“Definitely Colgate-y.” I giggle. “That batch you made over Thanksgiving break last year was perfection.” Truly, I’ve had dreams about how good those mint chocolate brownies tasted.

  “Your father has not stopped talking about that damn batch and I went rogue and I can’t remember what I did.” She puts a hand over her forehead and squeezes her eyes shut like she’s trying to remember how many grains of salt were in the pinch that went into the batch.

  “I mean, Mom, your mint chocolate is already amazing, like everything else you bake, why do you let this get to you?”

  “Because it’s different every time I bake it! I need consistency. Hello!?” She huffs. “So, you’re coming to the café with me tomorrow?”

  “Yep.”

  “Even if you’re hungover.” She raises an eyebrow and looks behind me out the back door that is a shortcut to Lucas’ house.

  “Yes, I’ll be there.”

  “Fine. Be careful coming home.” I move towards the door when she stops me. “By the way, did I see Raegan’s car over there? Is she home?”

  “She came by, but she was in and out.”

  “Mmmm, I hear she’s seeing someone.”

  “Oh?” I ask, wondering what exactly she knows.

  “Yes, an older fellow.” She nods at me with her eyebrows moving up and down.

  “How do you know?”

  “Macey told me when we were at tennis!” I roll my eyes at Macey Hudson, the town gossip. “She said she saw them at the grocery store, shopping, looking pretty cozy.” She points a finger at me. They grocery shop together? Oh, that’s so fucking cute. “I did hear he is quite handsome though. I wonder how Theo feels about it.”

  I shrug. “Maybe he doesn’t care.”

  “Oh please, a girl dates a man old enough to be her father, trust me her actual father cares.” She giggles. “Please don’t do it to me. Your father will be insufferable.”

  I chuckle despite the blast of guilt I feel.

  We aren’t dating, totally different.

  Not getting married.

  Not having a baby.

  My dad will never have to deal with it. Nor will my mother.

  “You don’t have to worry about that.”

  She puts a spoon to her lips. “I hope not. Oh God, I could brush my teeth with this!” she cries before tossing it in the bowl. “Oh! Take these.” She hands me a batch of pumpkin snickerdoodles.

  “Pumpkin in May?” My eyes widen in excitement as I take a cookie off the plate and take a bite. God, my mom can bake. “And why would I give these to them!” Pumpkin anything is my favorite, but she doesn’t usually start making anything until August in preparation for fall so I’m shocked to see them this early.

  “You just graduated college and they’re your favorite and Lucas’ favorite.” She points behind her. “There’s still a batch here.”

  I side eye her. “Alright then. Don’t let Dad eat them all!” I tell her as I re-lay the cellophane.

  I’m out the door after a few moments and pushing through the gate on the side of his house that Theo installed when Lucas and I were back and forth constantly between houses. It leads to the backyard, and when I get there Lucas and Theo are sitting at the table, each with a margarita.

  “What did Camille send!?” Lucas asks the second he sees what’s in my hands.

  “Pumpkin snickerdoodles.”

  “In May!?” Lucas’ eyes widen.

  “That’s what I said. Apparently, it’s because we graduated.”

  “Give it up,” Lucas says holding his hands out.

  “Keep them away from me,” Theo says. “Every time your mom sends a batch of something, I end up five pounds heavier.”

  “Who said I was sharing?” Lucas jokes as he lifts the plastic.

  “Margaritas and pumpkin cookies, we’re kind of mixing vibes here.”

  “Who cares?” Lucas says through a mouthful.

  “Where’s mine?” I frown as I stare at the two glasses on the table.

  “I made them and you’re not a guest here, you know how to pour your own drink,” Lucas says as he points towards the door.

  “My son, the perfect host.” Theo chuckles. “I’ll get it for you.” He smiles before heading inside.

  It takes everything in me not to follow him with my eyes and shoot him my flirtiest thank you. “Thanks, Theo!” I cheer without even looking at him. God, Lucas I love you but can you go away?! What I wouldn’t give for him to have something to do so I could have just a few moments alone with Theo.

