Good Boy by Megan Lowe
Chapter 9
“You’re in a good mood,” Chloe says as I take my seat in English.
I shrug. “I’m not allowed to be in a good mood?”
“No, you are, it’s just a bit suspicious given how you left here yesterday.”
“I had a good night,” I tell her.
“What’s his name?” she asks.
“James.”
“Oooh. Strong, solid, no nonsense. I like it.”
“I’m so glad I have your approval.”
“Isn’t that the point of us being besties? We get to approve each other’s choices.”
I tilt my head to the side. “I don’t remember anything about us being besties.”
She shoves me as I laugh.
“Don’t worry, no approval needed. It’s purely casual. We haven’t even met yet.”
“You met online?” she asks.
“Poundr.”
“You have any pics?”
“We had a mutual masturbation session over FaceTime last night, does that work?”
She shoves me again. “What if he’s some creepy old dude?”
“A creepy old dude does not have the body I saw last night, and even if he did, I don’t know that I’d mind. A body that fine could make a guy do stupid things.”
“Like jerk off over FaceTime.”
I shrug. “Like you’ve never sent nudes to someone.”
“Who’s sending nudes?” Thomas asks as he comes in the door. “Fontana, you sending them? ’Cause if you are, throw one my way.” His eyes trail up and down her body.
“I’ll throw this,” she says, giving him the finger.
“Good. I like my women feisty,” he says before taking his seat.
I brace myself for the acerbic wit of Cavanaugh McLaughlin.
“Fag,” he hisses as he walks past. There’s been the odd slur thrown here and there from Cav. Nothing that I didn’t get at my old school, or when I walked down the street with whatever guy I happened to be seeing at the time back in Michigan.
I roll my eyes. “Yup, you got me.”
Chloe elbows me.
As he walks past, he leans down. “Too bad for you I don’t want you or your piece of shit car.”
I’m playing with a carrot stick when Chloe slides onto the bench opposite me in the cafeteria. I know I shouldn’t be surprised or hurt at what Cav said but… The constant hate, the animosity when I’ve done nothing to deserve it? It wears on you. It is wearing on me and I don’t know how much more I can take. I thought the car would, I don’t know, not bond us ’cause that’s stupid, but could at least show him we have something in common, that we’re not as different as we seem. That it would show him that I’m not a bad guy, I’m just a guy who can appreciate a classic piece of American muscle.
She leans over and pinches my cheeks. “Oh, cheer up, you sad sack. You can’t seriously still be moping about that burn Cav gave you in English.”
“I’m not.”
“If you say so.”
She laughs.
“Hi,” a very busty brunette says as she sidles over to Chloe and me. She looks familiar, but I have no idea what her name is.
“Hi,” I say back, resting my back against our lunch table.
“I’m EJ.”
“EJ?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes. “EJ Caldwell. It’s short for Elizabeth Jane, but I hate it and only my mom calls me that, so EJ.”
“Right. So tell me, EJ, what can I do for you today?”
She grabs a lock of hair and twirls it around her finger. “Just wanted to come over and say hi.”
“Like the official Windswept Academy welcoming committee?” I ask.
She nods. “Something like that.”
“Just a month late.”
She blushes. “I was working up the courage to come talk to you.”
“Am I that scary that it took so long?”
She tilts her head; an attempt to look coy, I’m sure.
“Scary? No. But intimidatingly hot? Yeah.”
“Intimidatingly hot?”
She nods.
“So, what can I do for you today, EJ?” I ask.
She sits on my lap and starts playing with the hair at the nape of my neck.
“Ah….” I try to move away from her, but it’s a bit difficult as I’m trapped by the table behind me and EJ in front of me.
“Tell me, Connor,” she all but purrs, “are you single?”
I chuckle and rub my chin. “Um, yeah, I am but—”
“Well, isn’t that the best news I’ve heard all day?”
I look over to Chloe, struggling to hide her laugh. I shoot her a look, but she shakes her head and covers her mouth.
In desperation, I look around the cafeteria and find Cav’s eyes, piercing blue-gray, seemingly staring right into my soul. I want to say that I’m able to ignore it, that it doesn’t get my insides humming, or better yet, that it turns me right off, but that would be a lie—despite all the warnings and the look he’s giving me. If looks could kill, I’d be ten feet under right now. But why? Is he interested in EJ? Or is he mad that for once there’s some attention on someone other than him?
“So do you?” EJ asks, breaking my reverie.
“Huh?”
“I asked if you liked to party,” she says.
“Oh, um, I guess?”
She laughs and plays with the top button of my shirt. “That’s funny.”
“How’s that?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I don’t know, it just is.”
I nod. “Right.”
“Now, Connor, you’ve been here a month,” she says. “How come an absolute hunk like yourself doesn’t have a girlfriend? Or have you not found the right girl?” She presses her boobs into my chest.
I gently grab her and shift her off my lap. “I’m gay,” I tell her.
She jumps. “Oh.”
I give her my winning smile. “Sorry.”
“So you’re really not into girls?” EJ asks.
I shake my head. “Afraid not, darlin’.”
Her shoulders drop. “Are you’re sure?”
“I’m very sure, but I’m flattered by the attention and for the offer.” I grab her hand and press a kiss to her palm. As I do, I look up and see Cav still watching me, eyes narrowed, arms folded across his chest.
I reach up and brush her hair away from her ear. “But if I ever change my mind, I know who to come to.”
She giggles and blushes.
A crash comes from the other side of the cafeteria, and I look up in time to see Cav storming away from his table.
“What’s his problem?” Chloe asks.
I shrug. “I have no idea.” But despite all my vows and pledges to stay away from him, I’m dying to find out.