"Shit, man, I can't even concentrate when you look like that." I laugh, glancing sideways at Clay. He is wearing a long black dress and full face of makeup with red lipstick and eyeshadow on his eyelids.

He shrugs, tightening his grip on his backpack. "Ten more minutes and I can finally get rid of it."

"Why can't you do it now?" I ask, stopping near the door of the locker room.

"Because Ava said so." My best friend sighs, leaning his side on the wall. "I still don't get why she needed to sleep with him to make her point."

"She didn't."

"She didn't?" He blinks, knitting his brows together. I nod and hide my hands in my pockets. "Then why the fuck am I wearing this?!"

"Because you want to be her friend, and she wouldn't have forgiven you otherwise."

Clay groans and storms inside the locker room. I follow him, watching as he takes off the dress and tosses it to the floor. A few more minutes and he's already wearing black jeans and a white hoodie. He disappears into the showers and returns with a clean face, while I sit on the bench waiting for him.

"Ten minutes is up."

"I don't care. I've embarrassed myself enough. For nothing." He grabs his backpack, takes a step forward but then steps back and slumps on the bench near me. "How do you know?"

"Know what?"

"About Ava and Baker."

I shrug my shoulders, meeting his gaze. "She showed me the picture she took of Baker blindfolded and naked, tied to his bed with his hockey glove on his dick. Ava wanted to punish him, not sleep with him." I bite my inner cheek, feeling my neck reddening. "I thought she slept with him too, even called her a puck bunny-"

"Did she slap you again?" Clay snorts and I nod. "You're such a dumbass sometimes. Most of the time actually. Even if I thought she did too, I would have never called her out on that or judged her for that. It was none of my business, or yours, or anyone else's."

"She knows I'm sorry."

"Good. I kinda still ship you two together."

"You what?!" I yelp, staring at him as if he's crazy. Clay shrugs and flashes me a smile.

"You're like twin flames. So much alike it's scary."

Suddenly I'm lost in my memories. In her scent. Her touch. Her sounds. The feeling of her in my arms. Of me inside her. They are the most colorful and vivid memories I've ever had. I spent an hour this morning, laying in my bed, surrounded by the scent of her perfume on my pillows and my sheets. Absorbing it, taking it in till the last drop and still feeling it was not enough.

"Can you stop Ava-dreaming?" Clay's voice rings in my ear and I almost jump in my seat.

"Stop what?"

"Stop Ava-dreaming, obviously. The look on your face says it all." My best friend wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side. "When are you going to ask her on a date?"

"She doesn't want to date anyone." I blabber and see Clay frown. "Ava isn't interested in a relationship."

"And you're okay with that?"

"Why not?" I'm not okay with that. I want her to be mine, but I can't do anything about it right now. I only hope my persistence will help me change her mind. "I'm not a relationship type of a guy either."

"Ava said I'm missing out on a lot of good stuff when I mentioned I prefer hookups over dating." He looks me up and down, eyebrow arched. "You sure she doesn't want to date anyone? Maybe it's you she doesn't want to date?"

I nudge him with my shoulder and he moves away. "It's her first year in college, and she wants to enjoy it, being single and carefree. Nothing else." I lick my lips, standing up from the bench. "Besides, I'm a senior. We don't have a future together."

Clay joins me and we both trudge to the door. "When you put it that way, then I guess it makes sense." I open the door, but stop in my tracks once I hear his question. "Friends with benefits then?"

"Why put a label on it?" I dodge his question and head to the cafeteria, so pleased with myself. Though, when the idiot jumps on my back I know I screwed up. Without openly telling him anything, I left him enough breadcrumbs to figure out the main idea. He knows Ava and I hooked up.

"How was it?"

"I don't brag. Did you forget that?" I brush him off my back with ease.

"Man, just this time?"

"About her?" I guffaw, shaking my head. "No fucking way."

"Looks like our girl has a magic pussy." Clay's laughter dies in his throat because I clutch his hoodie in my fist. "It's a joke, Colt! She's my friend, I don't think about her that way."

