“I’m your friend.”
“No, you’re not! I don’t throw that word around easily. I don’t let a lot of those in, and even less since I had one turn his back on me. You’re a roommate, and you’re an acquaintance, and you’re a hangout friend. My real friends, they don’t push. Maybe it’s too much that I’m asking for that consideration, but I’m not in your business. I’m not asking who you’re fucking or how you and her or him are doing? I don’t do that. I don’t wade into people’s business unless they’ve made it known that’s what they want. I don’t do friendship contracts. You want to fuck me? Is that what this is about?”
“If he doesn’t, I wouldn’t mind a go.”
I tensed.
Flynn Carrington was coming from his vehicle. A few other Alpha Mu guys had ridden with him, including his little brother, who was frowning at me.
Wade stepped closer to me. “Carrington.”
He didn’t pause as he walked past us. “Kressup. You throwing your hat in the ring?”
I growled, but Wade touched my arm, blocking me from the rest of the guys as they passed. “Imagine that. You being a dick. The world spins another day.”
His little brother stopped at Flynn’s question, glanced my way, back to his brother, before throwing me an inscrutable look.
“Look at that. Dry sarcasm. Good for you.” Flynn turned to walk backwards, his smirk a half grin. “By the way, how’s your girl? Oh wait…” The grin was gone, and it was just a smirk.
Wade tensed. “You mean Rosa, the girl I liked before she woke up in your bed, naked and no memory how she got there? That girl? Who was so devastated after her medical exam that she quit school and moved back home?”
Oh whoa!
I had my own gut instincts, as well as so many others saying something. But to hear it confirmed and from another guy, that was major.
Flynn ground to a halt. “Those are big words to throw around unless you got proof to back it up?”
Wade’s face was like cement. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? You say your place doesn’t have cameras. Her friend said she wandered in there alone.”
“I was never in my room that night. I’m the one who found her. Remember?” His gaze was hard right back. “I never touched your friend.” His eyes slid to mine, taking in Wade’s hand on my arm. “Funny. I thought she was already spoken for. Look at you, Little Daniels, getting all these guys to line up for you. Guess they’re all content to wait for their turn. Just so you know, I’m not a wait-in-line kind of guy.”
“You fucking asshole.” Wade started for him.
I got in between them, my back to Carrington, and I placed my hands on Wade’s chest. “Stop.” I said it low and calm, but insistent. “You can’t get into a fight with him, not guys like him.”
Wade was grinding his teeth.
I dug in. “He’s too connected, Wade. Too much money. Too much family influence. Trust me. I know guys like him. How he’s acting, he knows he can get away with almost anything right now.” As much as I was trying to talk Wade into having a cooler head, my heart ached for that Rosa girl.
His nostrils flared, but Wade stopped pushing.
Carrington laughed as he went inside, “Thanks for having my back, Daniels. I owe you one.”
I glared at him, but he was gone. All his brothers too. His little brother stood to the side. Our eyes met, and he flinched, looking away.
“I don’t want Miller coming to our house anymore.”
I tucked my hands back to my side. “I’m not the one inviting him, and he’s not Carrington. He’s not a predator.”
Wade’s eyes were still a little feral. “Aren’t they all?”
“No. They aren’t.”
He growled. “You know what? Your idea to cut and run, good choice after all.” He gestured beyond me. “I can’t go in there or I’ll be leaving in handcuffs, but, God, if I go and study right now, I’ll be thinking about him and what he did to Rosa.”
“A bar,” I said it, not thinking.
His gaze sharpened on me. “What?”
“We should go to a bar. Lots of stimuli. It’ll help keep your mind off of Carrington and your friend.” I lifted a shoulder, knowing, just knowing I should’ve kept my mouth shut. “We can study there. Great idea, right?”
It was a horrible idea.
32
MARA
Wade suggested a local bar that didn’t look too closely at ID cards. Worked for me.
It was a pub with a whole section for games, with an inside room that was sports heaven. I counted thirty televisions mounted, most with a different sport playing too. Wade grabbed a high top in the corner.
The server was nice. She barely glimpsed my fake, so we ordered water and beer. It was thirty minutes later, after we’d gotten through an entire chapter for abnormal psych when another roomie came in. Darren, and he brought a whole group with him. I was assuming football players judging by their height and weight. Big guys, or most were big.
“What up, roomies?” Darren snagged a chair at a table. A guy slipped into the other seat that Darren introduced as QB1, their starting quarterback. His teammates or friends filled the rest of the spots. Another group of guys showed up, and soon we took up half the section. It wasn’t long after that when the girls started coming over.
The first pitcher of beer was gone within five minutes.
“If I knew you were their roommate, the entire team would’ve been hanging out at Darren’s house all year long. Sorry, but damn, are you fine.”
“She just moved in this semester,” Wade said, reaching for the next pitcher.
“Don’t encourage him.” Darren shot Wade a look.
Wade shrugged, filling his cup, my cup, and the QB1’s cup. Darren wasn’t drinking.
“Don’t matter. She’s taken.”
“What?” QB1 spit out his beer, leaning back in his stool. He gave me a once-over. “Say it ain’t so.”
I frowned at him. “What’s your name?”
“Kyle.” He leaned in. “What’s yours?”
“You already know her name.” Darren bent his head into his textbook.
“Tell me again. I want to hear how you say it.”
“Call me Daniels.”
“Daniels, huh? That a nickname or something? Something only your best buds call you?”
“Yes.” I gave him a flat look. “It’s special, just for you.”
“Daniels!”
“I stand corrected.” I straightened in my seat as Gavin came around the side. He threw an arm around my shoulder, giving me a one-sided hug. “What’s up? Why are you here?”
“Wade needed a distraction, and I heard studying in a bar was the best type.”
“Fuck yeah, it is.” He turned for QB1/Kyle. “Hey, man. How’s it going?”
“Miller.” They gave each other a fist pound.
Of course they were friends.
Gavin did the same with Darren and Wade, then moved to the next table, repeating. None of the guys were surprised at seeing him.
I frowned. “Does Miller ever study?”