“Why the hell do you call her Wildcat?” Jayson asks him. Instead of the usual “I’ll rip your head off” look he gives to anyone who he thinks is trying to flirt with me, he seems more curious than anything. He really is trying for me. I beam at Jayson and he does a double-take. “What?”
“Nothing.” I grin.
“Did Elizabeth tell you guys how we met?” Trevor asks.
A chorus of yes’s and no’s go up.
Meredith and I sit together on the floor, and I position myself between Ryder’s knees. “Trevor, you can catch everyone up. I’m hungry.” I reach for the small, thin pizza box that I know will have my gluten-free bacon and turkey pepperoni pizza in it.
“Before the semester began, I ran into Elizabeth at the beach while I was taking a walk. Found out she went to CU, so started calling her Wildcat. Nothing scandalous, I assure you.”
“I’m Firecracker,” Meredith proudly tells everyone.
Julien asks Trevor, “What year are you? I haven’t seen you around campus.”
“Senior. Marine biology major. What about you guys?”
“All of us are sophomores.”
“Not us girls! We’re the young’uns of the group.”
“I’m actually delayed a year,” I tell her.
“Well, shit. So I’m the baby?”
“Afraid so.”
“I’ve seen you fight,” Trevor tells Jayson. “You’re good.”
“You know that shit is illegal, right?” Jayson responds, watching Trevor warily.
“Yes, I do. I was undefeated my freshman and sophomore years. I stopped my junior year.”
“No shit?” Jayson looks impressed. Trevor gives him a nod and bites into his pizza. “Why’d you quit?” Jayson asks him.
“Had other stuff going on. I’ve also seen you race,” Trevor tells Ryder.
Ryder quirks a brow at him in question. “My father has me check up on my little brother from time to time and report back. Dad hopes that Fallon will wise up one day and march to the tune of joining the family business.”
Ryder shifts and slides down to the floor to sit behind me, caging me between his outstretched legs. “You don’t seem to be following in the family business if you’re majoring in marine biology.”
I pinch Ryder’s outside thigh.
“I’m not expected to.” Trevor puts down his slice and looks at me, then Ryder. “Look, let’s just get everything out in the open so we can cut the Fallon loyalty bullshit. I know you’re friends with my brother. My half-brother. Different mothers. I’m the illegitimate one. Patricia, Fallon’s mother, would breathe fire and brimstone if my father ever brought me into the pharmaceutical company. A company her father started. Let’s just say my mother was from the other side of the tracks and my dad’s affair with her caused a town scandal. One that I still seem to be paying for even though she’s dead.”
“Trevor, you don’t have to tell us any of this. It’s none of our business,” I assure him. “I’m so sorry to hear about your mom.” I look at Ryder, my disappointment clear. “That was rude.”
“I’m a big boy, Elizabeth, and can handle uncomfortable questions.” Trevor makes a point to look at every person in the room when he continues. “I get it. You guys are looking out for her. The other day with Fallon probably didn’t help your opinion of me. He and I hate each other. Always have. I won’t apologize for that. It’s stuff that’s no one’s damn business. It has nothing to do with my friendship with Elizabeth. And to make it very clear, unless Elizabeth tells me otherwise, that’s not going to change anytime soon. Hell, I’ll be gone from CU after this year anyway.”
“I’m sorry, man,” Ryder tells him. “I have known Fallon for a long time. And you’re right, it is none of my business.”
“Thank you, Ryder,” I say and twist around to give him a peck on the cheek. “Now, let’s eat.”
Meredith is shoving pizza in her mouth like a chipmunk. “God, I want to climb in Trevor’s lap and rip his clothes off,” she whispers to me between bites. “So fucking alpha sexy.”
Ryder is close enough to hear her and starts choking on his pizza. “Jules, turn the damn movie on already,” he coughs, and I just laugh.
Chapter 28
