“Not my type. She literally walked up to me and asked if I was wearing space pants because my ass was outta this world.”
I can’t hide the way my mouth twists in disgust. “Oh dear, that’s awful. I thought guys cornered the market on horrible pick-up lines. I was in the library yesterday, and some guy told me he was glad he’d found what he was looking for because he was ready to ‘check me out.’ ” I use air quotes.
“I apologize on behalf of all mankind for that awful approach.” Wes’s face is serious.
“That’s not the worst. Are your breasts Mt. Rushmore? Because I can picture my face on them.”
“Some asshole actually said that to you?”
There’s this look of horror and amusement on his face that makes me giggle. “Not here. That was back in Los Angeles.” I run my palm over my hair and sweep it over my shoulder. “Listen, Wes, you don’t have to babysit me. I’ve been around the proverbial block enough to know when a guy is a total creeper.”
“Nah, I’m good.” Wes smirks while raising his eyes. He’s just sitting here, so cool and casual, like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
I want to slap him in his perfect face.
“You do realize, her actual brother is nowhere to be seen, right?” Matt says, obviously watching the scene that just unfolded between Wes and me.
“Never fear—he’s here. He’s just busy with his own piece. So, I volunteered to watch this one.”
“Piece?” I yell out at Wes’s crude statement. “Did you just call Nicole his piece?”
His face falls, and I think he actually feels guilty enough that he brings his bravado down a little. “You know what I meant.”
“You meant, piece of ass. You’re calling her his piece of ass. I’m sure she’d love to hear that, or better yet, why don’t you go find your own ‘piece,’ ” I say with air quotes like I did before, “and let me be?”
I try to stand, but Wes pulls me back down. “Relax, Squid. I’m just joking around. Let’s just chill and have a drink.”
“If I had a drink, I’d toss it in your face right now.”
“Come on. You’re overreacting. I just don’t want you getting involved with any of these losers.” He crosses his arms again.
I’m beginning to wonder if this is his only stance when we’re at places like this.
“I should be the one to determine if they’re worth my time or not. Even Chad knows I’m gonna talk to guys.”
“Not at this party. There’s not a single guy here I’d give my blessing to.”
“That’s quite the broad statement.”
“I know everyone here. They’re all off-limits.”
I match his body language and cross my arms the same way. How can someone say something so rude and yet so nice at the same time? Honestly, my head is just too frazzled for these games. “Fine then. If I don’t get to talk to anyone, then neither do you.”
Matt laughs, making Wes’s jaw twitch. His eyes stare into mine, daring me to say something else. I know Wes; he likes to have fun, but even more, he loves a challenge. If he’s gonna mess with me, I’m gonna mess with him.
“You guys have some issues to work out. I’m gonna go.” Matt gets up and walks away, but I don’t take my eyes from Wes’s.
“Are you ready for a taste of your own medicine, Wesley Delmont?”
“Bring it, Stacey Marie.”
Our eyes stay glued on each other, daring the other to look away first. What starts out as anger slowly builds to more. I watch as his mouth parts ever so slightly. My heart rate speeds up as I rub my lips together.
Someone pushes into me, and I fall into Wes’s lap. He’s rock hard, and I’m steady as I place my hands on his chest and hold myself still. His large hand grips my hips to move me off of him, but they pause. His gaze is hot and heady. Maybe it’s the fact that we’ve been sparring all night, but this moment feels magnetic.
“Shit, sorry about that,” I hear someone say from behind me, knocking us out of the trance.
I turn to see what just happened when I notice Chad and Nicole are walking back toward us. I bolt up, needing some space to breathe and calm the flame bursting inside of me.
What the fuck is going on?
“Thirsty?” I ask Nicole as I take her hand and drag her into the kitchen.
I need space from Wes before I really lose my inhibitions—or my pride. If I don’t want to kiss him, I want to slap him.
All I do know is, one more challenge from Wes, and I’m bound to lose my shit on him. That would be a great way to introduce myself to the fraternity. I’d be known as the girl who went apeshit on a baseball player my first time here.
“You most definitely need a drink,” Nicole says as I pump the keg with vigor.
“Ha. Is it that obvious?”
“Who pissed in your Cheerios?” she asks while she holds our cups up, so I can fill them.
“Wes,” I state simply, and she grins.
“More like he’s pissing as if marking his territory,” she says as I take the cup from her and down it.
“What do you mean by that exactly?” I wipe my chin with the back of my hand.
She sighs. “You two have more sexual tension than you can shake a cow at.”
“That’s a weird saying.”
“What I mean is, you bet me twenty bucks that your brother and Wes were gonna keep you in some sort of virgin kennel when, really, Chad couldn’t care less. No offense.”
“None taken—I think.”
She pulls me over to the sidewall in the kitchen and leans in, so I can really hear her. “Listen, I’m gonna let you in on a little secret, but you have to promise not to tell Chad, just as I will swear not to tell him that you have a thing for Knight.”
“Ew. I do not have a thing for Wes. I grew up with him. He’s practically a brother.” Even as I say it, I know it’s a lie, and by the way she’s looking at me, she knows I’m full of shit. “Of course, I find him attractive. I mean, I’m not blind.”
She doesn’t seem convinced by my dismissive tone. “Well, believe me, he wants you. That’s why he treats you this way.”
“Nuh-uh. No way.” I shake my head, trying not to think of the moments we’ve had recently—or in the past.
She takes a breath in with a shit-eating grin on her face. “I’m telling you, that’s exactly what’s going on here. If you don’t believe it, prove me wrong. Test him.”
“Don’t need to because that’s not what’s happening here.”
“Okay, fine.” She folds her arms as she cocks a brow. “Then, explain to me why you care so much about what he thinks. What’s stopping you from taking any of these guys and hooking up in a corner?”
“I don’t want any of these guys.”
“Exactly,” she says like she just solved a mystery.
I roll my eyes. “You’re opening up Pandora’s box here, Nicole. You do not want to see what’s inside.”
“Fine, but do you want my advice or not on how to get Wes back for pulling the shit he’s done tonight?”