Page 30 of Anchored To You

"Dude, I know," I groan, sitting on the bench next to my locker. "I feel like every inch of my body is going to fall off."

"Don't even get me started," King chimes in as he takes his spot on the bench next to me. "I don't think I've slept as much as I have in the past few weeks. There's been so many times when Niko and I will watch a movie or something and the next thing I know he's waking me up the next morning to get up for practice or class. Can you imagine what it's going to be like once the season actually starts? Shit, I thought last year was tough, but this might take the cake."

Hell yeah, last year was hard as hell. I didn't think I would make it through the season, but somehow I did. But my mind is not focused on that right now. All I can think about is what King said about him and Niko cuddling all night and watching movies together. I would love to do something like that with Talon. Maybe try to find some time after my shift at Zomb-Bar where we can hang out and just relax. But then I remember that whenever we hook up, he kicks me out of his bed and into my own. I get it, but that doesn't mean I like it. Just one time I really want to fuck, come, and then wrap myself around him for the rest of the night.

"Hmm," I say out loud, no longer following King and Drax's conversation.

"I don't think he's listening to us anymore," King laughs, standing up and rummaging through his locker.

"Nah, man, for the past week or two he tunes out every so often and gets this giddy, goofy look on his face. And then he'll hmm and haa or give this weak-ass chuckle, pretending that he's paying attention when I know for a fact he hasn't heard a word I say," Drax tells King, both of them laughing loudly.

"I do not," I tell them both, rolling my eyes. "Have you ever thought that maybe what you have to say isn't interesting, and that's why I'm tuning out?"

"No," Drax says, grabbing his towel and walking toward the shower. "I can guarantee there's something else going on."

As soon as he's out of earshot, King turns to face me with a shit-eating grin on his face. "So, who is it?" His hands tap out against the metal bench, excitement flowing from his body.

"Who's who?" I ask, collecting everything I'll need to take a quick shower.

"Oh, don't even start. I know you. You were so dead set on focusing on just baseball, school, and work. And I know you're kicking ass at all of them, but something else has you occupied. Spit it out."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I mumble, walking away.

"I'll find out sooner or later," King shouts after me, but I'm already gone.

The drowning of the showers tunes out anything else he tries to yell at me, and I shake my head once I reach an empty area. Yeah, there's no way I'm going to tell anyone what's going on between Talon and me. First, because we're only hooking up. No one shares who they're hooking up with. And secondly, if somebody finds out, Talon might stop. And I sure as hell don't want to stop. Talon and I have found a groove between us. The nights when I'm not at Zomb-Bar, we'll spend some time studying in the room before putting our hands all over one another. We might have also found places around CU to put our hands all over each other in between classes. I've never done anything in public before, but with Talon I'm insatiable. It's thrilling and adrenaline-rushing to sneak into a place we shouldn't be and do things we definitely should not be doing.

Once I'm fully cleaned, I walk back to my locker, breathing a sigh of relief when I see King already packed up and left. I'm not ready for another round of questioning. But you know what I am ready for more of?

Talon.

After quickly getting dressed, I pick up my duffle bag and backpack and head out of the training facility. Snatching my phone out of my back pocket, I pull up Talon's contact and press call.

"Hello?" he asks softly, probably wondering why I'm calling him when we always text one another.

"Hey, I'm on my way home and wanted to see if you were busy?"

"Um, no. Not really. I just finished studying. Why, what's up?"

Rubbing the back of my neck, I debate whether I should ask this question. We're not really the hang out and watch movies type, but I want to try it with him. "I'm on my way to Zombie Pizza. You down to eat some pizza and maybe watch a movie?"

It's quiet on the line for a few seconds before a quick "Sure" escapes his lips.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure it's a deep dish," I tell him, recalling that's what he requested the last time I grabbed us some pizza.

"You remembered?"

My hand grips the phone tightly as I say, "Yeah, I remembered. I remember everything about you." Talon goes quiet, and I realize I've probably just made this awkward. Wanting to get us back on track, I say, "How about some ice cream too? Does that sound good?"

"Hell yeah, I love ice cream."

"Okay, cool. I'll be there soon."

Less than an hour later, I'm walking into our room, pizza in one hand and ice cream in the other. Talon is nowhere to be found; the room is completely empty.

"Talon?" I ask, as though he's hiding under the bed or something. Our room is tiny as hell, so if he were in here, I would know it.

I set the pizza down on my desk, then put the ice cream in the small freezer that's a part of my mini fridge. I sit on the edge of my bed, wondering where Talon is. He knew I was going to be home soon, so I figured he would be sitting and waiting for me. I debate whether I should start eating the pizza before it gets cold. Maybe he changed his mind at the last minute? Maybe someone else came along with a better offer, and he went hang out with them instead? My thoughts race with all the things that Talon could be doing and why he's not here anymore. I rub my hands against my thighs, hating that I care so much about where he is and what he's doing right now. I look over at the pizza, realizing I can't sit here and wait for Talon to potentially show up.