“Well, I guess there’s a first time for everything,” he says.
“That’s what I was thinking.” Because his arm is still around my shoulder and the urge to lean into his strength pumps through me, I step out of his embrace to force some distance between us. But the clean scent of his aftershave continues to wrap around me. I take two more steps away.
“Well, thanks for helping a sister out.” I hitch a thumb over my shoulder as I move further away. “I should look for Olivia. She’s MIA, and we’re supposed to be using the buddy system.”
“She’s in the kitchen talking with Beerman.”
“Beerman?” I echo.
Never heard of the guy.
“Tanner Beerman,” Carter clarifies.
Ahhh,Tanner.
Carter spears a finger in my direction. That pissed-off expression returns full force. “Your cousin doesn’t want you messing around with his teammates.”
Huh? Where the heck did that come from?
I straighten to my full height, which is almost a foot shorter than Carter, and fold my arms across my chest. “Why are you telling me this? I’m not interested in Tanner.”
His expression softens. “You’re not?”
“No.”
“Tanner and Olivia have a bit of a thing going on,” I explain.
They’ve been texting back and forth. I’ve tried pushing her into making a move, but that’s not Olivia’s style.
“What kind of friend do you take me for? Chicks before dicks,” I quip.
“Oh.” His shoulders lose some of their rigidity as he shifts his weight.
I really need to get away from him, so I smile and say, “If we’ve goteverything squared away, I’m going to go.”
And hopefully find a different guy to hookup with tonight. One who isn’t quite so full of himself.
Just as I turn, ready to escape into the crowd, fingers wrap around my arm, holding me in place. I frown. “What are you doing?”
“Sticking to you like glue, Thompson.” One side of his mouth lifts. “Where you go, I go.” He waggles a finger between us. “Don’t worry about being abandoned. You’ve got a new and improved buddy. I won’t leave your side.”
I hiss out a breath. “What? No! I’m going to find my buddy right now. Two’s a couple, three’s a crowd.”
He shrugs. “We both know that Noah would want me to keep an eye on you.”
“Give me a break.” I roll my eyes. “I’m perfectly fine on my own.”
“Nope. Tonight, you and I are hanging together.”
“But—”
He shakes his head. “No ifs, ands, or buts.”
That certainly throws a monkey wrench in my plans.
The look on my face must give away my thoughts because his eyes narrow. “Is that going to be a problem for you?”
“No,” I sigh. “Not at all.” Then I grumble, “It’s just unnecessary. I’m twenty-one years old. I don’t need a babysitter.”
