“I think my brain is broken.” Chris Jensen slammed his textbook shut and laid his head back on the chair he reclined in.

“You’ve been studying for, what, half an hour without complaining? That has to be a new record,” Ava Normandy teased as she gazed up at him from her position stretched out on the bed. Chris was notorious for complaining while they studied, but he was always the first to suggest they crack open the books when exams and finals came up.

“More like thirty-four minutes.” Javier Martinez glanced up from his textbook and smiled at his frustrated friend from where he lay on the other side of the bed.

“My brain still feels broken.” Chris shook his head and toyed with the edge of the smooth, reflective cover of the textbook. “I hate exams.”

“We all do,” Ava commiserated as she scanned the pages in front of her. “But we still have one left, then—”

“Freedom,” Javier cut in as he too dropped his gaze back down to his textbook and continued to read.

“Freedom.” Ava nodded at Chris again. “By tomorrow night we’ll all be free.”

“I know, I know,” he muttered and flipped open his book with a resigned sigh.

“Just think, last exams until another summer of freedom, then one more year and we’re done.” Ava grinned as she glanced between the two men. When she had met the boys eight years ago on the first day of junior high, she’d known there was something special about them, but she could have never known they would be the best friends she could have ever asked for?

“What exam do you have tomorrow?” Chris asked suddenly.

“Particle Physics,” Ava answered without lifting her eyes. They were all aware of what exams the others were writing but Chris had a habit of needing to break the silence when he was bored. “But you knew that.”

“Biochemical Properties.” Javier looked up. “What about you, Chris, what exam are you taking tomorrow?” he asked, playing along.

“Microeconomics. Do you realize how dumb I feel studying with the two of you?” he asked. “All of my classes sound boring and easy compared to yours.”

“Javier and I are in sciences. You’re in business,” Ava soothed, still not taking her eyes off her textbook. “You know we’d be lost if we walked into a management or economics course.”

“Maybe.” Chris dropped his gaze back down to his textbook.

Ava grinned at Chris. He and Javier were two of the smartest people she’d ever met and even though he liked to complain how his business degree wasn’t as impressive as their science ones, they all knew he was just as smart as they were and was complaining for the sake of complaining.

“I’m done.” Chris snapped his book shut and tossed it onto the hardwood floor. The book landed with a loud smacking sound that made both Ava and Javier jump. “Stick a fork in me.”

Ava noted at the clock next to her queen-sized bed and nodded. It was getting late and she was tired of studying too. She was doing well in this class and with all the reviewing she’d already done she wasn’t worried.

She also tossed her book onto the floor and rolled over so she was lying on her back looking at both Chris and Javier.

“I was just waiting for someone else to say it.” Javier set his book aside. “I was done long ago.”

“And you didn’t think to say anything?” Chris asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No, I knew you’d do it eventually, slacker.” He laughed and ducked as Chris threw his notebook at him.

“Now, boys,” she cut in with mock sternness, “play nice or I’ll have to separate you.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they said together, appearing properly abashed.

“Good.” She suddenly remembered something she’d been meaning to mention to Javier. “Your mom called me this afternoon,” she said to him.

“What did she want?” he asked, not surprised at all by the announcement. After being best friends for eight years they were all close with Javier’s and Chris’ families.

“To wish me luck on my exam and to talk.” She grinned. “I think your grandmother is starting to drive her a little crazy.”

“Abuela is certainly good at that.” Javier chuckled. “I’m not sure any of them really thought out what having her move in would do to the family dynamic,” he added as Ava laughed.

“Did your dad manage to get you that job at the company?” Chris asked Javier as he propped his feet up on the bed in front of him.

“It fell through.” Javier shrugged. “Seems the boss felt it was better to give his own son a summer job than someone else’s kid.”

“Sorry, man.” Chris shook his head. “That’s a tough break.”

“Do you have anything else lined up?” Ava asked.

Javier shook his head. “No. I’ll have to find something when I get home. But it’s not a big deal.”

Ava looked at her friend and a wave of guilt washed over her. She’d never had to work a day and could easily spend her life in luxury without having to earn a dime of her own money. Her parents were rich corporate executives who spent all their time and put all their efforts into accumulating wealth and seemed to think a trust fund made up for not being around as she’d grown up.

She didn’t want that life. She’d seen what obsessions with money and power did to people and to families and she’d decided long ago she wasn’t going to be a part of that world. She was getting her degree so she could get a good job and earn her living. While she felt little remorse when spending her parents’ money now and knew she wouldn’t turn her back on it in the future, she had an intense need to prove her own worth and to prove that she was fully capable and could make it on her own.

She saw how much Javier’s family struggled and she didn’t think it was fair how her family had so much while there were so many good people out there who had so little. Even Chris’ family struggled and they were much better off than Javier’s, but one thing about her friends was how they didn’t see her for her money and they never held what she had against her.

She glanced between them and smiled at how relaxed and comfortable everyone was. She may have never felt as though her parents loved her, but she had two incredible men who did.

“You going to stay with your mom or dad this summer?” Javier asked, changing the subject.

“Not sure yet.” Chris ran a hand through his blond hair with practiced ease. “Both houses are kinda full now and I don’t have a bedroom in either place anymore. Not sure which brother would drive me the least crazy after being on my own for three years.”

