Holt turns his shoulder enough to block his view of Annie.
“One bedroom, huh?” The smile glides off his face. “I gotta run. I’ve got an issue in the back.” He looks to my brother. “I’m really glad we met.” He reverts his cold, hard gaze to me. “See me before you leave. I’ve got a bonus for you and the band.”
Shit.
Izzy winces as Holt takes off. “I’d better go see if I can help.” She mouths the wordsorryto Annie as she melts into the crowd.
“I’d better run, too.” Wyatt pans the crowd for potential bedmates. “Who’s the blonde?” He nods past me. His eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning just waiting to tear into the wrapping paper.
Annie points her phone at him, and he leans in to read it.
“Your roommate?” He looks slightly confused. “Do you have a sore throat?”
I may have forgotten to mention the fact that Annie is deaf. In truth, I forget half the time.
Annie looks to me a moment before typing out another quick note explaining the fact she can’t hear.
Wyatt looks from her to me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—” He looks to me in horror. “You never mentioned it.”
“It was never on my mind.” I pull her in and circle my arms around her waist. I don’t see why not, I’m already going to hell by way of the Edwards’ brothers.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Annie.” He extends his hand, and they exchange a quick shake. “I’ll see you both soon. Maybe we can do dinner? Feel free to bring your roommate,” he teases as he heads for the door.
He’s sweet. Marley will be very flattered.
“Is she taken?”
She’s waiting for her BF to propose. I think he’s avoiding her.
I wince. “Too bad.”
“Hey,” Bryson barks as he walks up on us. “Holt says he wants to speak with you in the back.” He eyes my arms around his sister’s waist, and I slowly let them drop.
“Will do.”
I’d better head to campus with Marley. Call me?
I give a quick nod. Annie leans in and plants a sweet kiss right over my lips.
Shit.
She glances back at her brother and gives a curt wave before taking off. Wyatt may have spilled the gasoline at my feet, but Annie just lit the match.
I follow Bryson to the back room where I fully expect to get my kneecaps knocked in with a baseball bat—I’m hoping my balls are safe for now.
“What’s up?” I stare down both Holt and Bryson with their nearly identical faces and fight the urge to butt their heads together. Benji comes to mind, and suddenly I’m seeing them in a whole new light. “Before you go off and tell me to get the hell out of the bar—and your sister’s life—I just want to say that I hope you both know how lucky you are.” I clasp the back of my neck. “I lost my brother last summer. We were close.”
“I just met your brother.” Holt growls.
“Different brother. Benji died in a motorcycle accident last July.” I stuff my hands into my jeans. “Go ahead say what you’re going to say so we can all get out of here.”
Bryson looks to Holt, and they spend about a minute raising their brows at one another.
Holt steps up and just when I think he’s going to bury his fist in my gut he offers up a knuckle bump.
“Don’t hurt her, man.”
Bryson steps up, too. “I’m watching you. When you don’t know I’m looking, I’m there.”
