Forced Proximity (Bluebell House Duet Book 1)
Forced Proximity: Chapter 34

It felt like a whole damn eternity that I stood there like a creeper, watching Connor kiss some random girl whom I’d never laid eyes on before, but eventually they came up for air before the seasons changed. Okay, to be fair, it was probably only a few seconds, but it felt like longer. My damn hero worship was in full force after our slasher-and-sleeping-together session.

“Oh my god, where are my manners?” the admittedly stunning girl gushed as she released Connor and swung her dazzling gaze to me. “I’m Lacey. You must be Evelyn? I’ve heard so much about you, it feels like we’ve already met.”

She stuck her hand out for me to shake, her nails perfectly polished and her tasteful rings all worth probably more than a year’s tuition at Meadowridge. Dumbstruck, I shook her hand with a floppy wrist.

“Um, yeah. Eve. You’re…Lacey?” Was it rude to admit that no one had mentioned her to me at all so I couldn’t return the sentiment?

The blonde just laughed and rolled her eyes. “Lemme guess, Connie and the boys failed to tell you about me? Out of sight, out of mind, huh?” That question was aimed at Connor, who ran a frustrated hand through his dark hair.

“It’s not like that, Lay, you know it. We’re late for class, though, so maybe we can catch up later?” He brushed a quick kiss over her cheek, then gestured for me to continue walking toward the courtyard.

The gorgeous woman—Lacey—just sighed. “Yeah, later. It was nice to meet you finally, Eve! I hope we can hang out now that I’m back.”

Confused and thrown off-balance, I just nodded and mumbled a vague, “yeah, you too,” that made not a lot of sense before following after Connor.

“Um…” I said when we were out of earshot of Lacey. “Who was that?”

Connor threw me a scathing look, like I was an idiot. “Lacey. She introduced herself. I heard it.”

Ass. “And who is Lacey, Connie?”

He flinched and stopped walking. “Don’t call me that.” Then started again, striding across campus like he was being chased. “Lacey is my girlfriend.”

Well, fuck. I hadn’t seen that one coming, even with the way she greeted his tonsils just moments ago. I thought maybe she was a fuck buddy or…something. But…

“You have a girlfriend?” I squeaked in horror. Oh man, I needed to get the hero-worship thing under control. Immediately.

Connor released a frustrated sound. “Yes. You just met her. Lacey. Oh look, here’s your makeup class, and there’s Haze waiting for you. Catch you later, brat.”

With that, he gave me a push in Haze’s direction and legged it away like his ass was on fire. Apparently he really didn’t want to chat about his girlfriend, but I felt like maybe Haze could tell me more. Then again, of all the guys, he wasn’t exactly the chattiest. Where the fuck was Brodie when I needed him?

“Everything okay?” Haze asked, scowling after Connor, then holding out his hand. “How’s your wound?”

Not even thinking about my actions, I placed my bandaged hand in his. “I ran out of time to change the dressing, but it doesn’t hurt today.”

He froze, and I realized what I’d just done. With a sharp inhale, I tried to snatch my hand back, but his fingers wrapped around my wrist, holding me tight as he swallowed.

“It should be all right for now,” he murmured with a husky voice. “But we need to change it tonight, okay?”

I nodded, speechless. Haze frowned at my hand a moment longer, like he was confused about why the fuck he was touching me, then ever so slowly released my wrist.

“Um, are you taking this extra class with me today or just happened to be in the area?” Because last I checked, he wasn’t in this class. None of the guys were.

Haze just nodded, falling into step with me as I headed toward the classroom. “Yes.”

That wasn’t an answer, but I sensed that was all I’d get. With a sigh, I let it go and found a seat in the middle of the room. Haze slid into the seat beside me but made no move to pull out any notes or his laptop.

There was still a solid ten minutes until the class started, and we were the only ones seated, so I figured it was a good time to chat a little. “Haze, can I ask you something?”

“Depends,” he replied, slouching out in his seat like only huge dudes could do.

I rolled my eyes. “Okay. What’s the deal with Connor and Lacey?”

His eyes widened in surprise. “He told you about Lacey? How’d that come up?”

“No…I just met her. Like five minutes ago when she had her tongue halfway down Connor’s throat. He said she’s his girlfriend?” I sounded jealous even when really trying not to.

Haze nodded slowly. “She is…but I didn’t think she was getting back to Meadowridge until next semester. I wonder what happened.”

I chewed my lip, marinating on that information for a moment. “So…you do know her? And she really is Connor’s girlfriend?”

“You sound annoyed. Why is that?”

Fuck. I did. Why was that? Because he saved my life, then showed me the tiniest scrap of compassion, which was more than likely just stemmed from pity about how fucking damaged I was?

I wet my lips and shook my head. “No, I’m not. Just confused. None of you have ever mentioned her before and I think that’s strange. That’s all.”

Haze observed me for far longer than was comfortable, and I wasn’t sure I should be revealing all my fucked-up, broken pieces to him. “She’s Connor’s girlfriend to talk about,” he finally said, shrugging as if it made perfect sense.

But like… “She knew all about me and yet I had no idea she even existed. Come on, H. That doesn’t feel weird to you? What game is Connor Sullivan fucking playing?”

