The final member of the list was also a supermodeclass="underline" Kate Upton. David had actually convinced her to go to his high school prom with him junior year.
Crystal edged out Jill Lacier, his younger brother’s ex. David still couldn’t believe that Phil had let her get away.
If Crystal hadn’t looked so damned good in San Francisco, David would have never agreed to let her live with him until Matt moved. At the time, he’d done it because he really was done with dating, and having a faux girlfriend to take to events made sense. Crystal would look spectacular on his arm at the next day’s premieres.
Reality set in when she’d sauntered into one of his afternoon football practices and kissed him in front of the team. Part of his deal was to be her beard, so to speak, to keep guys from hitting on her once they knew Matt was out of the picture. While he didn’t like Matt in the least, David felt like a complete douche nonetheless.
The team had stood in stunned silence as she kissed him. A whole soap opera had exploded into existence moments later as the rumors began to fly. David would neither confirm nor deny anything but one fact: he had not made a move on Crystal before she and Matt broke up. David knew Matt wouldn’t take it well, and he didn’t need to make it worse by letting him think David had actively had a hand in ending their relationship.
Everyone assumed they were doing the deed because one of Cassidy’s rowing teammates had spotted Crystal leaving his bedroom one morning. Before Crystal even made it down the stairs, that little factoid was all over the USC campus.
David was rather proud of himself for resisting temptation while having a very naked Crystal in his bed each night for the past seven days. That didn’t mean that the sexual beast hadn’t encouraged Mr. Happy to try to wrench control of the body from the big brain on several occasions.
“Ben Cowley has gotten himself into some hot water with his PA,” David explained.
Crystal didn’t seem interested.
“Since I’m up, I might as well go take a shower,” Crystal announced and began to crawl over David.
He found her tits rubbing across his chest. Mr. Happy tended to be half hard around her at all times and was suddenly trying to drill a hole in her navel.
“What the fuck?”
“It’s closer to get out on your side of the bed,” Crystal said as she looked David in the eyes. “If you wanted to save some water …”
She screamed in surprise when David grabbed her and rolled them over so he had her pinned to the mattress. He grabbed a condom, and Crystal soon found herself stuffed with his cock as Mr. Happy had played bloodhound and found her wet opening.
Going a week without, after what at times had seemed like constant sex with Colleen, had finally caught up with him.
He came to his senses and looked down at a smiling Crystal.
“Finally,” was her answer to his unasked question.
◊◊◊
David had left her sound asleep after they’d had their fun. She might have been the best he’d ever had. Then again, it could have been the week-long buildup that clouded his judgment.
When he came downstairs, he found Cassidy, Ruth, Dare, and Corvus eating breakfast.
“Would you be willing to allow us to set up our VR cameras in your bedroom? We might have another market …” Dare began seriously.
“No!” Cassidy growled before David ended his nerd friend’s life.
David knew exactly what Dare was thinking. Dare was confused because the socially inept twerp wasn’t sure what he’d said to get Cassidy riled up. But Dare kept his mouth shut because he was, in fact, afraid of Cassidy. Dare knew David wouldn’t hit him, but he’d seen her take down her share of boys. Dare didn’t want to end up on the kitchen floor, squealing like a little girl.
“I’m not going to let you film porn with me starring. Now, if you or Corvus want to star, have at it,” David said.
“We could go get tacos,” Corvus suggested.
“I don’t know. Uh … ‘buying tacos’ is starting to be expensive. Cassidy said it might be cheaper to just marry her,” Dare said.
David held it in as long as he could. He busted out laughing as he gave Cassidy a fist bump. Then he got serious.
“Before either of you goes home, you’re going to get tested for STIs.”
Both nerds had the same realization at the same time. They got up and had their heads together, whispering as they went upstairs.
“I wish I’d thought of that one. Hopefully, they’ll be willing to get something other than tacos for lunch,” Cassidy said.
And then she turned her eyes on David. He held up his hands.
“She’s moving out either today or tomorrow. I’ll lend her my car so she can do it as soon as possible,” David promised.
“Good, because Ruth had to stop Dare from breaking into your room this morning. He thought Crystal was hurt.”
Even Ruth laughed.
David had given his security woman permission to fill Cassidy in on the Crystal situation. He’d caught wind of a pool to see when the two of them would break and finally sleep together.
“Who won the bet?” David asked.
Cassidy pulled out her phone to check.
“Chloe.”
David took a moment to think which one she was. Then it came to him: she was Veronica’s sister. The girl with iron-straight curtains of perfect dark hair reminded him of the sky on a moonless night.
David’s calendar reminder pinged. He had to leave for his vodcast.
◊◊◊
“Duke! Buddy!” David said happily as the dog rushed to him for some loving.
When Duke hadn’t appeared on his Elite 11 vodcast, there had been an outpouring of disappointment on social media. His parents had agreed to bring his dog to his remaining shows. While Duke got the attention he wanted, David spotted an unexpected guest.
“Uncle John!”
“Your dad was invited to play golf, and your mom is … uh … busy. So, I volunteered to bring him.”
David stood up, and the two of them hugged.
“You must be here for my birthday.”
“I am, but I’m under strict orders to not talk to you about it.”
“That’s fine, but I have something I need to talk out. Would you be willing to chat?” David asked.
“Sure.”
David took Duke and his uncle out of the room, and they found an empty classroom. David shared with him the drama and potential fallout of the Ben and Lexi mess.
“Tell me what’s really on your mind,” Uncle John requested.
David saw that he’d changed tactics since they’d last talked. Instead of digging for feelings, it was the radical-acceptance technique school counselors were so fond of—which his uncle had been. Accept reality. Your feelings are to be felt. Et cetera, et cetera …
“I plan to talk to Ben before the show and hear what he has to say before I decide if I freeze him out or not,” David said.
“And …”
“I hate you,” David admitted. “There are two sides to the story, so I have to talk to Lexi as well.”
Uncle John nodded knowingly, as though David had finally gotten the correct answer on a test. And he had, in a way.
“Fine. I don’t have a lot of time, so I have to get going,” David said.
“They’ve put me in the front row. I’ll keep track of Duke until then,” Uncle John offered.
“Just let him loose. He knows everyone, and they all like him.”
David wasn’t surprised when Duke followed him to go look for Ben.
◊◊◊
“We need to talk,” David said as soon as he found his quarry.
Ben looked wary but followed David to the room he’d just left. Duke found some people willing to pet him, so he stayed behind to soak it up.
“Isabel is determined to fuck me over,” Ben said when they were finally alone.
“I honestly don’t blame her. I’m not too happy with you, either.”
“Look, man, I don’t blame you. Lexi and I hooked up in what I thought was going to be a onetime event. Then she calls me and tells me she’s pregnant,” Ben shared.