And I was. Panting. Lots of panting.
Then he pulled back, a smug smile on his face. My heart was racing, and I knew I was flushed in the face.
He did that on purpose. As much for himself and me, as well as for those bitches.
Leaning back in, he whispered over my lips, “I love you.”
I whispered back, fisting the front of his shirt, “I know.”
He drew back, his hand sweeping down my back. Tugging me against his side, his arm went back to my shoulder and I felt good and anchored to his side. I loved him, and I loved that, too.
Cain’s soccer team won.
Blaise was the MVP, but according to everyone’s reactions, that was common around here. We were leaving, heading to the parking lot with Aspen beside our group when a couple guys were moving to head us off. Cross and I saw them at the same time.
Cross saying, “Jordan,” the same time I spoke, “Heads-up.”
Jordan and Zellman looked, and both slowed.
Aspen was frowning, looking from the guys to us, and back again.
She didn’t say anything, moving so she was behind me more. Smart.
Zellman said to us, “Harper’s frat brothers.”
Cross made a low noise. “Blaise found me on campus today.”
All of us looked at him, our heads whipping around.
His eyes were guarded. “Harper’s back at the frat, called a meeting.”
Zellman scoffed.
Jordan’s mouth fell open an inch. “You’re telling us this now?”
Cross shrugged. “Kinda had other pertinent shit happening, you know.” The glance toward me was noticed, by everyone.
Aspen moved so she was more in our circle. She cast a look my way, her eyes concerned. Her eyebrows pulled low together. “Something to do with you?”
I tried giving her a reassuring grin, but I knew it fell flat. From what Blaise had said, Aspen wasn’t aware of what Harper did that was about her. Blaise was still unclear what exactly happened. Whatever it was, I met Cross’ look, and he nodded to the side.
I followed his wavelength and cleared my throat. “Uh, Aspen—”
“I got her.” Jordan’s comment came out abrupt and harsh sounding. His gaze was hard, leveled on the two guys approaching. He added under his breath, “I don’t trust myself when they start bringing up Harper’s name. I gotta bounce.” He made a concerted effort to soften his look and his voice when he said to Aspen, “You like coffee?”
“I love coffee.”
He motioned to the side. “Let’s grab some for everyone. Think your man wants one?”
They started to walk off, but Aspen turned, sending me a look over her shoulder. She wasn’t dumb, not a bit, and judging by the awareness, she also wasn’t scared. But, still, she went with Jordan and we heard her say, “Blaise will love anything I buy him. He’s that kind of boyfriend to me.”
A surprised laugh rippled from Jordan. He responded, but I couldn’t hear it.
As if a collective subconscious thought went through us, all three of us turned and moved to wait for the two fraternity brothers. Jesus. They even looked like the stereotypical frat brother. Were those loafers? I wasn’t up on my rich asshole footwear apparel. But they had the firm jawlines, meathead necks, etc. I wasn’t trying to be dismissive, but I already didn’t like that Harper guy, and throw in Zeke? Hell. Blaise was still a question mark, too.
I was going to be a bit negative about them.
But these guys stepped close, now within talking distance.
A few girls were around us. They were sending us furtive looks.
Wait.
I recognized one. She was the girl who’d opened the door that day, tan handprint on her stomach, when I went to talk to Tabatha. I was betting that the entire group was made up of Tabatha’s sisters, and that made me take more notice of them.
They weren’t looking at the guys fondly. Like, at all.
The handprint girl definitely had frost in her gaze as she was tracking the two guys.
Oh yeah. That made things a whole lot more interesting. I was taking note that I needed to give Tabatha a call, see how she was doing and get a feel of her sorority’s feelings on this whole matter.
“Harper said he wasn’t supposed to talk.”
That was the greeting from the guy in the green polo. He announced it as if it were this great big proclamation we all needed to tremble from. Then his eyes went right to me, and they grew hard. “But he did.”
The pink polo shirt guy bristled, his hand jerking into a fist before he stuffed it in his pocket.
“Harper talked, huh?”
The guys looked at Zellman. The bristling guy’s eyes widened a fraction of an inch. He shifted back as if he’d not been expecting that from Zellman, or that Zellman would be the one to even speak first.
The green guy raised his chin up. “Thought we were cool?”