Haze was saved having to answer by the professor rushing into the room, a sheaf of papers under her arm as she dumped her bag on the desk. There weren’t many of us in class again, but she wasn’t fazed, dropping what had to be our last week’s assignments in the collection folder.

Pulling out my laptop, I retrieved my last lot of notes and started to add any pertinent information that came up in the lecture. All the while, my mind whirled and my stomach threatened to relieve me of the chicken sandwich.

It felt like a long time ago I’d worried about Ethan’s stunner of a girlfriend after I kissed him, but it turned out to be Connor who had one. That sneaky bastard had a beautiful—and apparently lovely—girlfriend hidden in the background.

This was nothing like Laura, who was such a horrible bitch that you knew Andrew was only with her for the connections. Nope. Lacey appeared to be the full package, not showing one ounce of jealousy over the chick who’d been sharing a house with her man for weeks.

Haze nudged me when class was over, and I packed my shit up and filed down to grab my assignment. The high grade scribbled across the side didn’t give me the same thrill it would have on a normal day, but at least one part of my life remained stable.

I shouldn’t care about Connor’s girlfriend, considering I was in a relationship slash situationship with two other men. While crushing a little on another.

There wasn’t a single fucking leg for me to stand on here in my confusion and hurt feelings.

And yet…hurt I was.

Haze stayed with me as I left the lecture hall, and I found myself heading for the room where Ethan’s class was held. The one I’d missed this morning. I knew he taught another class in here straight after mine.

Students were still filing out of the doorway, so I waited a few seconds and poked my head in to replace him inside. Packing up his desk.

“I’ll leave you two to talk,” Haze said softly. “I’ll grab you a tray for lunch.”

I was hit with a shot of warmth and caring for the big guy, because apparently I was just going to crush, at one point or another, on every guy I shared a house with. “Thanks, H. You’re the best.”

He swallowed roughly, and I could have sworn the slightest pink tinged his cheeks as he turned and hurried off. By this stage, Ethan had noticed me there, and I was relieved to see his warm smile. “Hey, baby.” He stepped closer and brushed my hair behind my ear. “You look well rested.”

Resisting the urge to press my head to his chest—this was not the time or the place—I forced a smile in return. “I’m sorry I missed your class this morning. I honestly don’t know how I slept so deeply that I missed you all leaving, but I must have been tired.”

He settled back against his desk, and there was no sign of darkness of jealousy in his gaze. “You were snuggled into Connor, and for once, both of you slept. There isn’t a class in the world more important than sleep, so we left you be.”

“Lacey’s back!” I blurted it out, because apparently I was a psychopath with an obsessive mind.

Ethan straightened, that light heartedness fading. “Lacey’s back? Connor never said she was expected back this year.”

Everyone knew about her except me. Every-fucking-one.

“Where has she been?” If he thought my tight voice was odd, he gave no indication of it.

“She went to help build orphanages somewhere in Africa, I think. It was supposed to be a gap year, but she’s not even halfway through it.”

Build orphanages in Africa… Was he fucking kidding me? The saint with a sinner like Connor. It made no sense, and yet I couldn’t deny how nice she’d appeared at first meeting. Definitely the sort who’d take on an altruistic role during her gap year.

“No wonder Connor looked shocked as shit to see her racing across campus. Maybe she’s just back for a visit.” Like that was any better; Connor still had a girlfriend, whether she lived here or not. “More importantly, why didn’t he tell me about her?”

Surely Ethan would know his brother better than anyone, even if they did have a strained relationship. His gaze was as sharp and observant as Haze’s had been, and it was that factor that had me realizing I needed to reel myself back in.

I’d been letting the little fantasy world I’d built in my head with Connor cloud my judgment, and with the veil of illusion abruptly torn from me this morning, I was having trouble dealing with reality. “You know what? It doesn’t even matter. Connor and I are barely friends let alone more, so the fact he has a girlfriend changes nothing.”

Except our movie sleepovers. Last night would have to be the one and only time.

“You and Connor went through a traumatic experience,” Ethan said gently, and I hated the sympathy in his eyes. “It’s understandable that you’d bond over it.”

“We are former trauma-bond besties,” I muttered, which resulted in a wider smile from Ethan.

“Right. And just because Lace is back, doesn’t mean you lose that bond. It doesn’t have to change.”

That was where he was wrong, but I couldn’t argue about it any longer. “I should get to lunch. I just wanted to check in about my missed class this morning and see if there were any notes I needed. Did you end up having a pop quiz today?”

Ethan’s lips twitched. “Funnily enough, the mic wasn’t working very well today, so I just let the class spend some time working on their projects. No new material got covered, and the pop quiz is Friday now.”

My heart swelled, and it was enough to douse a fraction of my disappointment over Connor. I already had amazing guys in my life, and it was just greedy to want more. “You’re the best, Eth,” I whispered, getting all emotional. “I don’t tell you enough.”

He leaned in to kiss me, but chatter outside halted his actions. “Tonight,” he promised. “You can make it up to me tonight.”

Anticipation had me pressing my thighs together. “Leave your door open,” I whispered.

“It’s always open for you, Lilith. Always.”

Connor Sullivan was a poor substitute for his brother, and the sooner I remembered that I couldn’t have them all, the easier my life would be.