"Then don't talk about her that way. Ever." I stare him down, and he nervously gulps. Clay nods his head and I let him go. The beast inside my chest is slowly calming down.

"If you're so overprotective of her, maybe you should worry about Baker?" He speaks in a quiet voice, as we resume our stroll. "Who knows how much time he spent waiting for someone to untie him? Ava humiliated him, and he's not someone that's going to let it slide. He is going to want to make her pay. I don't have any doubt."

I keep silent, chewing on the inner side of my bottom lip as we enter the cafeteria. He has a point. Adam Baker has an incredibly big ego, and what Ava did to him was indeed humiliating. She has a photo on her phone so she has leverage, but at the same time... it could also make matters worse for her if he knows. He might try doing something to get his hands on the picture, hurting her in the process. I still don't believe he did nothing to the girl who claimed he raped her, and later retreated saying it she made a mistake. His father's money and connections turned it into a mistake.

"Colt?" I focus my attention on Clay, and instantly furrow my brow. He is staring at something ahead of us, and he is seething. "See what I mean?"

I follow his gaze and I need only a second to register what I'm looking at. Ava and Layla are sitting at a table, while Baker is standing directly across from them. Both of his hands are on the table, and he's hovering over the girls. Everything in his posture screams anger. Without giving it a second thought, I storm over there with Clay in tow. We aren't the only ones though. Drake suddenly appears on my left, eyes glued to the table where Ava and Layla are sitting.

"Do you think the fucker threatened them?" Benson asks, gawking at me sideways.

"Looks like it." My best friend chimes in, lining up with us.

"I never should have helped him... I should have left him tied to his bed... Dammit!" Drake mutters under his breath, while I shoot him a questioning glance. A little explanation wouldn't hurt, for real. "After Ava and you left, Layla told me to go check on Baker. She was sure Ava did something to him. And well... It was hilarious, honestly, but he definitely didn't agree. I told him to calm down and think before he did anything, but it seems like he didn't listen."

"... really think it was funny?!" Baker hisses, as we stop behind his back. He senses our presence and twirls around, his face contorted with rage. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Haven't I told you that she's my friend and I don't want you near her?" Clay exclaims angrily.

"Friend? A friend who made you wear a fucking dress-"

"I deserved it." My best friend retorts, folding his arms across his chest. "I never should have suggested the bet to you. It was stupid and childish, and we both got what we deserved."

"Did she leave you naked, tied to your bed on your own birthday at your own house?" He spits these words, his nostrils flaring from his fury. "This hoe-"

"Call her that again..." Drake and I muse at the same time, stepping closer to him.

"Or what?" Baker demands, but his face becomes pale.

"You will regret it." I hold his gaze, ready to do anything to take him down. "I'll make sure of it."

"We will make sure of it." Benson corrects me, and at this very moment I know he will be my friend. A real one. Not just a teammate.

"Whatever." Baker utters, stomping away from the table. Watching him retreat I don't have any doubt that he's not going to let this go. He will try to find a way to get back at her. I'll need to keep my eye on him.

"Wow." Layla's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. I look at her, tilting my head to the side. "That was hot." Then she shifts her gaze to her brother. "You too... but it's kinda ew."

"Thanks." Drake rolls his eyes and plops himself down on the bench. "Are you okay?"

Clay and I both join him, sitting down across from Layla and Ava. I finally look at her, and the beast in my chest purrs. She is such a beautiful girl! Her hair is in a high ponytail, no sign of makeup on her face. She's wearing a pink knit sweater and most probably jeans or a skirt, but I don't know for certain. Her eyes are locked on Benson, and for the first time in all these months, I don't care. They are just friends.

"No. He definitely annoyed the fuck out of me." Ava mutters, tsking and grabbing her Pepsi bottle from the table. "He was going on and on and on about me being an ungrateful bitch for at least ten minutes for sure. He's the amazing Adam Baker, and I dared to reject him. Humiliate him. Make him a laughingstock."

