“You don’t have to ask,” he says.

The wind carries seeds

like your name on my breath

So why is there ground

where flowers never grow?

Why do some things never settle

and root like trees?

Then I realized what

my garden lacked

You

I’m in bloom

“I was thinking of something involving the word shipwrecked,” he says. “But my mind took me to weird, sexual places where I focused on being wrecked.”

I bend down to kiss him. “Did I wreck you?”

“Mm-hmm,” he hums. “I—”

Muffled voices outside Jack’s door freeze us in place. A key card clicks, unlocking the door. Rhett says, “I think Jack’s in. If not, you can wait for him with us.”

There’s no time to cover myself before Rhett and Benny walk in with a guy I’ve never seen before. Jack jumps to his feet, Rhett shouts like he’s seen a ghost, and the new guy just stands in the doorway, face completely drained of all color.

“Callum?” Jack shouts.

“What the fuck!” Callum says before turning on his heels and walking straight out.

Jack is shaking, and Rhett apologizes before slowly backing out and grabbing Benny, who looks at me with fear in his hazy, drunk eyes, not wanting to leave.

And then we’re alone in a room full of naked fucking elephants.

“Callum? As in …” I start.

Jack’s throwing on shorts and flip-flops even though it’s borderline freezing outside.

“What’s he doing here?”

“I don’t fucking know, Chase, but you need to go.” Jack won’t look at me. Or can’t. Either way, it makes me want to cry.

“Jack, I—” I reach for him.

Slipping away, he roars so loudly it rattles my bones, “Get the fuck out!”

Chapter 20

20

I’m shaking.

What just happened?

This isn’t how it’s supposed to go.

Losing my virginity should’ve been the most magical moment of my life. But instead, I’m walking through Jack’s dorm in a state of absolute shock, and I can’t seem to find the exit.

Somehow, I end up in Jack’s community bathroom, bracing myself against the sink.

Benny appears behind me. “Babe, you okay?”

I shake my head.

Rhett stands a few feet behind us.

Then I hear Jack’s voice screaming in the hallway, “Cal, just come in. Please, please, I can explain. It’s not what it looked like!”

Callum yells back, “You were naked with another dude. You gay or something?”

“Just come in, please.”

I know that tone. Jack doesn’t want to have this conversation in public. He never does. Everything he’s ever done with me has been when he’s sure nobody is looking.

Jack stops in front of the bathroom entrance. He quickly glances our way, and he reaches for the handle to shut the door so Callum doesn’t see us.