Jenna strides between the girls from Kappa G and our potential big brothers. “Mingle and mix—please choose wisely. Compatibility is an integral part of the program. As soon as you’ve paired yourselves, alert either one of us, and we will make it official!”
Grant waves his hand in the air a moment, and the room stills around him. Heck, every girl in the room has shifted her center of gravity toward his. There’s something supernaturally magnetic about him in general. He’s next-level gorgeous, swoon-worthy gorgeous, Witch’s Cauldron bubbling-in-the-brew gorgeous.
“I’ve chosen who I want as my little sister.” He sheds that melt-your-heart-right-down-to-your-panties grin my way, and I die a little. An entire swarm of butterflies flutters through me in spasms as if they were on fire. Grant is about to choose a little sister? Clearly, it’s to prove the point that he would never choose me. In fact, this is a clear signal he does choose me and not in any little sisterly way. I’ve got a feeling the Witch’s Cauldron is about to get a little bit hotter later this evening, and that tender part of me is starting to quiver at the thought.
He nods my way, that sexy smile melting right off his face. “I choose Ava.”
Grant
“What?” Ava’s complexion deepens to match her pretty pink lips.
“See there?” Jenna snaps her fingers through the air. “We’re off to a great start!” Bodies circulate around the room once again, and the music cranks up in volume, but Ava hasn’t moved. Her jaw still hangs to the floor as a crowd passes between us.
“Cool.” Rush slaps me over the chest, his eyes still very much glued her way. “Taking one for the team, huh? That frees her up for me, buddy, and don’t mind if I do.”
My blood boils at the thought.
“Down, boy. I’m her big brother, remember?”
“You might be her self-appointed big bro, but she doesn’t look all that enthused to have gained another family member.” He takes in a breath, expanding his chest like some sexed-up baboon. I’ve known Rush as far back as high school. He’s the same beach rat, with the surfer hair and sunburnt face. His eyes glow an eerie shade because of it, and that usually sucks the girls right in. He’s the one that landed me in this alcohol-soaked frat house to begin with. “Here she comes, and she’s bringing reinforcements.” He tips his head back, unleashing that alley cat grin. If those girls knew he had anything but chaste intentions, they’d run far and fast.
Lawson squints into the crowd of girls. “Dude, did we just get fucked? I’ve got plenty of sisters at home. It’s not too late for off-campus living, you know.”
“Nope, fucked is something you’re not getting tonight. At least not by these girls.” I pump a dry smile. I have Lawson in a few classes, but he’s on the team with Rush and me, and one constant from playing basketball all these years is that the team somehow magically turns into family. “Chain it down, would you?”
Ava strides over with two brunettes in tow, neither of which look half as pissed as she does. Her bookends both latch on to Rush and Lawson with Ava stepping up so close I back up a few notches. Before I know it, she has me backed against the wall. You can see the steam coming from her ears, and she’s downright adorable that way.
“You’re welcome.” I relax a moment. Not sure why I was tense to begin with. I think it threw me a little to see her walk through that door. It threw me again to see her looking like a supermodel with legs to the ceiling, cherry-stained lips, and that hair. Ava is all body and hair. And those boots. I’m a sucker for a girl in boots. Maybe that’s why… My heart thumps straight down to the pit of my stomach. Hell, I know why I’m attracted to Ava, but what my body wants I can’t give it just yet.
“What makes you think I’m grateful?” Those dark brows of hers turn into hooks, and I’m sunk. Ava looks every bit the Greek goddess she set out to be. Penelope to my Odysseus, only this is one odyssey I’m not ready for, not even close. It’s clear this vamped-up version of Ava is ready to play hard, not that she looks like she’s played hard often. The first thing that struck me when she sank herself in the seat across from me earlier was that Ava looked every bit the girl next door, a natural beauty—a typical little sister. A drop-dead gorgeous little sister, but I digress, and digressing into beautiful little sister territory is exactly what I don’t plan on doing. I promised myself I’d take it slow when it comes to girls—when it comes to relationships to be exact. Ava isn’t one-night stand material. Not even close.
After spending the last few years glued to the hip with Darcy, it actually felt good being on my own again. Darcy and I sort of got off on the wrong foot. We started dating a week before Steph died, and then I clung to Darcy like a life raft, not realizing we probably didn’t belong together in the first place. Eventually, we devolved to an amicable friendship. It feels good having Darcy in my life on the friendship side of the fence, but this girl right here, I can tell she’s not looking for a friend.
“What makes you think you shouldn’t be grateful?” I offer up that cocky bastard grin that’s landed me the attention of any girl I wanted all summer long. Then quick as it came, I sober up again. There’s something about Ava. She’s not some girl I want to run the bases with. She’s too cute and sweet for that. She deserves better. So I’ve done the only thing I could—taken her off the table. “Half the girls here would be grateful to have me as a big brother,” I tease. “I enjoy outdoor fun and long walks on the beach.”
“You sound like a dog.” Her affect softens, but judging by the way she just folded her arms across her chest lets me know she’s still not buying my loyal Golden Retriever routine. That white fuzzy sweater clinging to her skin takes a dramatic plunge down to her cleavage, affording me just enough of a glimpse to sponsor curiosity. The light scent of her floral perfume offers up a mouthwatering kiss to my senses, and I’m suddenly regretting my choices. “So, you’re my new big brother, huh?” She smirks at the idea as if it outright offends her.
“One and only.” I rock back on my heels, slightly pleased that I was able to get under her skin, and I’m not sure why. “How are those papers going? I’m a tutor at the essay lab. If you need help, just let me know.”
“Papers?” Her lips part as she looks as if she’s about to be sick. Ava goes from horrified to mortified in a single bound, and if I didn’t feel like an asshole already, I do now. “Papers.” She offers up a furtive nod while blinking back tears. Ava bats her lashes so fast I can feel the hurricane winds coming my way with the sting of rejection, and I don’t like that I’ve made her feel that way. “I’m good with papers.” She lifts a shoulder between us. “Lucky for you, I’m okay with outdoor sports and long walks on the beach.” She says that last part with the beginnings of a devilish smile, and something tells me my effort to stave her off is about to backfire spectacularly.
Just the thought of Ava in a skintight, teeny bikini has my blood pumping in all the wrong places. This is precisely why it was a brilliant idea to remove Ava from the short list of contenders—I’m not up for contenders this year, this semester anyway.
The music picks up in both pace and volume. The cackles from the sorority girls grow wild as the voices and chants of my frat brothers fill in the gaps. It’s a clusterfuck of sight and sound, but the only thing I can see or hear is this girl right here.
I lean in, and her shoulder grazes my chest, leaving a white-hot pang of wanting in its wake.
“So, what do you want to do first?” I try not to linger on her eyes. They’re a blue-gray combination that’s lethal if you linger too long.
“First?” Ava huffs a laugh, that pissed-off expression popping right back to her face.
“What’s this?” a deep voice booms from above.
We both glance up to find Rush and Lawson with the two girls Ava strolled in with.
Rush nods to me. “You two making plans for noogie night? Or are noogies far too salacious for this brother-sister combo?”
The shorter brunette by Lawson’s side laughs up a storm. “Ava prefers wedgies. I should know, I’m stuck looking at her murphies night and day. I’m Lucky.” She offers up her hand, and I shake it, cold to the touch but assertive. “Ava has the privilege of rooming with me at Cutler Tower. So if you want to stalk, talk, orlickyour baby sister, we’re third floor last room on the right.”
