Study Break
Page 8
"What?" he asked.
I didn't stop smiling as I tugged on one of his blond curls.
"Nothing."
He frowned and narrowed his gaze on me. "I will get it out of you," he said slowly.
I shook my head, chuckling. "It’s really nothing,” I insisted. I just liked the warm feeling in my chest around him – around all of them. It was harder not to smile.
"Tell me," he demanded, glancing over the top of my head and as I turned, Darren dived in, his hands grabbing my waist and sinking in. I screamed, laughing as he tickled me. Taylor looked on with amusement, reaching out every so often to grab and tickle a sensitive place that he felt was being neglected.
“Okay!” I screamed
"Do you give up?" Darren asked.
"YES!"
"Say 'uncle’!" Taylor demanded.
"Uncle!"
Darren chuckled and pulled his hands away from my ticklish spots, tucking my head under his chin as he sat with his arms around me. It shocked me how right I felt being between the two of them. The only thing missing was—.
"Yo!" My ears perked up as I heard Cody's voice call out to us. Our gazes strayed to the entrance of the library. "The car is already defrosted. You guys down to go get some food?"
I smiled as Taylor and Darren helped me stand up. I didn't need gloves or mittens because with each of them holding one of my hands, they were the perfect heaters. Cody walked straight up to me, palming my head as he kissed me soundly. I laughed when he pulled away.
"What was that for?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Just because I can. let's go." Dex waited down the ramp, around the side of the building where the small parking lot was. He straightened when we approached, and Darren and Taylor let go of my hands to each open a door and get in. Dex slung an arm around my shoulders and pressed a sweet, chaste kiss to the top of my head.
"How do pancakes sound?" he asked.
The sun peaked over the buildings across the street, shining rays of orange, yellow, and gold across the plain white snow under our boots.
"Is anything even open?" I asked as he opened the passenger door for me.
"The university was the only place that lost power last night," he said. "We probably have time to head back to the dorms to change if you want, but I predict that most businesses aren't going to be closed when everyone is going to want to go out for hot chocolate and food."
"Hot chocolate sounds good," I said.
"Then get your cute ass in the car, Baby." He smacked my ass as I gripped the top of the car door to bend into the front seat. I sat hard, casting an amused glance at him. He smirked and opened the back door to squeeze in with Darren and Taylor.
"We'll come back for your cars later," Cody said from the driver’s seat as he cranked up the heat.
"No worries," Darren replied.
Cody reached over and took my hand as he shifted gears and pulled out of the parking lot. Last night I had been so worried about passing my final. Now, all of that anxiety was gone, and it was thanks to them. I knew my stuff. I knew what I was doing, and I felt... special. I glanced over my shoulder at the three men in the backseat. I felt perfect.