Page 2 of End Game

“Shut up.” Barrett’s freckled cheeks are pink.

“We’re glad to have you join us,” says the bronze-skinned guy on the couch. “I’m Amir, that idiot is Greg—” He points to Man Bun. “And that’s Tucker and Wes.”

Wes is sitting in an armchair, reading a book. Tucker is dark-skinned with a thick beard, absorbed in his phone.

The woman from the door comes back into the room, followed by a guy with dark hair, dark eyes, and lipstick smeared on his neck.

“Hey, I’m Sam,” she says. “This is Miles. Sorry for closing the door in your face. We didn’t know if you were, like, some stalker or something.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I say with a tight-lipped smile. “Do you guys get stalkers often?”

Tucker laughs. “It’s not unheard of.” Somehow I think there’s more to the story than that.

“So you’re coming to Newton now,” Greg says. He checks me out again and then glances back at the TV, where a video game is paused.

“Transferring next fall.” I’ve just come from a tour of the soccer team’s facility. It’s... well, it’s certainly not what I’m used to, but I’ll make do. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices to achieve our goals, and my goals are worth it.

“Dee is on the soccer team,” Barrett says proudly. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, and I try to ignore how good that feels. “She’s freaking brilliant.”

“We look forward to having you around,” Tucker says, finally looking up from his phone. His eyes are a warm chocolatey brown. “You’ll like Mason—that’s my girlfriend, she transferred last fall. It’s not a bad school to transfer into.”

I force a smile. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Barrett takes a seat on the couch. There’s nowhere for me to sit. He tugs me down until I’m perched on his lap, my legs across his strong thighs. It feels weird, and at the same time, so right. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to indulge in his easy affection. His enormous hand settles on my hip like we snuggle all the time. We don’t. We barely hug. It feels weird that he’s being so forward, but at the same time… it feels so nice.

“What do you have planned for your long weekend?” he asks, like he probably doesn’t have a full social life and academic obligations and family and—

“Not much,” I tell him nervously. “Spent a few days with my parents. Signed the transfer paperwork already. Hanging out with you until I go back to LA… if you’re free.” I shouldn’t have surprised him by showing up early. I should have told him—

“If you’re here, of course I’m free,” he says. “There is nothing I would rather do than hang out with you.”

Wes grunts.

“Shut up,” Barrett says, his cheeks going pink again. I wonder what that’s about.

He tugs me towards him until I collapse against his chest. That’s new, too. He’s not usually so tactile. Normally, he displays his affection by pulling on my braids or buying me food. College has changed him, softened the sharp edges his parents preferred.

I breathe in his warm scent, honey and musk and something uniquely him. His strong arms wrap around me in a hug that’s surprisingly fierce.

“I’ve missed you, Dee,” he murmurs into my ear.

There’s a lump in my throat. My eyes fall closed. “I missed you too, Care-Bare.”

He growls deep in his chest, the sound vibrating through me where we’re connected. “What did I say about calling me that?”

“Um, do it all the time?”

“Never,” he says. He rests his forehead against the crown of my head and takes a deep breath. “Never call me that.”

I laugh. “You’ll always be my Care-Bare.”

His fingertips dig into my side. “Don’t make me.”

Twitching away from him, I try to put some distance between us. He hauls me close. His fingertips tickle my ribs.

Greg is watching us with interest. Amir and Tucker go back to the video game. Miles is sprawled in another chair, the blonde, Sam, on his lap. She burrows into his chest, and he drops a soft kiss on the top of her head. It’s sweet.

I want that. I’ve never had that. I’ve dated, I’ve had flings, but I’ve never had a guy in my life that would snuggle me and kiss me in front of all of his friends. I’ve never had an actual boyfriend. I’ve never wanted one. Now I’m wondering what else I’ve missed out on over the years.