  A thought floats through my head, and I almost squeal with glee when I realize how this plan will work. It’s Thursday, it’s two o’clock, and half our friends just graduated college.

  “So, what should we do? Should we have some people over? You know? For old times’ sake?” I wink.

  An hour and a trip to the liquor and grocery stores later, we are expecting a number of people to swing by and hang out. Partly to say goodbye to Lucas before he leaves for New York on Saturday—he had a graduation party two weeks before me, so it would serve as more of a goodbye party—and partly because we are twenty-one and we never need a reason to party.

  “Alright, I’m going to go shower, because I didn’t after we got back from the gym, I’ll be back.” Lucas knocks my shoulder gently with his fist before he makes his way up the stairs. Theo graciously offered to help us clean up even though the Graham house is rarely not spotless, so he’s still in the kitchen with me. The second we hear Lucas hit the top step our eyes meet.

  “Tell me you’re wearing panties underneath that.” His voice is low and seductive as he nods at my short dress.

  “Why don’t you touch me and find out.”

  His eyes float upwards as he takes a step closer and when he hears the sound of water he lets out a breath. “Thank fuck.” He grabs my hips and lifts me onto the counter with ease before stepping between my legs and within seconds his hand is between them, dragging his finger over my covered slit.

  I wrap my arms around him and press my lips to his, kissing him for the first time in almost a week and I melt into his arms. Based on his height, his dick lines up perfectly with my center and he presses it into me. “Fuck me please, Theo.” I moan.

  “That’s what you want, angel? We don’t have time for everything.” He licks along the seam of my mouth. “I want to eat your pussy.”

  “You can later, give me your dick.” I undo his jeans and push them and his briefs down as his mouth kisses down my neck. I stroke him a few times before he swats my hand out of the way.

  “I’ve been ready since I saw you in your gym outfit. Are you?” He pushes my wet panties to the side and his fingers glide inside.

  “Fuck.” I moan. “Yes.”

  “I’ve got to get you close because we don’t have a lot of time.”

  “I’m close, Theo.” I whimper as he flicks my clit with the tip of his finger and gasp at the pleasure coursing through me. He grabs his dick and drags it over my clit and pushes inside me with one thrust before clamping a hand over my mouth just as a choked cry escapes.

  “You need to be quiet.” I nod. “Good girl,” he whispers low in my ear and a delicious shiver moves through me as I clench around his cock. He rears back and pushes in again and my eyes roll back in my head momentarily at how good it feels. “Fuck.” He grits out and his hand is still on my mouth so I narrow my eyes in question. “I don’t have a condom.”

  I grab his hand, removing it from my mouth. “I don’t care.”

  “We need to start caring, Avery,” he says, but I notice he doesn’t make an effort to stop.

  “Next time,” I whisper as I lock my legs behind him and push him back into me. “Fuck me, please. I’ve missed you.”

  “You have no idea. I’ve fucking missed you so much. Missed this.” He continues to fuck me, while trying not to make noise. I’m acutely aware that we are facing his backyard and anyone could walk back there and see us. Or anyone could walk in the front door, because who of Lucas and my close friends rings the doorbell? But I don’t care. I want him and this and my orgasm and his orgasm filling me up and nothing can stop it. I still hear the sounds of running water, so we’re still safe. I just have to hope no one shows up super early.

  I lean my head back and he licks up my neck before nuzzling his lips there. “You’re so fucking perfect, Avery.”

  “So are you,” I whisper. His dick certainly is. I’ve had sex with three other people and his is the only one that finds this particular spot that feels fucking indescribable. Every time he taps it, I have to bite my lip to stop myself from promising I’ll do whatever he wants for the rest of our lives if he’ll just keep doing that forever.

  Right on schedule. He pushes in harder and circles his hips just as his hand drops between us and I feel friction against my clit. “Remember, quiet, angel,” he murmurs in my ear. I thought I was! I wrap an arm around his neck and push my face into it, taking a deep inhale, smelling his raw manly scent mixed with the cologne he wears. I push my lips to the skin, letting my tongue dart out.

