if the girl I have been trying to catch for two weeks didn't show up at my apartment with my best friend. What is she even doing with him? And what about Baker? I need details, but I don't want to be nosey. Clay will become suspicious in no time if I sound too interested in anything related to her.

I saunter into my living room and stop in the doorframe. Rodgers is already sitting on the couch with a slice of pizza in his hand. Ava is near him, holding her coffee between her palms. The box of donuts and a pizza box set on the table, while the other two Clay put on the floor. This guy and his habits drive me nuts sometimes.

"Do you want a beer?" I ask, coming closer.

"Yes, please!" Rodgers begs with a puppy dog eyes and a stupid grin stretched across his face. I hand him my bottle, and then look at her.

"Ava?" She slightly turns her head, curiosity written all over her face. I bet she wants to know what I think, why I let her stay and why I'm being so nice.

"I have a coffee." She arches her eyebrow, lifting her shoulder at the same time. It's like a little shrug but has a very different meaning. She hesitates, not sure what will be the best solution. "And donuts."

"Suit yourself." I spin around, heading to the kitchen. There, I grab four beer bottles from the fridge and return to the living room.

Wandering to the couch, I put beer bottles on the table and slump down near Clay. I reach over the pizza box and snatch a slice. Just as I'm about to take a bite my best friend gyrates slightly and peers at me. "What are we going to watch?"

"I don't know." I take a bite, glancing between my guests. I force myself not to pay her too much attention, because if I do, I won't be able to look away. "Any suggestions?"

"Yeah, how about you don't talk when your mouth is full?" Ava mumbles, taking a sip of her coffee and hiding a smile that she has playing on her lips. Ladies and gentlemen, it's a sign. She has started feeling more comfortable if she isn't holding herself back from jabbing at me. One point in my favor.

"I'll try but can't really promise anything." I hold her gaze, so full of myself, not realizing she's playing me. The tip of her tongue slowly runs over her bottom lip, and an idea of kicking Clay out of my place flashes in my head. Dammit! "What do you want to watch?"

"I'm up for anything," she says and takes a sip of her coffee.

"How about porn?" Clay motherfucking Rodgers! You're the dumbest idiot I have ever met!

My eyes flicker to her, and I see as she slowly gulps her drink. Slightly shifting, she faces my best friend, and he wheels his head to look at her too. "You're trying my patience, friend. It's like you invited me here only to get me to run away."

"Nah, it's all good. I often say unfunny jokes." Clay retorts, then winds his hand around her shoulder and pulls her to his chest. What the fuck?! "Colt, how about we let Ava choose a movie for us?"

I blink, tearing away my gaze from his hand resting on her shoulder. How did they become so close? In such a short amount of time? Though, I don't really know anything. He did spend time with her whenever he had a chance to see her, unlike me. "Here." I extend a remote to her, grab a beer bottle, open it, and take a sip. Whatever it is, I'll figure it out later. He has no idea how to keep secrets.

Ava huddles more comfortably on the couch, hiding her legs under her butt and leaning her side against Clay. I take another swing of my drink and focus on the TV screen. I have no right to be jealous, but I'm curious what she's going to turn on. The second I see what she's starting, I barely hold myself back from spitting everything I just gulped.

"Zootopia?" Clay asks, taken aback. "Are we going to watch Disney?"

"Why not?" She grins at him, sneaking a glance at me. "Anyone could be anything in Zootopia, just like you can watch a Disney movie."

"Colt?" My best friend draws my attention to him. "You don't mind?"

"Nope. I just hope it's good." I fucking saw it three times already, this will be the fourth.

"It is. You'll like it." Her eyes glimmer with mischief, and I bottle up a snort. This girl is something else.

Four hours later, we're still watching movies. After we finished watching Zootopia, Clay got his hands on the remote and started Snake Eyes: G.I.Joe origins. As soon as it was done, I searched for something I loved and that's how we ended up watching Sherlock Holmes. 20 minutes into the movie, my best friend was snoring so loud that at first I didn't even realize what it was.

"Do you think I should wake him up?" Ava and I stand in front of the couch, looking down at Clay. He is sitting up straight with his arms folded across his chest. He's totally passed out.

"I don't think so. He's pretty drunk, plus he didn't really sleep last night." I tell her, counting in my mind how many bottles he had. 4 or 3? I had two beers, Ava caved in during G.I. Joe and drank one. Then that leaves five bottles for Clay? I look sideways at the table, and sigh in relief. Four bottles. One is still there, untouched. "Why?"

