Above and Beyond (Twist of Fate 4)

But in that moment I didn’t give a shit about what he wanted. I remembered the slight stumble he’d made when the man had pulled him off the dance floor. I remembered the goofy grin he’d flashed that proved he was probably as drunk as Min had claimed him to be.

“Lucky,” I barked, startling both of them. The jock jumped back and looked at me in confusion before glancing back at Lucky. Lucky swiveled his head to face me without taking it off the bricks. His dark hair stood up in a swirl from the move. I thought I saw some unnamed emotion flash in his eyes as he stared at me, but it was gone just like that and the same goofy grin from before returned to his full lips.

“Zachary. What are you doing here?” He turned to the jock. “Zach’s here. Isn’t he sexy as fuck? Don’t tell him though.” Lucky’s grin dropped and was replaced by a furrowed brow and a frown. “We don’t ever want him to think we like him like that even if he makes my stinger swell.”

My heart tightened.

The jock’s eyes flicked between us again. “Dude, I didn’t know he had a boyfriend.”

“He doesn’t,” I admitted just as Lucky said, “I don’t.”

The man laughed and stepped back from Lucky with his hands up. “Mixed messages, bruh. Drama ain’t my thing. I think you’re a doll, but I also like my own face, know what I mean?”

Lucky’s drunken grin reappeared. “S’okay, Rafe. He’s not as mean as he looks. He has teddy bear boxer shorts with little pink hearts on them, but shhhh. He doesn’t know I saw them in the laundry.”

He whispered that last part and put his finger up to his lips, almost poking himself under the chin in the process. The jock’s face softened and he reached out to pull Lucky’s hand away before leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. It took all of my self-control not to launch myself at him and yank him back.

When he stepped back from Lucky again, he gestured for me to come closer. “I’m guessing if he knows about your bear trunks, you’re close enough for me to trust you to get him home safely?”

Heat flooded my face. I had an explanation for the ridiculous briefs but I wasn’t about to explain that to this guy. “Yeah. I’m a family friend.”

The guy looked like a puzzle piece snapped into place. “This your Ranger, cutie pie?”

Lucky’s forehead creased. “No. He’s not my anything. My pain in the ass, maybe. My fucking chaperone, obviously. My…” He sighed as he seemed to lose track of what he was saying.

I overcame my annoyance long enough to reach out a hand to the guy. While I wanted to beat the shit out of him for hooking up with someone too drunk to know what the hell he was doing, it was clear the jock was just as far gone. “Thanks. You need an Uber or something?”

“Nah, gonna go back in and dance more.” With a ruffle to Lucky’s hair, he was gone.

Lucky narrowed his eyes at me. “Block cocker.”

My snort took me by surprise. “I believe the term is cockblocker, and you’re in no shape to—”

He held up a hand, cutting me off. “So help me god, if you give me a lecture about consent and alcol… alcol… alcohol consumption, I’m going to…” He couldn’t come up with the right word, so he just finished with a menacing growl. Or what he probably hoped was a menacing growl.

It was more like an adorable cub growl like a teddy bear would make. I must have laughed or given him some kind of look.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” I asked, reaching for his hand. He let me take it without resistance, and I led him around the building to where I’d parked the car. I tried like hell not to notice how strong his hand felt in mine. Not delicate or soft, just… strong.

“Like I’m a kid, godsdammmit.” His words slurred together. “I’ve had sex!” The words were loud enough to get the attention from nearby students partying on the front lawn of a big house. They hooted and hollered their congratulations to him, some lifting up various Solo cups to cheer him on.

Lucky turned his face into my chest with an embarrassed groan. “That wasn’t good,” he muttered into my shirt.

Before I could stop myself, I tightened my arm around him and held him close, enjoying the brief feel of his body against mine. Just like his hand, his shoulders felt different than I would have guessed. Like they could carry much more weight than I ever would have imagined. And while the skin of his biceps felt hot and silky beneath my fingers, there was no denying the sleek definition of his muscles.