She nods, and he fills a cup for her, all but ignoring the other girls. I laugh softly. It’s that easy for her. I hang back while the girls pout, but their despair doesn’t last for long because suddenly, the energy in the room shifts, and their gazes are fixed on someone else. I look over my shoulder to see none other than Jesse Shepherd walking through the door. A couple of guys high-five him, and girls throw themselves in his path for a hug.
“Shep!” the guy with Halston calls out. Jesse gives him the bro nod, acknowledging him, and makes his way toward us. I quickly spin back around, hoping he doesn’t notice me standing here.
“What’s up, Sully?” Jesse asks.
Halston wrinkles her nose. “Sully?”
“Last name’s Sullivan,” he informs her. “But you can call me Daddy.” He tosses a wink at her.
I roll my eyes. That’s embarrassing.
I take a step backwards, trying to slip away without being seen, and accidentally back up into the girl behind me.
“Shit, sorry—” I start, but when I see who it is, the apology dies on my lips.
“Watch it,” Sierra snaps, shooting me a dirty look right before she tips her beer to slosh all over my Doc Martens. She doesn’t deem me worthy of any further attention, her focus quickly shifting back toward Jesse…who is now looking right at me, thanks to my clumsiness. Amusement gleams in his eyes, and I know he’s about to put on a show.
“That’s no way to talk to my girlfriend,” he admonishes, curling an arm around my hip, bringing my side flush with his. Halston’s eyes widen comically, shooting silent accusations my way. I didn’t tell her about what happened at Blackbear.
“I’m going back to the dorm to change shoes,” I tell Halston, lifting a foot to shake off the excess beer that’s now starting to seep into my socks.
“Do you want me to come?” she asks, torn between wanting details and staying to jump on her chance with Sullivan.
“It’s fine. I’ll be right back.”
She shakes her head, setting her cup down on the table. “It’s late. I’m not letting you walk back to Manzanita alone.”
“I’ll walk her,” Jesse says, and I whip my head around, shooting him a glare.
Halston smiles triumphantly. “Deal.”
“What…” I start, confused, but Jesse takes my hand, locking his fingers with mine. Like we’re a real couple. All eyes are on us, the odd pair, as we make our way toward the door. Me with my black, ripped skinny jeans, my dad’s jean jacket tied around my waist, and Doc Martens. Him with his backwards hat, fitted jeans, and a maroon shirt with his school’s name emblazoned across the front of his wide chest.
Once we’re outside, I drop his hand. “Thanks…for that,” I say, heading toward the girls’ dorms.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” he says, falling into step next to me. “Trying to ditch your boyfriend already?”
I stop short, cocking my head to the side as I study him, trying to figure out his angle. “What are you doing?”
“Walking you to your dorm,” he drawls out slowly, like the answer should be obvious.
“Why?”
“It’s late. Manzanita is across campus.” He ticks off the reasons.
“I’m not going to fuck you.” I narrow my eyes at him, crossing my arms over my chest.
Jesse’s lips tug upward into a grin and he chuckles as he looks me up and down. Jesus, he’s hot.“Okay.”
“Okay?” I ask, lifting a brow.
“Okay,” he repeats, sweeping an arm in front of him. “Lead the way.”
I eye him skeptically for a beat before turning back toward Halston’s dorm. Jesse hooks an arm around my shoulder, smirking down at me when I shoot him a glare, even though my stomach flips at his nearness.
“So, where’s your real boyfriend?”
It takes me a minute to realize who he’s referring to. “Who, Dylan? We’re just friends.”
“Friends who see each other naked?” he asks casually, as if asking about the weather.
“And that’s any of your business, how?”
“I’m just making conversation,” he says innocently.
“I already told you I’m not having sex with you,” I remind him.
“You think about having sex with me often? You sure bring it up a lot.”
My cheeks heat and I stare ahead. Jesse’s not exactly hard up for female attention, but if he’s not trying to hook up, then what is he doing?
Once at the entrance of Manzanita Hall, I pull away, leaning my back against the brick building, one hand on the door handle. “Thanks for walking me.”
Jess snorts out a laugh. “You’re not going back to the party, are you?”
“Probably not,” I admit. “Halston won’t miss me. Trust me.”
Jesse nods, giving me one last once-over before turning to leave, but then I hear a rustling in the bushes that has my hand jerking out to snatch his wrist of its own volition. Jesse’s eyes are amused, giving a pointed look at where my fingers clutch his arm.
“Did you hear that?” I ask.
Moving in slowly, he cages me in, bracing his right arm on the wall above my head, his left hand by my hip. He brings his lips close to my ear, and I fight the shiver that rolls through me. “It’s probably Sierra,” he says, his voice hushed and husky. I swallow hard, looking over his shoulder as he nuzzles closer. We both know it’s not Sierra. My pulse pounds in my ears as his mouth skims across my cheek, stopping at my parted lips. I don’t even know him. I should push him away. I should stop the charade. But instead, I find myself waiting for his next move.
“Is this convincing?” he asks. He’s so close that I can feel his breath on my lips, and I realize that I want him to close the distance. I want him to kiss me.
I give a slight shake of my head in response.
“No?” He smirks. His left hand leaves the wall to curl around my hip and presses his chest to mine. “How about this?”
“Almost,” I whisper. I wet my lips, and the tip of my tongue grazes his bottom lip. His expression goes from playful to heated in an instant, and then he closes the final distance. It’s soft at first, just a brush of his lips against mine, but then he’s cupping my face with both hands, tilting my head back as his tongue sweeps into my mouth.
My hands find his shirt, pulling him closer as his mouth fucks mine. Because that’s exactly what this is. This isn’t kissing. Or maybe it is, and I’ve been kissing the wrong boys.
Jesse groans, fitting a firm thigh between my legs, and the need bubbling inside me threatens to boil over at the sensation. All too soon, he pulls back, leaving me breathless.
“Convincing enough?” His words are playful, but the glazed look in his eyes tells me he’s just as affected as I am.
I try to find words, but before I do, we hear it again. The rustling. Both of our heads snap in the direction of the bush just in time to see a racoon dart out and run behind the building.
“Jesus!” I jump, before laughing, my forehead falling against Jesse’s chest as I calm my racing heart. Except, it’s not calming. It’s beating hard and fast for an entirely different reason. Slowly, I lift my gaze to Jesse’s. His jaw is set hard as he stares down at me, and I feel the thick ridge beneath his jeans. I bite down on my lip as my hips shift into his, seeking the friction. What the hell am I doing?