"No one knows what you did except me and Layla." Drake says, but then turns his head to look at Clay and me in turns. "Do you know?"

"Yeah." I nod in my best friend's direction. "I told Clay as well."

Ava glares at me for a brief moment, but then brings her sight back to Drake. "I took a picture of him." Benson opens his mouth, and she instantly shuts him down. "I haven't told him about it. I'm not a complete idiot. It's just for leverage if he still tries anything with me."

"He won't. Not after today." Clay reassures her, but I honestly feel doubtful. Baker will probably go into hiding, he will try to fool us into thinking that he let it go, while in reality? He will be back, and I only hope I'll be close enough to stop him. If he's like my father, he always stings when everyone is already relaxed and believes they are safe.

"We'll see." Layla and Ava look at each other, and Benson's sister lowers her head on her best friend's shoulder. "I kinda lost my appetite. He's such a vile person, I feel dirty after that."

"Are you backing out?" Ava asks quietly. "You promised you'd go shopping with me after your practice. I need to buy a gift for my dad."

"Is it his birthday?" I tone, and they all fix their gazes on me. Did I say something stupid?

"Christmas is in two weeks." Clay chortles, clapping his hand on my back. "Dude, you really need a calendar at your place."

Shit! I stare off into the distance, not really seeing anything. They will all go home in two weeks. To their loving and caring families. To the warmth and happiness of their homes. And me? I will stay here, only visiting my mom on Christmas Eve if she is in the mood for visitors. Damn!

Only the buzzing of my phone rips me out of my thoughts. I pull it out of my pocket, not even trying to listen to what they are all talking about. I'm zoned out and still in my own misery dimension, alone and broken.

Huh?

🍯: You look lonely.

🍯: I can fix that. U in?

📱: I have practice in 25 minutes 😩

🍯: ur loss then 😁

I lock my phone and shove it back in my pocket. Looking up I meet her gaze, full of mischief and fire. She has something on her mind, and with each breath I take, I want to know what. She intrigues me beyond anything that is normal, reminding me of an obsession. I want to know everything about her, every little detail. Anything.

"Sorry, guys, I'm gonna go to the library. It's my zen. A place where no one disturbs me." Ava stands up from her seat, taking her backpack from the bench. Layla coughs and I hear the name - Jordan. Is the bitchy roommate still causing her problems? "Yes, the library is way better than my room if I want to concentrate. See you at 5, Layla?"

"Yup. I'll find you in the library, or in your room. Just text me if you decide to go back to your dorm."

"Sure." Ava bends her head down and kisses her best friend's cheek. Now I know for sure that things are okay between them. "See you guys, and thanks for standing up for me."

She waves and strolls away. I give myself 5 minutes. 5 minutes and I'll follow her. No more than that. Who am I kidding? Only myself. I stand up from the table so abruptly that they all bear their sights into me.

"I'll see you at practice."

"But we were going to eat." Clay blurts out, pinching his brows together. "Aren't you hungry?"

"It's fine. Dad wants to talk. He just sent me a message."

"Oh, okay. See you later." My best friend veers his head to Drake. "Did you already eat?"

I'm not listening to them anymore. I nod my head, wheel around and saunter out of the cafeteria and straight to the library. As soon as I step inside, I realize it's even more deserted than the last time. Only the librarian is here, reading a book and ignoring me. Not that it doesn't suit me. I scan the room and lock my eyes with Ava. She holds my gaze, then walks around the corner, hiding behind the rows of books.

Heading to the table where she left her stuff, I put my backpack on the floor, and follow her. Ava is leaning her back on the bookshelf, a seductive grin is spread across her lips. She knew I would come. She didn't have even the tiniest doubt.

I stalk over to her, wrap an arm around her waist and pull her to my chest. "I missed you."

Ava rakes her gaze over my face, then leans forward, standing on her tiptoes. Her mouth is an inch away from my own. "Then prove it."

I smirk, but cut the distance and smash my lips on hers. Damn, being on time for practice will be extremely hard. I have no desire to let her go.