“Yeah, I am not looking forward to moving back in,” Javier agreed. “After all this freedom it’s hard to get back with the family for four months, especially since I don’t have a bedroom either, not unless I want to bunk in with my grandmother.” He glanced over at Ava as she rolled onto her stomach and started kicking her feet up in the air thoughtfully. “You staying here this summer or moving back in with the parents?”

“Well, this place is paid up for me if I want to move back into my parents’ house this summer—that way I won’t lose it. But there’s no point staying here if you guys are going home.”

“Do you realize that after this we only have one more year before we graduate?” Chris asked suddenly.

“I know, surreal, isn’t it? Seems like just yesterday we were graduating from St Maria Theresa,” she mused. “The best thing about getting out of high school was finally getting out of that uniform.”

“Definitely,” Javier agreed.

“It’s so nice to be able to choose your own clothes,” Chris agreed.

“Yeah, and to be able to wear pants whenever I want,” Ava said with a laugh. “Four years I had to wear stockings, Mary Janes and that damn kilt.”

“Yeah, but that kilt was the best part of school,” Javier teased her.

“Four years of getting to glance up the stairwells and see which girls wore boxers under and which girls gave us a free show.” Chris laughed. “My teenage hormones loved every second.”

“Pervs.” She giggled as she shook her head and looked between the two of them.

“Teenagers.” Javier grinned.

“That school did ruin me for blue and white though,” Chris mused.

“So true,” Ava agreed. “For the life of me I cannot bring myself to wear blue and white together.”

“Same,” Javier said and lay down on the bed with his chin resting on his hands. He glanced over at the clock. “It’s getting late,” he pointed out.

Her and Javier’s exams were at nine the next morning and Chris’ started at nine-thirty. It was almost midnight and she had to admit she was getting tired.

“Can we crash?” Chris asked as he checked his watch. “I really don’t feel like heading back to the dorms.”

“Same,” Javier agreed.

“Of course,” Ava said as she sat up. “I set the alarm for seven, is that enough time?” Two hours was usually enough for the three of them to get up, shower, eat and get to campus, but she knew Javier was a little more conservative when it came to time allowances and he would probably think that was cutting it close.

“Six-thirty should do it.” Javier stood and stretched. “I’ll take the first shower.”

“Second,” Ava cut in before Chris could say anything.

“There’d better be hot water left for me or I swear I’ll…” He paused as he searched for an appropriate threat.

“Complain some more?” Ava asked sweetly as she headed over to her dresser and opened the second drawer. She took out two pairs of men’s cotton pajama pants and two white T-shirts.

“Probably.” Chris broke into a grin. “But I’ll do it really loud and right in your ear while you’re trying to sleep,” he added as, with one hand, he caught the clothes she tossed at him.

“Understood.” Ava shook her head and threw Javier his pajamas. He had just finished resetting her alarm to go off half an hour earlier.

“Good to know,” he added as he started to strip off his clothes.

As the boys changed Ava rummaged around in her dresser for her pajamas. Left to her own devices she preferred to sleep in the nude, but when she had the boys over she dressed in night clothes.

She stripped out of her jeans and T-shirt and slipped on a pair of cotton boy-cut short shorts and a cotton tank top. It was as close to nude as she could get while still covering up. She brushed out her long brown hair and contemplated weaving it into a braid for the night but quickly decided not to when she couldn’t find an elastic band to use.

When they were all dressed for bed Ava pulled back the sheets as Chris turned on the bedside lamp and Javier turned off the overhead light.

She crawled into the middle of the bed and lay on her right side, facing the left side of the bed while Chris climbed in behind her and Javier slipped in front of her. It took a moment for the three of them to get into the familiar positions but soon they were comfortable and still.

Chris lay behind Ava with his front inches from her back and his arm draped in the dip of her waist. The heat of his body radiated onto her skin as she imagined how close his lean, long body was to hers. She felt safe and protected. She sighed as he gripped her waist gently and tugged her back the slightest bit so she was even closer to him.

Javier lay in front of her, facing her with his hand on her hip and his body only inches from hers. She suppressed a grin as she trailed her gaze over him. Both of her friends were gorgeous and while Javier was a touch leaner and a tad shorter than Chris’ six-foot frame, they were close to the same size, but that was where their similarities ended.

She loved Javier’s dark Latin look. She loved how deep his black eyes were, how his skin always seemed tan and sun-kissed and how he kept his thick black hair on the longer side but still neat. She thought he looked like a Latin heartthrob or movie star. He knew how to turn on the charm and when he wanted to he could be smoldering.

Chris’ breath tickled her back and she resisted the urge to wiggle closer to him. Chris was a classic boy-next-door and he knew how to use his apparent innocence and charm to talk his way into or out of anything. He also had incredible eyes. They were a brilliant shade of green and she loved to get lost in them.

Every time they went out, the boys turned heads and they were never lacking in female, and even male, attention.

“Good night, boys,” Ava said, snuggling deeper into her pillow and rested one hand against Javier’s strong chest as she slipped her foot between Chris’ shins. The bed might have been queen-sized but this was how the three of them always slept when they shared a bed, and they’d been sleeping together for years.

“Good night.” Javier shifted and pulled the blanket higher up his body.

“Good night.” Chris turned around and flipped off the light, plunging the room into darkness.