“Nope, just you. Be at the bridge Sunday at midnight, and come alone. Admitting members after rush is completely against the rules. I’m doing this as a personal favor because I just so happen to like you. But, if you so much as whisper to anyone where our secret meet and greet is, Iwillfind out, and you’ll be booted back to Prescott on your shiny white ass. Don’t blow this.” She breezes past me in her printed silk scarf, her long leather boots the color of honey.
“Wait!” I call after her. “Where’s the bridge?”
“Figure it out,” she shouts back.
Sunday. Why does Sunday sound familiar? Am I going somewhere, Sunday?
The picture of a ghost taped up on the window in Hallowed Grounds sends it all rushing back to me. Sunday—that’s right, it’s Halloween.
She wants me to meet her at midnight on Halloween?
Creepy.
I finally make it to class, but my mind keeps drifting back to Bryson and those electric kisses of his. I drop my pen three times, and the dark-haired boy in front of me is nice enough to return it each time.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were hitting on me.” He gives a little smile. He seems sweet. Roxy should go for someone like him. “My name’s Luke.”
“Nice to meet you. And, by the way, youdon’tknow better.” I give a little smile. “Sorry.”
He spins around, and my thoughts migrate back to Bryson and the bump and grind that played out for hours.
All I can think about is how beautiful it was last weekend. Bryson and I finally had a chance to be ourselves, and it only annunciates the fact that Cole has got to be dealt with. I’ll recruit a pair of brass knuckles if necessary. It’s becoming painfully obvious that Cole is the only one standing in our way of behaving like any other rational couple. And, once his mad cock blocking skills have been taken out, and he generously gives us the thumbs up, Bryson and I will be free to take our relationship public by peeing circles around one another in the quad. Of course, I’ll make mine in the shape of a heart.
I let out a heated breath just thinking about what a task it’s going to be to talk to my brother. I’ll let him know I appreciate his efforts, but that he could kindly fuck the hell off because I’m pretty much going to date whoever the heck I feel like. Okay, so I’ll be a little more gentle than that—a heck of a lot more gentle than that, but I need him to understand I’m more than just his little sister, I’m my own person. Also, I wouldn’t mind addressing his tally mark addiction. He’s beyond stupid for throwing everything away for a good time when there’s a perfectly good girl out there waiting for him. Cole deserves to be loved just as much as Bryson does.
And if Bryson found someone special, so can my brother.
I run my idea past Bryson that night at the Black Bear Saloon in between waiting tables.
“I don’t know.” His eyes enlarge the size of beer cans. “Look, let me talk to him first. Normally, I wouldn’t interfere, but I know Cole.” He closes his eyes remorsefully as if he wished he didn’t. “And, as much as he’s your brother, I feel like he’s my brother, too. This is going to gut him a little more than if I were just your average guy. He’s going to think I betrayed him.”
The music pulsates in and out around us. People from school have already started donning their Halloween costumes, albeit two nights early.
“Okay, but do it quick. I don’t think I can handle too much more.” I lean in and press my hand to his chest. “I miss you.” I glance down at his Levis to get the message across loud and clear.
Bryson drops his towel and picks it up before spinning around like he didn’t even hear me. A gentle tap lands over my shoulder, and I turn to find Cole and some beefed up linebacker next to him. That explains a lot.
“What’s up, sis?” Cole gives a light sock to my arm. “Have you met Luke Carter?”
He looks vaguely familiar. He’s got dark hair and incredible dimples. I can see why girls might drop to their knees in front of him, but, unfortunately for both Luke and Cole, I won’t be one of them. All of my knee-dropping skills are reserved for Bryson.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I offer. “You guys want a table?” I point over to the back where most of the people from Whitney Briggs hang out.
“No, thanks.” He slaps Luke over the shoulder then it comes back to me, Music Appreciation—Luke is the boy who’s good at picking up pens and, apparently, girls. “I thought maybe you and Luke could catch a movie or something. I feel bad that you haven’t seen much of Hollow Brook. You in?”
Crap. Leave it to Cole to hand select a boyfriend for me. I’m sure he paid him not to touch the merchandise. Just the thought makes my blood boil.
“I’m working.” I nail Cole with a look that says we’ll talk later. “Or, trust me, I’d want to.” I glare into my brother. “Because I am thoroughly ready to spread my wings.” His face bleaches out. Okay, so maybe I could have chosen another analogy, but still, the premise is the same.
Bryson pops up and knuckle bumps Luke and Cole.
“What’s going on?” He sharpens his gaze at my brother, and it feels like the temperature in the room just went up ten degrees.
“Baya and Luke were just about to hang out. You mind giving her the night off?”
Bryson’s mouth opens as if he’s about to say something, but he aborts the effort.
