A guy pokes his head into the kitchen. "Are there cups in here? We're going to play beer pong. Smells good, Mrs. K. I've been missing your cooking."
"You boys take one of those folding tables and play in the yard, not in the house," she says. "If you destroy the dining room, you're not getting any dinner. And don't be getting wasted playing beer pong, either. No one's going to be throwing up my spaghetti."
"Yes ma'am." He snatches a plastic bag of red cups from Colton. "Hey, did Colt show you the roof slide yet?"
"Shut up, man," Colton hisses, punching him in the arm.
"You're trying to kill an old woman with worry, aren't you?" Doreen scolds but she's smiling as she shakes her head. She walks over to Colton and puts her arm around him. "You boys take it easy so you don't get injured. Remember, this kid here is my retirement plan."
"I'm not getting broken, mom," Colton insists. "The roof slide is a structural masterpiece."
"Have you seen this masterpiece, Cassandra?" asks Doreen.
Colton grins at me. "Yeah, Cassie. You've seen my masterpiece, right?" His voice drips with innuendo.
Yeah, I’ve definitely seen the masterpiece between his legs.
"I have," I answer. "It was less than impressive, though."
"Oh, I think you were plenty impressed," Colton argues. "Couldn't take your eyes off it."
He looks at me meaningfully.
I really, really, really need to stop thinking about his dick.
"I'll have to check out this engineering marvel after dinner," Doreen says, returning to the oven where she stirs a pan of meat on the stove.
19
Colton
We're all sitting around the table – my mom, Cassie and Sable, and my roommates. It's loud, everyone talking and passing food around like we're one big family. My mom has a way of making you feel like you're part of her family, which I guess is one reason my roommates think she's awesome. That and the cinnamon rolls. She makes a mean cinnamon roll.
"Now, Sable," my mom starts.
I know that tone. Next, she’s going to throw Sable at me as a potential girlfriend. I glance at Cassie sitting beside me. I engineered that seating arrangement personally. I wasn't about to let one of my roommates anywhere near her.
"Tell me you're not attached," she says.
"Mom," I warn.
"I'm single and free," Sable announces in the breezy, blunt way she does. From where I sit, I can see her wink across the table at Tank, who's munching on a piece of garlic bread. "That's a hint."
I stifle a laugh. Sable deflected that like a pro.
Tank blinks at Sable like a deer in the headlights. Or a guy who just had a girl out of his league hit on him.
"Subtle, Sable," Cassie says, laughing.
"I've never been a subtle kind of girl." Her eyes are on Tank. "I like to get straight to the point. I pick you, in case I wasn't clear."
"Damn it," grunts Emmett.
"Okay. Uh, you wanna hang out?" Tank asks.
"Well, look at that." My mother looks so proud. "I should run a matchmaking service. Now, if only I could get my son to –"
"Ma," I groan. This time there's no warning tone. I give my mother a look that's clear I'm not joking.
"Jonathan really is the sweetest guy you'll ever meet, Sable," my mom promises, changing the subject. "He has such a kind heart."
The conversation keeps going, my mom talking to Sable and my roommates, and I tune everything out because there's nothing I'm interested in as much as Cassie.
Or more specifically, Cassie's thigh. Under the table, I slide my hand to her leg, my fingers brushing against her skin.
When I look over at her, she's glaring. I think her nostrils might even be flared. She holds up her fork and narrows her eyes, making a subtle stabbing gesture that no one seems to notice.
In response, I squeeze her leg.
She doesn't say anything. She just gives me a look that could melt ice.
I'm honestly kind of surprised when she reaches for her cell phone instead of stabbing me in the back of the hand with a fork, which is totally what I deserve. I watch as she types out a text message. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I only take my hand away from her in order to grab it. Then Cassie turns to Sable, pretending to be preoccupied with whatever super interesting thing Sable is saying.
I open the text message.
Get your hand off my leg, you perv, or I'm going to stab you.
I type a response.
My hands are going to be on a lot more than just your leg.
I don't hear her phone vibrate after I hit send. She must have turned the sound off. But when she glances at me, I can tell she got the message loud and clear, which is good, because I'd hate to be less than clear about what I want.
My mother is busy interrogating my roommates, making sure everyone is making decent grades and asking about what they think of the pre-season hype surrounding our schedule this year. Meanwhile, all I can think about is how much I want Cassie naked again. I want to run my hands over her skin. I want to breathe her in. I can't wait to see her come.