Beautiful Brute (Court University 3)

Let the reception begin.

Champagne toasts and high spirits filled the night, first dances and stolen kisses in the air. More than one of us escaped off to the more, um, secluded areas of Windsor House with our girls. It was a house once full of secrets, and though tarnished by histories in the past, tonight it was nothing but a place of celebration. I kept Cleo close every reasonable moment I could, but couldn’t keep her all night. I had to let her go when the band called for the bouquet toss, but that didn’t mean I was happy about it.

“Hurry back,” I made her promise, so into this boyfriend shit it wasn’t even funny. My buddy LJ had been right. Once this shit happened, it just happened and there was no fighting it.

She dropped her arms around me. “Would it bother you if I caught it? The bouquet?”

We were all well aware of what it meant once a girl got the bouquet. It meant she was supposed to be next, one of us guys next.

I gave her a tap on the ass, telling her my answer. If I honestly thought the world and our parents wouldn’t find us both fucking crazy for wanting to get married after only three months of dating, I already would have done it. The ‘rents were all cool about us dating, but getting married? Probably should let them get used to this scenario a little longer first. Cleo and I both also still had a semester left of school and since we?

?d been able to catch up despite what had happened last term, I didn’t think either of us wanted to get too distracted planning a wedding on top of schooling.

But after all that? Well, who knew, but I think we both did. This girl had one of my kidneys so she might as well just bide the time before I asked.

Like she knew my thoughts, she kissed me, saying she loved me. I returned the same before pushing her on to the group of crazy women clustering on the dance floor. Billie and Greer were already out there like a pack of hungry lionesses, and when Cleo joined, hunkering down, I had a feeling one of them was getting that bouquet.

“Finally decided to let her go, kidney boy?”

This from Knight Reed, lead asshole on the charge of my new pet name.

I’d gotten to hear from all the guys about that shit once I’d finally healed and they’d realized I wasn’t going to die. The ragging had gone on for weeks, but honestly? I think they all were just a pack of sick fucks who were pissed I’d gotten to look like the hero when they hadn’t been able to do that for their own women. Even Royal had grunted when he explained December had been going on and on about how “romantic” the gesture had been. My friends were jealous as hell, and I rubbed that shit in their faces whenever I could.

“Don’t hate me because you ain’t me,” I said, popping my collar.

Knight got me under his arm, but didn’t do it as rough as he might have normally. I think all the guys were being a little lax about the roughhousing since I’d had surgery, but I wasn’t going to complain about not getting my ass kicked. If I could get away with calling them shit and ragging on them and they didn’t retaliate? That was a fucking win for me.

He relaxed his arm as the other guys fell in, all of us standing around at a couple cocktail tables. It was prime viewing for the Hunger Games across the dance floor over there and LJ had even brought us all a platter of beers.

The groom himself took back a Heineken, grinning like a fool all day. Midas himself wasn’t a happier man, and all of us would be damn lucky to even have a smidgen of what he felt on what was clearly the happiest day of his life.

I had a feeling we were all in store for that, and as we watched December head to the front of the dance floor, we all laser-focused our attention. Serious as hell, I don’t think LJ, Knight, or me breathed in that moment. December tossed the bouquet, and our heads all flew, even Royal’s.

The four of us stood from the table as December, who apparently had A-Rod’s arm, launched that thing so far it glided over the sea of screaming women and toward the person lounging casually against the wall. I hadn’t seen Ramses Mallick all night.

But if that fucker didn’t catch the bouquet.

He looked surprised himself, pushing off the wall with a wobbling grin. An audible groan could be heard from all the women who’d missed, but suddenly, he was the most popular guy in town when like all the girls—well, all but our girls—rushed over to him and started instantly chatting him up.

I had to say, the fucker was pretty hot shit when we’d been in high school, being the former mayor’s kid and all that. I mean, he wasn’t us, but he got around the block a bit.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” LJ said, laughing before taking a swig of his beer. He pushed it down. “Fucker ain’t even show up with a date and he’s drowning in pussy.”

I’d say, laughing with the other guys. We clinked our beers before raising them.

“To whoever’s next after Mallick, I guess,” Royal said, his shoulders bumping in laughter before taking a drink. He gestured his beer toward me. “Will it be you, kidney boy? We’ve all noticed your ring on Cleo’s thumb.”

And it hadn’t left since I’d given it to her, wouldn’t just like their rings would leave their girls. December had even placed hers as part of her bouquet, a special one that obviously hadn’t gone to Mallick’s ass.

I shrugged. “I’m not opposed to it.”

“You better fucking not. At least, not right now and make us look like assholes.” Knight waved between LJ and himself. “You already donated a kidney to the girl. Why don’t you let LJ or me have this one?”

“Yeah, I’d never hear the end of that shit if you got married first.” LJ chuckled. “Billie would have my ass.”

“Only after Greer gave me back my balls.” Knight grunted. He shot a finger at me. “No proposing. Not until you ask us first.”

“Aww.” I batted my eyes. “I didn’t know you guys felt that way about me. But two handsome suitors vying for my heart?” I put my hands together dramatically. “How will I ever decide between you both?”