Fallon wipes the blood from his hands onto his slacks and shouts out to the crowd, “Party is over, motherfuckers! I find any video of this online, I will find you and you will not like it.”
I wipe the side of my mouth where Jayson clocked me the other night. A small amount of blood is trickling from the scabbed-over cut. I search for Elizabeth and find her immediately. She hasn’t moved from where I left her. I can see from here the heaviness of her breathing and worry hits me like a ton of bricks. I rush over, praying she’s not having another memory blackout. She says they’re triggered by certain words or intense emotions. Why did I leave her there by herself? I am so stupid, I berate myself.
“Babe,” is all I get out when she jumps into my arms. I catch her easily. She locks her legs around me and grips my shoulders.
“You are the sexiest man I have ever seen. Like a gladiator warrior,” she says and smashes her lips to mine. Worries about her instantaneously transform into lust. My adrenaline is still high and all I want to do is slam her against the nearest wall and fuck her senseless.
“I told you, girl. So fucking alpha sexy! Who was that bitch?” Meredith asks no one in particular.
Elizabeth lifts her head and sees Meredith. “Are you okay?”
“He calls me Firecracker for a reason,” she chirps.
Trevor snickers. “That you are.”
Fallon makes his way over and even though he and his older brother hate each other, Fallon gives Trevor a nod of thanks before walking inside.
“Was that your ex?” Trevor asks, and I want to tell him to shut the hell up.
“Not here,” I murmur to Elizabeth and she nods her head, her cheek rubbing against mine.
With Elizabeth in my arms, I walk us inside the suddenly deserted house. Several frat brothers who I assume are part of the freshman initiates are picking up trash and putting things away. Trevor leaves with Meredith, promising to get her back to her dorm. I find Fallon in the kitchen icing his hand.
“Taking my girl home.”
“Hope we get to do that again soon. That was fucking awesome.”
I bark out a laugh. “You know that’s not my thing anymore.”
“See ya around, kitten.”
Elizabeth waves bye then calls out “inflatable tube guys” as we reach the front door. Fallon shouts back “cicadas.”
“You guys are really weird.”
“He’s a good guy. I’m glad he’s your friend.”
“A lot of people would say Fallon is anything but a good guy.”
“New Elizabeth, remember? I have certain superpowers that allow me to see past a person’s bullshit to the center of their inner tootsie pop.”
I nip the skin under her earlobe and she shivers. “Why am I getting the feeling that having you and Fallon hang out together is a bad idea.”
She nips me back. “Sometimes bad ideas can bring about great things.”
I carry Elizabeth the entire two blocks it takes to walk back to where I parked my car. She’s been mostly quiet, lost in contemplation. Once I get her buckled in and start the car, she says, “Ryder, who were those girls? I knew them, didn’t I? I felt like I knew them somehow, and that one girl definitely knew me.”
I turn the ignition off. “The blond was Jacinda Blanchard. She was a cheerleader at our school. She did some stuff that hurt you. The two of you were definitely not friends.”
“And the other girl?”
“Maria Santiago. You guys used to be best friends.”
“Clearly not anymore. Was Trevor right? Did you date her?”
I turn to fully face Elizabeth and take her hand. “I will never lie to you. I did some stuff that I’m not proud of, but they are things I won’t apologize for either.”
“Okay. I understand.”