"It's almost 1am," she utters under her breath. "I want to go back to the dorm."

"Bullshit. You're staying." I blurt out in a harsh voice. Instantly, she spins toward me and stares daggers at me with her eyes. "Look... I didn't mean it like it sounded. When do you have your first class?"

"Around 11."

"Cool, Clay and I'll give you a ride to your dorm tomorrow morning. Before your classes start."

"And where am I supposed to sleep if I'm staying?" She narrows her eyes at me, becoming defensive.

"In my room. I'll take the couch. It's not a big deal."

"Clay is here..."

"So what? Don't worry. We will fit." I turn away, collect the empty bottles from the floor and beeline to the kitchen. "Rodgers won't be happy if I let you go home on your own. He will understand why I'm crashing with him on the couch."

I quickly put everything away, making mental notice to buy some food. I can't continue rolling like this, fast food and pizza aren't exactly my favorite, but it's all I have had all month. I'm too lazy to cook for myself.

"You have a nice place." I look over my shoulder, seeing Ava leaning her side on the doorframe.

"Thanks." I whirl around and recline my back on the kitchen counter. "You have been avoiding me."

"I'm in your apartment." She murmurs quietly.

"If you knew where Clay was taking you, would you really agreed to come?" I ask, knowing the answer myself.

"No." Ava grins at me, biting her bottom lip. She bottles up something, and I'm intrigued. I want to know what she is thinking. Arching an eyebrow, I tilt my head to the side, encouraging her to say what she wants to say. "Have you been practicing?"

"Calling you by your name?" I guffaw and she nods her head. "Not really. I was just tired of all these 'she', 'her' and 'freshman' that I was using in my head when I thought about you. You have a name, and I like it."

"That's nice to hear." Ava takes a step into the room, she is a bit hesitant, and still comes further. She joins me, stopping by my side. "You have watched Zootopia before."

"Maybe." I add, making her snicker.

"I knew it! Totally called it!" She elbows me in my ribs, and I shake my head in disbelief.

"I will never admit it to anyone else. Ever." I cast a gaze to the side, watching her intently. "Don't even think about telling anyone that. I'm serious. Not even your best friend."

"Not talk about something that makes you more real? More human?" She rakes her eyes over my face and down my body. She is checking me out, and a smug smile lights up my face. "You're strange. Why are you smiling?"

"You just checked me out, ogling me without even a hint of embarrassment or shyness," I state, staring down at Ava. She shrugs her shoulders slightly, grazing her teeth over her bottom lip and turning slowly to face me. If she thinks I have even an ounce of resistance in me, she's wrong. Moving on instinct, I press my palm to her cheek and lock my heated gaze with hers. "How come you're friends with Clay?"

Ava tsks, still smiling. She feels my need to know more about her sudden appearance at my apartment with my best friend, and I hope she will be honest. "Dunno... I like him, not in a romantic way or anything... You know that connection when you just click with people. Because you feel you're on the same wavelength. He was hitting on me often, and it never really bothered me. Like of course it did, but it was just temporary. Once he left, I didn't have a really bad feeling in my gut like I have every time I interact with Baker."

Speaking of the motherfucker. "What did he do? At the party? Tonight?" My fingers skim along her skin, enjoying its smoothness and softness.

"Nothing unusual. He was hitting on me at the party, kinda forcing himself on me because he was drunk as a skunk. Tonight, he actually stopped me so he could apologize. He even said he was wrong and asked if I could forgive him." She sneers, looking away for a brief moment. "I could have forgiven him... and then he opened his big mouth and asked if there was a chance I would ever agree to ride his dick."

"And what did you tell him?" I bend my head down, forcing myself not to stare at her lips. My breathing quickens, and my heart pumps in my chest.

"I told him I would rather ride a bull at a rodeo, than his dick. And in my book, that means never and that he's disgusting. Because I'm freaking scared of cows."

"You are such a feisty girl ..." I muse, dragging my thumb over her bottom lip. "I have never met anyone like you..."

"Colt..." Ava purrs my name, and the sound is so overwhelming and so powerful, so I inch closer and place a light kiss on the seam of her lips. "I don't want to be another random hookup for you."