  “Baby, I need you to come,” he says. “I’m getting close and I…fuck, I don’t know how long we’ve been doing this. Time stops while I’m inside you.”

  “Mmmm. But it feels good.”

  “I know and we can do it again later if you come now.”

  I feel drunk as my orgasm approaches. Drunk on him. On this feeling. On us.

  I pull back and look at him through hooded eyes as he slows his strokes and I can feel every ridge of his cock as he moves in and out. “You promise?” I bite my bottom lip.

  “Of course. Whatever you want. I’ll give you whatever you want.” He pants against my lips. “Please just…come on my dick right fucking now.” I hear the rush in his voice, like he can’t wait another second to feel it.

  “Mmmm, say something nasty.” I raise an eyebrow at him and he lowers his gaze, his eyes dark.

  “We don’t have time for what happens to you when I say something nasty, Avery.”

  “Please,” I purr.

  “Fuck.” He groans as I feel him start to lose control. “If you come now, later tonight, after all of your friends are tipsy, you’re going to not too drunkenly stumble into my bedroom and I’m going to put my tongue in your cunt. Understand? I don’t care what you have to do, Avery. Do not leave this house tonight without coming in my mouth first, got it?”

  “Oh God!”

  “That’s it. Come on baby, I got you. Come for me.”

  “Theo,” I whisper against him and then I come, fucking hard. I don’t know how long I’m spasming when I feel him quietly groan against my neck. He jerks a few times and I clench in response causing him to chuckle as he slowly slides out of me.

  I move off the counter and rearrange my panties, staring at him as he tucks his wet dick back into his briefs and pulls his jeans up.

  “Don’t look at me like that, we don’t have time for it to go in your mouth.” He laughs and I let my bottom lip jut out before giving him a smile.

  “I’m going to freshen up.”

  He runs a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I’m going to do the same.” He pushes my hair back and runs a finger down my neck. “I tried to be careful of my stubble.” He rubs a thumb down the slope of my neck. “I just love kissing your neck.” He lowers his eyes to my lips and then down the rest of my body. “Hell, I love every part of you.” He grabs my chin and presses a kiss on my lips. “I meant what I said.” He cups me between my legs and squeezes gently. “I better kiss these lips at some point tonight.”

  Several hours later, inviting a few friends over for drinks has turned into half my high school graduating class showing up like the ragers people threw when someone’s parents went out of town. Only this time we are older, and smarter, and have IDs stating we are old enough to drink in case the cops happen to stop by. Lucas has never thrown a huge party here, but he definitely had friends over a few times when we knew Theo was working late, and the setup feels so nostalgic. The long folding table outside that is set up for beer pong or flip cup, the slew of red cups on the island that we use for drinking games, the low hum of music playing from the speakers, and the chatter of all of our friends cutting loose after a long day.

  “This was such a good idea,” Rory says just as she downs a shot of tequila. “I’ve barely been out since your grad party and it’s been a long week.” She rolls her eyes. “I put in my two weeks at the store and they are making me work what feels like every minute of it.” She groans. Rory has worked at Sephora at the mall all through college and is leaving to move to New York after getting a job at Dior in their corporate office, otherwise known as her dream job.

  “Well, you are their favorite employee. It’s going to be hard to replace you,” I tell her as I sip my margarita.

  My eyes pan the room, looking for Theo and I spot him in the corner talking to some of the guys that played football in high school and one who played in college and I assume he’s giving advice about going pro. His eyes aren’t on me, so I take the time to ogle him for a moment until Rory smacks my arm.

  “Speaking of which, you little tart.” I snap my eyes to her, worried that I’d been caught staring at our friend’s dad when she raises her eyebrows up and down. “What happened after your grad party? Who did you meet up with?”

  “What are you talking about?” I ask, knowing the best way to get out of this is to deny and talk her in circles until she gives up.

