Jet clenches that strong, heavily carved jaw of his as if he were trying to contain his frustration, and that simple muscular flicker incites my thighs to quiver.
“I should meet Ava.” I nod into this as if it were a given. Piper mentioned a few weeks back that Ava was wary of her, and, seeing that Piper is an extension of Owen, I can’t blame her. “She’s never going to confide in you. She needs a real friend—a big sister who’s not bopping her big brother.” I dart my fry in her direction.
Cassidy checks her phone. “Oh, hon, I would love to play big sister with you, but I need to kiss my man before we take off. We’re going to miss our movie time, and the onlylateshow I’m partaking in tonight is the one in Cade’s bedroom.”
Piper swats her as she takes off. “You’re disgusting.” Piper is fine with the fact Cassidy is dating Cade. Cade and Piper have an unusually close relationship for brother and sister. A part of me wishes I had yet a third brother, one closer to my age who I could be friends with like that.
Scarlett jumps to her feet. “I’d better kiss my man, too.” She gives a little wink before heading toward the entrance and cutting Rex’s next sentence off with her lips.
Piper leans in. “She means her brother.”
We share a quiet cackle on our best friend’s behalf. As much as we like to tease Scarlett relentlessly about it, we aren’t too worried about hurting her feelings. She and Rex are as solid as granite.
“So, who areyoukissing these days?” Piper kicks me from under the table as she snaps another fry off her plate.
“Lots and lots of boys—Lincoln, Hamilton, Jefferson, Jackson, Grant, and on the off night Franklin, but mostly I’m kissing Washington.” I admire my pretty green manicure, the exact color of thoseboysI’ve been raking off the stage lately.
“Franklin, huh?” Her eyes expand at the salacious promissory note details. “You still getting those huge tips?”
“Two hundred a pop.” It’s true. I’ve somehow garnered a mystery man who is willing to donate two hundred fat ones to my cavorting cause every now and again. For a while I thought they were from someone I knew, but each time I inquired about the big tipper, the waitress who delivered the funds rearranged her story to the point I’m not even sure this person is human anymore. Whoever it is has made damn sure their identity stays a two-hundred-dollar secret.
Piper’s eyes round out like lollipops. “That’s insanity. You’re probably going to have to get a restraining order.”
“For what? Keeping me in couture?” More like knockoff couture, but, hey, a coed’s gotta do what a coed’s gotta do. There’s a brand new shopping mall in the swanky side of Jepson, and they’ve just put a Barney’s in. Lord knows I’ve been squirreling away every pretty penny just to do a proper raid through that ritzy retail establishment.
“For keeping you in suspense,” she counters. “It’s creepy, and scary, and I don’t like it. Believe me, whoever’s doing this isn’t interested in what you’re wearing. They’re far more interested in what you’re not wearing. It’s probably some perv who wants to play with your vagina.”
I cinch my vintage Louis Vuitton bag over my shoulder as we both stand at the same time.
“Don’t you worry about me or my vagina. I’ve got both under control. See you later.” I lean in to hug her, and she grabs me by the shoulders.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Piper zips us toward the table behind us, and all I see are Jet Madden’s muscles jumping out at me, growing hulkishly bigger with every step in his direction. “If you’re going to be anyone’s big sister, I need to do a quick introduction.” We come upon their table, and all four pairs of eyes look up at once. Jet and Owen look slightly ticked as if their chaste plans for the evening aren’t going over well. The two girls don’t look so amused either. The brunette sitting across from Jet looks every bit a beauty queen version of the muscle man himself, and the girl sitting across from Owen, Ava, has a disparaging look on her face as if her life were just smashed to smithereens.
Piper pulls me in tight. “Ava, Lucky, this is Daisy Pembrooke. She’s a totally cool chick that I hardly ever speak to. In fact, she’s not even heading out to a movie with myrealfriends and me tonight.” Piper winks my way, and I try hard not to roll my eyes. These girls are smart. They didn’t just walk into Whitney Briggs without a clue as to how the world works. If I’m going to befriend them, it’ll have to be on their terms, not Piper’s questionable negotiations.
“Ignore her.” I take a safe step away from my well-meaning bestie. “Piper hit her head on Owen’s lips and hasn’t been the same since.”
Jet starts in on a laugh then stops abruptly as if catching himself in cahoots with me.
I offer both Ava and Lucky a friendly shake of the hand. Ava is every bit the beauty queen herself, and now I see what Jet and Owen are so suddenly insecure about. Every last boy at Whitney Briggs University is about to come running, and there’s not a damn thing these two balls of big brother muscle can do to stop it.
“So I’m off.” Piper gives a friendly wave, and Owen walks her to the door.
“Why, yes, I will take this seat,” I say, falling into the warm chair Owen heated with worry. The spiced scent of Jet’s cologne takes over my senses, and I swoon toward him without meaning to. I’ve always been a sucker for a well-scented man. But both of these boys need to learn how to loosen the reins a little, if you ask me.
I lean toward the girls. “So, what are the plans for tonight? Drinking? Dancing? Just taking in the boys and noise at the endless string of frat parties down the street?” I offer up a snide smile to the horrified wall of muscles seated beside me. “I’m teasing. You girls should head to the movies yourself. You’re at a university, not a prison.” I scoff toward Jet without bothering to meet up with his glare.
Lucky gives a heavy sigh as her shoulder sags with defeat. Her eyes are exaggeratingly large, with what looks like two perfect spheres of iced blue dew drops. “Nope. None of the above. I think we’re just going to grab a cup of coffee across the street and watch TV in our dorm.” She gathers her purse, a yummy buttery yellow, and I note the Dooney and Bourke stamp etched into the leather.
Jet gives a furious nod as if this were the best idea he’s heard yet. “You’ve got my Netflix password, right? I’ve gotLittle House on the Prairiecued up and ready to go. Knock yourself out, but don’t stay up too late. You don’t want to get used to that. I don’t want you falling asleep in any of your classes. You got that, kid?” He stands and makes an awkward attempt to either sock or hug her, both perhaps, but nevertheless she’s wisely evaded the move.
Ava stands along with her. “Yeah, I’d better go make sure that triple lock my brother installed this afternoon is working. God forbid any drunk frat boys stumble into our beds.”
Lucky scowls at Jet as if it were his fault she’s about to commit herself to a little prairie prison. They take off, and he falls hard into his chair again.
“Smooth moves, big bro.” I lean into his stately frame, and my gaze rides the ridges of those rippling abs from over his T-shirt. My stomach squeezes tight as I struggle to right myself in my seat.
“I wasn’t trying to be smooth, and I’m not your big bro.” Those behemoth arms cross over his chest, and that you’re-going-to-get lucky-tonight grin twitches on his lips.