She could never be a hookup. Absolutely out of the question. The emotions she causes me are unique, and I'm not stupid enough to screw it all up, yet doubts are loud in my head. Uncertainty. I have never even dated anyone. Like really dated. I have no idea what it all means. Angst starts filling my body, nervousness finds its way under my skin and straight into my heart... and I flip. Like a loser.

"And Drake can be a hookup?" I whisper, holding her gaze. Her brows knit together, and anger crosses her features.

"Drake could be a boyfriend, not only a hookup, if I wanted more." She takes a step back and my hand drops to my side. "You just spoiled everything, asshole."

"Oh, really?" I mutter, watching her head to the door. "So, Drake is good enough for you, but I'm not?"

Abruptly, she twirls around and glares at me. "How would I know anything about you? Anything! All that you do is make me feel like you fucking hate me!" She whisper-yells, balling her fists. "You took my words all wrong, and now you are fucking pushing me away!"

"I heard you right. I'm not good enough for you, while Benson is exactly what you need."

"No, you're a dumbass! All that I meant is that I don't want to be a one-time thing!"

Ava spins around, ready to take a step further and out of the door, when I catch her. My hands wind around her waist, and I press her back to my chest. Her body crashes into mine and a breath catches in my throat. Just a little touch and I'm completely alive. I feel everything, even shivers on my skin that have never been as real and palpable as they are now. A jolt of electricity runs through my veins and sets my body on fire. I'm not letting her go.

"I'm a fucking idiot..." I whisper in her ear, kissing her neck tenderly. "I'm sorry... I fucked up..."

She keeps quiet but presses into me. And for me, it's enough. She wants me to continue. I slide my hand under her sweater, moving up and cupping her breast. It fucking fits my palm so perfectly, so I frigging groan in her ear. Pulling her bra down, my fingers fly to her pebbled nipple, rubbing it between my thumb and middle finger and drawing a moan out of her. Her skin is velvety to my touch, and my hands slide along, enjoying how it feels under my palm.

My left hand reaches the waistband of her jeans and lower, until I unzip her fly, unbuttoning her button next. I could have snuck in my hand without all that, I just want my movements not to be confined or finite. I want to give her pleasure, indulging my fantasy from the night when we danced together, about finger-fucking her. I want her juices all over my fingers. I want to taste her... and I want her to come for me. Only for me.

Her lingerie is silky, just like her bra and even if I'm dying to see them, I restrain myself. Ava is not leaving my place unsatisfied, and I intend to give her just that. Immense delectation. She sucks in breath, just as my hand slides down and touches her clit through her panties. My movements are slow and calculated. I press just a little bit, teasing her and circling my fingers over her sweet spot. Her breathing quickens and comes in shallow.

Feeling her wetness through the fabric of her panties, I smile and bend my head down, inhaling the scent of her skin in the area of her trapezius. Her perfume tonight is not as strong as it was when we kissed at the movies, but I still enjoy it. It suits her, mixing with the aroma of her skin and making it even more alluring. Ava is fucking perfect.

I crush my lips on her neck and slightly bite her skin, tracing my tongue over it and making her shudder. Her nipples are like points, as I rub them in turns between my fingers and pinch them, adding a bit of pressure. She hisses every time I do that, and also wiggles her ass over my arousal. What a greedy little girl I have in my arms. Gliding my palm under her panties, I finally press my fingers to her clit, instantly slipping down to her slick core. She's so fucking wet!

"Colt..." Her whisper mingles with her moan, and there is nothing I want more than my tongue playing with hers.

I massage her spot, increasing my tempo little by little. I slide my hand down to her belly and get it from under her sweater. I grab her neck, squeezing it for a brief moment and then move my fingers up to her jaw. I force her to turn her head to me and cover her mouth with mine. Ava welcomes my tongue with eagerness, curling it around mine and arousing me even more. My cock is hard, and it wants to be deep inside her, but that's not what I have in mind. She's my priority now. My pleasure comes next, only when I know she has had her orgasm.

We kiss, tongues dancing in a frenzied motion. I finger her, speeding up my movements with only one purpose. To make her come. To send her over the edge and give her an orgasm. A hard one. One she won't be able to forget. My grip on her jaw tightens and I move away.

"I want you to come for me." I whisper and she nods her head erratically. "Are you close?"

"So close..." She moans, just as my finger slips into her again.