  “Don’t do that. You had the ‘I am getting dick tonight’ look in your eyes and I said I would let it go but that we would circle back.” She taps her red solo cup to mine. “This is me circling back. So, spill.”

  “Rory, nothing. There is no one. I went home.”

  “Bullshit.” She stamps her foot. “I am your best friend. Regardless of what Lucas thinks! Tell me,” she whines and I realize she’s starting to get tipsy, which means this will be easier than I thought. “Oh God, was it Nate? Please tell me you’re not going back for another round with your loser ex. I love you and I will always support you but not with him.”

  “No.” I make a face. “Definitely not. I don’t even think he’s home yet. I think he’s still in Boston,” I say thinking about what I remember from mindlessly scrolling social media.

  “Oh well, whatever.” She puts her hands under her chin as best as she can with a cup in her hand. “Please!”

  “There’s nothing to tell!”

  “DICE GAME!” I hear shouted from the center of the room and I see our friend Lexie, holding her hand up as she bounces on the balls of her feet. “Come on, for old time’s sake!”

  I groan, remembering all the trouble that used to come from these fucking dice. She shouts outside to the people at the beer pong table, one of whom is Lucas, and tells them to come in and a few do while some stay outside. “Come on, you’re playing,” Lexie says, grabbing my hand and pulling me around the island.

  “I am not taking my shirt off,” I tell her with a glare.

  She rolls her eyes before tucking a long chestnut strand behind her ear. “I don’t know why, you have great tits. I’d never wear tops.” There’s a group of seven of us around the island including Lucas and I breathe a sigh of relief when I realize Theo isn’t over here though I don’t know if it’s worse if he’s watching.

  “Oh my Gosh, Theo you have to play with us!” Rory cheers from next to me and I swear my fucking eye twitches.

  “Rory, really?” I say, so only she can hear me.

  “What! We’ll keep the game PG today, right guys?” She looks around the circle and I can already see a number of the guys are not on board with that.

  “I did not agree to that.” Lexie furrows her brows before looking at me. “You want PG and she’s not taking her top off?” She points at me. “Who are you and what have you done with my friends? You get one college degree and suddenly you’re too old for our favorite game?” Lexie puts a hand over her forehead dramatically. “I am disappointed in both of you.” She points at us before turning towards Theo. “Come join!” She claps. “Does everyone remember the rules?”

  “Maybe I’ll sit this one out. See where it goes first before I decide to join.” Theo chuckles but still hangs close by…I guess to watch?

  This is going to be a shitshow.

  I briefly meet his gaze and I’m happy that Rory is on her phone, probably texting Justin if I had to guess. “Okay, well, I’ll give you a brief rundown and also a refresher for everyone else. So, you pick a person, ask them truth or dare and then choose a number. If the person rolling the dice rolls that number then you get to ask them the question or dare them to do something, whichever they choose. We usually only do dares but for the sake of keeping things”—she shoots me and Rory a look—“more PG because no one wants to take their clothes off anymore”—she rolls her eyes—“we’ll offer truths.”

  “Excuse me,” I say holding a finger up. “I would like to add here”—I look at Theo—“Theo, we have never taken our clothes off. There may have been a time when we may have flashed something, but the clothes always stayed on.” I glare at Lexie. “Can you not make us sound like we were a bunch of horny degenerates?” I chuckle.

  “Hmph.” She shoots her nose in the air jokingly. “Well, who wants to start?”

  We go a few rounds that are mostly dares for people to take a shot, chug a beer, a light kiss between friends, and a few truths asking what really happened during our senior week. I’ve been mostly avoided, having been one of the people dared to take a shot, but for the most part, it’s been a pretty mild game and now people are starting to lose interest. Thankfully.

  “I’ll go.” Lucas chuckles and I groan because I know that means he’s going to pick me. We used to have a system in place. We’d choose each other so others that were wild cards wouldn’t target us too much. We had an approved list of truths and dares that were acceptable and we rarely veered from it. Let’s just hope he remembers it.

  “Rory,” he points and I’m surprised at that, “truth or dare.”