Chapter 30: Fake dating - Monet

"You're going out on a weekday?" Chrystal looks at me in disbelief. "That's new."

"Just dinner with Cole and Luke since they're leaving tomorrow." I look at the back of my dress one last time, making sure the straps are straight before throwing my stuff in a small handbag.

"Rumor has it that Cole gave Stacey the red card." Chrystal stretches out on her bed, looking me up and down. "Apparently, he told her they can only be friends, so when are you going to hook me up?"

"Really? I saw them in the student center together today, maybe your rumor is wrong." I ignore the part where she wants me to hook her up with him. "And like I told you before, I don't get involved in Cole's love life or sex life, if you want his number or anything, you're gonna have to ask him yourself."

"But you're my roommate." She pouts her lips. "I should get dibs."

I look at her for a minute too long, the same shit I dealt with in high school, and the same shit I'm dealing with now. I'm most likely going to have this problem as long as Cole plays here.

"Cole is not a piece of meat, Chrystal." I should tell those words to myself, since I did

unthinkable things on Sunday morning. "He's actually sweet and kind, and will do everything for the people he cares about."

I have to remind myself of that too.

It's Cole.

The boy who always protected me, I can't think of him in any other way.

He may not be my brother by blood, but we naturally took on the sibling roles. I don't wait for Chrystal to say anything after that, I grab my bag and I leave, wishing the damn year away so I can move into a solo dorm.

I just can't think why girls would want to be with someone just because they play football. She doesn't even know anything about him. How sad is that?

Luckily I don't have to wait long before Cole's familiar black truck pulls up, and he jumps out to open the back door for me.

I gulp when I look him over, understanding why girls would want him on mere looks alone. He's not really wearing anything fancy, but he's not wearing athletic attire like usual. Instead, he has on blue jeans and a white button-down shirt and sneakers. It's like he put in a little more thought into his appearance.

"You look beautiful." He says gruffly, his eyes giving me a once-over before he pulls me into his body and kissing the top of my head. He holds my hand while I get into the truck, and sweetly waits for me to settle befor he closes the door.

"Yo Stinker!" Luke turns in his seat. "What are you trying to do? Get a boyfrined or something?"

"What's so wrong with getting a boyfriend?" I ask him. "Isn't it healthy to socialise?"

"Stinker, you know that guys only want one thing, right?" Luke winks at me. "You know wat's up. I don't want to go around and knock people'e teeth out if they hurt you."

I roll my eyes, this is the same shit from high school.

"I think I'm old enough to take care of myself now, but thank you, Luke."

I don't;t miss how Cole is watching me in the rearview mirror while he's driving.

"Luke is just trying to protect you. Guys can have a one track mind."

"Guys like you?" I challenge him. He does have a little of a reputation on campus amongst the ladies. Not that it deters them from trying to hook up with him. "Are you and Stacey dating or something? You seem to be around her a lot."

I don't like the way it feels when I mention that they're an item. I have no right to feel these jealous feelings, but my heart is following its own path, even though my brain is saying another.

"We're not dating." He says with a finality in his voice that brooks no argument. "We had an arrangement that is over now."

Just like that. No worrying about how she might feel.

"Isn't that using someone though?" I can't help to ask.

"No. Stacey knew exactly where we stood the whole time." Cole sighs. "I don't use anybody Monet, girls are throwing themselves at us all the time, don't you think they are the ones who lack some self-esteem?"

"I'm not even going to get into that argument with you, Cole." I'm grateful when he stops in front of the restuarunt so I can hastily get out.

He jumps out of the truck as soon as he puts it in park and take my bicep into his hand, his blue eyes spitting fire as he looks down at me.

"I don't use anyone, I never have. You know me better than that." He hisses. "Girls come to me because they want to fuck, and they want me to do the fucking. There's no shame in that, nor have I ever shamed someone for wanting it."

I pull my bicep from his grip and take a step back. "And then what? You just discard them like yesterday's trash when you get tired of them?"

I'm looking for a fight, this anger inside me at the thought of him fucking his way across the student population not sitting well with me.

"If they start to get too clingy, yes!" I can see he's starting to get frustrated with me. "I'm not looking for a relationship, I don't have time to entertain a girlfriend, and I make that abundantly clear when we start fucking."

He runs his hand through his curls, pushing it back from his forehead. Why am I doing this? I'm letting whatever turmoil is going on inside of me to bubble over.

"i'm not using these girls more than they're using me, Monet." His voice drops an octave, becoming gentle in a way that reaches all the way down to my toes. "And it's not like I have a new girl on my roster every week. ."

"So what? You have fuck buddies?" I should halt this conversation before it gets out of hand.

"Something like that." He hooks his arm around my neck and kisses my forehead again. The only problem is, I'm starting to crave these touches that he so casually gives.

I'm screwed.

How do I stop myself from having the hots for my brother?