Micah
My home is already shaking on its foundation from the bass of the music pumping through the outdoor speakers when I pull into the garage. I run my hands over my face, exhausted. Our away game against one of our bitter rivals, the Wildcats, ended in a hard loss tonight, and I’m really not in the mood to party, but it is what it is. I told people to come over for a Halloween costume party, and apparently, it’s already started without me.
Hefting my duffel out of the back of the SUV, I thumb open my phone and check my messages before heading into the chaos. There’s one text confirming that Melody will be coming for a cleaning on Sunday around noon. The only other person’s text I feel the need to open is Daphne’s. Our conversation had been pretty deep yesterday, and I hate discussing any of that stuff with most other people, but with her, it’d been okay. We’re creating what I hope will be a lasting relationship. Me, the guy who’d never wanted a girlfriend at all, now can’t see myself truly happy without her.
And, of course, it’s fucking awesome that her good friend is dating mine. Hanging out with Scarlett and Xander yesterday had been a lot of fun.
Bottom line is, Daphne’s the one girl who sees me for who I really am and likes me better for it.
Daphne:Hey, running a little late.
Daphne:Heard you guys had a rough night.
Daphne:Anything I can do? Bring you?
With a sigh, I shoot a message back.
Me:Just yourself.
Me:All I need is you.
Daphne:That made me smile like a big dork.
Daphne:Scarlett and Max are supposed to pick me up any minute now.
Daphne:Any sign of her?
Me:No, not yet. See you soon.
I shove my phone into the pocket of my joggers. It’ll be a miracle if I can sneak in and head up the back stairs directly to my bedroom without being seen. Though, depending on how much the partiers have already managed to drink, maybe they’ll be too out of it to notice me.
The cheer bus must have had a pretty good lead on the two football buses for the party to be cranking like it already is. I’m pissed at myself for not moving the spare key and forgetting to change the fucking code to the house since I’m no longer cool with Alora having access to come and go as she pleases. Xander and Beau are the only people I’ve actually entrusted with the code to get into the house.
Alora only knows the code because she’d watched one time while I’d keyed it in and memorized the fucking thing. I had no idea she’d even done it until one night I came home and found her naked in my bed.
It’d been handy for a while.
That was then, though, and this is now. I have a girlfriend—not only that, but one Alora has it out for. It’s got to stop. I run my hand through my hair. It’s driving me crazy that I can’t just make her. I wish there was a way to wipe the video from her phone, but who knows if she’s uploaded it to a computer.
I have very few true regrets. Not walking Daphne home after the park assault. Not realizing that Xander needed help. And in the deepest part of my soul, I sincerely regret ever starting anything with Alora.
Creeping stealthily up the back stairs, I make it all the way to my room without anyone seeing me. I give a sigh of relief as I push open my door.
That relief quickly rushes from me when I discover Alora in a nurse uniform, sitting on the edge of my bed.
My already pissy mood goes from bad to worse. “Get out. Now.”
She aims her red-lipstick pout at me. “Aw, come on, Micah. Don’t you want to give your naughty nurse a little spanking? I sure could use one, seeing as how I snuck into your room and all.”
“I don’t want anything to do with you. Get out of here.”
“Or maybe I should spank you after that scene in the parking lot? I know you took her home with you yesterday.”
“What are you doing, fucking spying on us now?”
She brushes aside my question. “Hey, do you still have your doctor costume? That was fun last year.” She winks, grinning at the memory.
“It doesn’t matter. You shouldn’t be in my room. You know I don’t want to be with you. I’m with Daphne, no matter what you hold over my head. Homecoming and that little show you put on was enough. Nobody is fucking buying that we’re together.”