Takeout catchup.

My eyes are dry. When was the last time I blinked? The accounting professor drones on and on about something. I'm sure it's important, but damn, who cares? All I can think about is her. Vi. I shift in my chair. She was so harsh, she was so dominant, and instead of feeling at least a little bit frustrated, all I can feel is pure excitement and lust. Her insane ability to get me hard that quickly—and then the strength she had to just leave… Not to mention… what exactly did she do after she left me? She was definitely horny herself.

And then the weird jealousy and desire I felt for Heidi when I saw her just talking to Heidi—not even flirting…

I shiver.

I walk across the campus, an all-black soccer team cap protecting my face from the sun. I hitch my backpack onto my shoulder. Other students walk past me towards the classrooms; I go in the opposite direction, towards the restaurants and takeout section of the campus. I push open the door to Nando's and spot Sai's face, as well as the backs of two heads that are definitely familiar.

"Hi, babe!" Vi looks over her shoulder and jumps up. She kisses me on the cheek, and Ari slides out and sits next to Sai.

A stir of lust swirls. She's acting so normal. I can't believe how good she is at pretending like she hasn't planted the idea that she fucked someone else who wasn’t me last night. I let her pull me down and put on a brave face.

The casualness and normalcy on display eventually clear my brain of the lustful fog, and I start to join in on the conversations. It's been a minute since this group of friends all really hung out together properly.

"I can't believe my photo shoot is tomorrow! I'm so excited, but it's so fucking nerve-wracking. Lucky Erik is the most supportive boyfriend in the world." She looks up at me adoringly as she wraps her arms around mine with a playful grin.

"Bitch, you need to calm down. You're going to be fine! You'll smash it, and then you'll be doing photo shoots every week. You'll move to some fancy rich people place like Monaco and model for a living." Ari eyes me. "And if you take Erik along with you, he'll make a really good house husband, huh?"

Husband… Vi giggles and plays along with Ari, saying she'll drag me along with her everywhere she goes. I never thought about it. We're young and we've not even dated for a year yet… I grin at Vi, and she smiles back. Her eyes are full of love, despite my fetish.

"What?" Her voice is so sweet.

I just grin and turn back to the group. "I'm so ready to start soccer next month. Training starts next week, and I've been struggling to find things to do in my downtime."

"There's a girls' team this year, right?"

I nod, and Ari chirps up in response to Sai's question, "You looking to dump me?"

He shakes his head and pulls Sai close. She pouts playfully, and he laughs. "Of course not! They're all lesbians anyway."

"Sai! That's a stereotype!" Vi chastises him teasingly.

"On the topic of being fit and strong, I'm joining the boxing gym just off campus." He turns to me. "You want to join me? We can have an excuse to fight people—and each other. We can settle a few bets." He grins.

I shake my head. "Soccer will keep me busy, and I joined Spades gym with Vi."

"Speaking of Spades, Erik, is it as good as Vi says, or does she just find her trainer hot?"

Vi rolls her eyes and flips Ari off as they giggle together. Despite her remark, I answer honestly, relishing one of the few times her teasing remarks don't get to me. Sai, for now, seems to think it was just a friendly jab. "It's unironically very good. Massive, and heaps of different classes. I think it's got a small pool and a sauna room as well."

…

"Ari, did you hear back about that internship?" Vi asks curiously.

Ari's face lights up. "Oh my god, I did!! I forgot to say, but I got it!"

We all do a little celebration for her.

"Yeah, they were only interviewing people doing Public Relations, Advertising, and Marketing degrees. I must've impressed. I don't know what my duties will be, but I had a look on Reddit and apparently you can leverage internships at the company if you can demonstrate that you've uplifted someone's social media account."

Her face lights up.

"Vi! If your modelling pops off, I can be your social media manager!"

The sweet girl blushes beside me and sheepishly responds, "We'll see if it goes well at all—but for you? Of course!"