I peek my head out and scan the empty hallway. I know it’s safe, but I still wait, stalling so I can have a few more seconds with the man standing right behind me. Miss Francis hardly ever comes upstairs, and even if one of the other girls sees him, none of them will care. It’s an unwritten rule that no one talks about the guys who occasionally sneak in and stay over.
Knowing I can’t keep standing here with my head hanging out the door, I finally straighten and turn to face him. “It’s clear. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”
He nods and then follows me into the hall, staying right behind me until we walk through the French doors and we’reback out on the balcony. My heart drops when I see Deirdre sitting in one of the lounge chairs. From this angle I can see she’s mindlessly scrolling through her Instagram, checking to make sure every single photo she’s posted of herself looks amazing. As soon as she hears us, she turns, and when she catches sight of Niki, I wish I could whisk him right back inside and hide him in my room again. I know that look. I see it on her face every time we’re forced to hang out with the Alphas. It’s theI really want to get laid, and I choose you to be the lucky guylook.
Ignoring her as best I can, I turn back around and face Niki instead. “Thanks again for helping me. It must’ve been pretty boring for you, but I really did learn a lot, and I promise I’ll take good care of your old computer.”
“I wasn’t bored at all, and I know you will.”
I watch his face, and when his eyes dart past me, I know Deirdre has decided to stand and walk over. I’m guessing he’s getting an eyeful of very short sleep shorts and a crop top with her braless beneath it. I’m expecting him to keep staring at her, but his eyes quickly turn back to mine, even though I can hear her footsteps behind me. There are so many things I want to do, but instead of pulling him closer and kissing him or even giving him a big flirty smile and asking him to call me sometime, I reach out and give his finger a squeeze, just like I had on his motorcycle.
“Thanks again, Niki,” I whisper, squeezing his finger again and then dropping my hand.
He looks down at the hand I’d just been touching, and when Deirdre stands next to me and he lifts his face, I catch a glimpse of his smile before it disappears at the sound of her voice.
“Savanna, who did you sneak over?” She nudges my arm and giggles, and I’ve never wanted to shove someone out of the way so badly in my life. “You never use the ladder,” she says, makingit clear she thinks I’m a prude before she gives Niki a cutesy wave. “Hi, I’m Deirdre.”
“Hey,” Niki says, but he barely gives her a glance before he looks back at me.
Deirdre isn’t used to not having all the attention, so I’m not surprised when she flicks her long, dark hair back, giving him an unobstructed view of her perky tits. I almost laugh when Niki completely ignores her.
“Leaving so soon,” she asks him, refusing to accept defeat.
“Van has an early class,” he tells her.
She raises a brow at the nickname and then says, “I don’t. You could stay and keep me company.”
I shouldn’t be surprised by the offer, but it still stings. Deirdre is the kind of girl who would declare you her best friend one second and then fuck your boyfriend as soon as you left the room. She’s my least favorite person at the sorority house, and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way.
The breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding leaves my chest when Niki says, “No,” and then turns around and grabs the ladder. Placing one black boot on the closest rung, he steps onto the ladder with a gracefulness that surprises me. It shouldn’t. He makes everything look sexy. There’s a natural athleticism to him, and I could happily watch him for hours.
Before he descends, he gives me another smile and says, “Night, Van.”
“Night,” I tell him before he starts to climb down.
Deirdre gives an annoyed, pouty-sounding grunt before walking away, but I stay where I’m at, watching as Niki puts the ladder behind the shrubs and then gives me a little wave. I keep staring, even though he’s already disappeared around the side of the house. I don’t go back inside until I hear his motorcycle start, the sound of it growing softer as he drives away until I can no longer hear it.
Once I’m back in my room, the first thing I do is text Cindy because I need my best friend to talk some sense into me.
ME:
He didn’t kiss me. He’s going to give me his old laptop to use, and he taught me some basic computer stuff, but he didn’t kiss me. We were interrupted by Deirdre, so maybe he would have if she hadn’t been there. I don’t know.
CINDY:
Please tell me she was wearing a bra.
ME:
No such luck.
CINDY:
What did Niki do?
ME:
He ignored her.
