Usedto? An unexpected gasp gets locked in my throat.
“Ouch,” I say it under my breath and regret the silly word as soon as it escapes my lips. “I mean—I’m sorry. My brother is just a bit too overprotective for my liking. It’s more like protectivecustodywhenever he’s around. He’s like this lingering dark shadow. Plus, he practically runs the school,” I offer up stupidly. “I mean, I’ve always lived under his shadow, but we’re only a month into fall semester, and it’s already bordering on ridiculous.” When under duress, I seem to specialize in verbal diarrhea. “I’m sure you were a great big brother.” There. At least I’ve said something redeemable. I swallow hard as he meets my gaze once again. “Again, I’m really sorry.”
“No, it’s okay. And I was actually a little brother, so I get what you mean about the whole dark shadow thing—sort of.” He shrugs it off, nodding casually to a couple of girls walking by, and they giggle and ogle him long after he’s turned his attention from them. It’s clear the golden god who’s gracing my presence—rescued me from my captor—has quite the harem he could surround himself with. I glance back at the girls and can’t help but note their matching short skirts and how cute they look pairing those ultra short skirts with tall fur-lined boots and sweaters that are snug in all the right places. I know that several of the sororities on The Row play those matchy-matchy games, but thankfully, the sorority my friends and I pledged into frowns upon such wardrobe blunders.
“So, where’s home?” He steps in close, and for the first time, the subtle hint of his spiced cologne hits me. The warmth of his body emanates from his flannel, his white T-shirt stretches taut from underneath, and the overwhelming urge to touch his chest envelops me. But that hypnotic gaze of his holds me captive—I can’t stop staring at those large whiskey pools he calls eyes.
“Across the street.” I try to sound equally as cool, calm, and collected as he seems to be, but my face heats unnaturally, and the wind cools me down enough to let me know I’m sweating. “I guess I better g-g-go.” Crap. I give a quick smile. The stutter is new. A little over three-years-new exactly. I can trace its origin right back to the day they arrested my big sister. A part of me wants to clue him in on who I really am—let him know that siblings are a bit overrated if you ask me, but considering his loss I would never do that.
“Cool.” He jumps into the sand pit with both feet and walks backward toward the building. “What’s your name?”
Oh my God, is he Beta Kappa Phi? He’s Beta Kappa Phi! Case in point—totally fucking handsome, pardon my French.
“You do have one, don’t you? I’m betting it’s not PB and J.” He ticks his head to the side and offers up a cocky grin because it must be pretty obvious by now that I’m ridiculously smitten. I hate that I’m so easy to read. “A name?”
“Ava—and y-yours?” Not so bad. I blow a steady breath from my lips. I can blame my dictionary’s worth of anxieties square on Aubree’s killing spree shoulders.
“Grant.” A pair of dimples appears and disappears in lieu of a smile as he steps into the dark mouth of the opened double door. “See you around!”
“See you around,” I whisper under my breath as if they were words I would cherish for the rest of my days.
And, truth be told, they will be.
Who wasthat dude and where are you?I frown at the text from my brother as I give Lucky a hug.
“What took you so long?” She leans over the Kappa G register and jots her name down. Kappa house holds the thick scent of floral perfume. Harper likes to point out they should hand out gas masks once you enter this place.
“Met a boy,” I’m quick to confess. “Where’s Harper?”
Lucky lets the pen slip from her grasp. “You met a boy and you want to talk aboutHarper? She’s running laps because she’s insane. Back to you.” Lucky spears into me with those lavender-blue spheres she calls eyes. Lucky Madden is as beautiful as her tatted-up brother is gorgeous. She, herself, tried to get a tat on her arm a few weeks back, but that turned ugly fast once it got infected. The tattoo was supposed to be a rose spearing through a heart, but it looked more like a duck sitting on a bike. Suffice it to say, it was a total and utter disaster.
“Yes, aboy.” I motion for her to get to the task at hand. “Sign in for me, too, and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Lucky, of all people, understands what a miracle it is that I had a close encounter with a member of the opposite sex. Her big brother, Jet, along with Owen have banded together to create theBig Brother Protection League. The security clearance alone rivals that of the most elite branch of the U.S. Defense System. The President himself should be so lucky to have such a bulletproof structure in place, or, in this case, a penis proof structure. And, although, they are seemingly okay with us befriending girls at the moment, I know for a fact sororities are a no-fly zone at least where I’m concerned. I haven’t dared breathe a word of my pledging to the dark side to Owen, lest I find myself locked in an Ivy League tower with my only hope of rescue being my long onyx hair. Only there would be no sweet prince to climb my tresses because Owen would be at the bottom waiting to hack them to pieces should anyone be foolish enough to try. Aubree was in a sorority, and I think that left a sour taste in Owen’s mouth as far as the entire Greek system is concerned. Ironically enough, the sorority Aubree was a part of was actually shut down last year for hazing—by none other than Owen’s main squeeze herself. But Alpha Chi is up and running again, with the temporary suspension eased just enough for them to get on their feet. Kappa G, however, has an immaculate record. My brother couldn’t find fault with them if he tried.
Lucky finishes up at the register and pulls me into the commons room until she’s backed us into a corner. “Spill every detail, you dirty little whore.”
My lips twist to keep from smiling. It’s Lucky’s ornery disposition in life that makes me appreciate her that much more. I’ve always wanted a cantankerous friend who couldn’t control her mouth, and now I have one.
And I do spill, right up until that final delicious detail.
“He’s across the street!” Her eyes light up like lavender fields.
“Yes, I know.” I hush her as the room begins to fill with our sorority sisters. Since Lucky and I are both freshmen, we won’t be able to get beds in the house until next year. For now, we reside tucked safely in a dorm on campus, Cutler Tower. Lucky is the Oscar to my Felix, whatever that means. Owen keeps saying it, so it must be true. As protective as he may be, I do look up to him in a weird, twisted way. I guess that’s what little sisters are destined to do, so I can’t really blame myself for that tiny bout of brotherly worship. “And if you squeal any louder, he’ll hear you.”
Lucky wrinkles her nose. Gone is her happy-for-me attitude, replaced with that dismal frustration we mutually share. “You do realize Owen is going to kill you.”
“Right. And then I’ll have two murderous felons for siblings.” My phone buzzes in my hand, and it’s a text from the prospective killer himself. “It’s Owen.” I flash the screen to Lucky, and we read the text together.
I’ll ask again, and if you don’t answer, a manhunt will ensue.Who was that dude, and where the heck are you?
“At least he’s being reasonable about it,” Lucky grunts while I busy myself with putting out the fire.
I’m fine. He’s nobody. Leave me alone. Studying hard with Lucky. Bye, Felicia!
“There. That should settle him for all of five minutes.”
“Studying on a Friday night?” Lucky clucks her tongue at me. “If he buys that, he really is drinking the Jet Madden Kool-Aid.”
