Oswald stops in his tracks and leans his head back to howl with laughter. I watch his neck bob until he lowers his chin, still chuckling. “Oh, I’m certain he would want to punish you, just not by leaving you in lockup.”
“Shut up, Oswald,” Memphis grumbles and gives his brother a playful shove, so our hands break apart.
Bates lingers near my side as the brothers walk together a few paces ahead of us, throwing fake jabs and small shoves. Oswald is still smiling, but the look on Memphis’ face is a little darker. It’s not anger, but it’s something.
“I hope I didn’t offend him. I was only joking,” I tell Bates.
“You didn’t, but speaking of… I feel like shit for saying that to you the other day. I… We’re probably a little too overprotective of Oz.”
I lay my hand on his bicep, not expecting it to be so solid or to feel so at ease touching him. “It’s really okay. I get it.” I pull my hand back and continue walking, hoping the touch didn’t make things awkward. “It’s nice that you guys look out for each other.”
“Who looks out for you?” he questions, and my immediate thought is Maxwell and his team, but that’s not what he means.
“Well, Gra… Memphis” —I have such a hard time saying his name out loud, so it comes out just above a whisper— “checked my doors and windows the other day. Does that count?”
“It does seem like they have adopted you,” he comments, and something in my chest sinks. Adopted is a familial word. Maybe they really do think of me like a little sister.
There’s a breath of silence before Bates asks, “What are you going to school for?”
“Psychology.” I don’t feel like I’m giving too much away by sharing that. Psychology happens to be one of the most popular majors for a broad range of things, but that doesn’t mean I want to keep talking about me. “What do you do for work?”
“I’m an electrician.” His hands make more sense now, as well as his rock-hard bicep. “I came over straight from work.” He tugs at his T-shirt near his belt as if he’s explaining his clothing. I don’t see a problem with his attire at all.
“Oh, that’s pretty neat. Do you travel a bunch?”
“Locally, but nothing too far. The company I work for does a lot of commercial and industrial stuff.”
“I bet it’s exciting doing different things all the time.”
“What’s going on back here?” Oswald pants lightly as he jogs over and wraps his arm around my neck. “Are you trying to chat up my girl? Good thing I’m okay with sharing,” he teases and swipes his tongue up the side of my face.
My heart skips a beat, but I try to cover the fact that it felt kind of good as I let out an, “Ugh,” and shove at his chest. He barely budges. “I haven’t washed my face since this morning.” Now I am a little embarrassed, I didn’t even think about that.
Oswald just bounds away, chuckling. I notice my bag isn’t on his shoulder anymore, but now Memphis has it slung over his. “How can he run around like that after just eating all that food?” I’m mostly talking to myself, but Bates answers.
“He’s always been like that. I wanted to wring his neck before he got serious about football. He made us crazy when he was little.”
“You guys have been friends for a long time then?” I glance over at Bates. It’s hard to make out the pretty color of his dark eyes with the sun behind us, but I still try.
“It feels like forever most days.” He cracks a smile while looking straight ahead, and I follow his gaze to see Memphis holding Oswald in a headlock, giving him a noogie. Bates darts forward and jumps on both of them. I expect them to fall into a heap, but they manage to stay upright.
“Oh my, now that is a sight.” I look to the left and see Mia, the girl from orientation, and a few other girls openly watching the guys wrestle and play. I wonder if my face looks entranced and excited like theirs.
I’m tempted to slink away. I don’t think she’s even noticed me yet, but I need my bag, and there’s a tiny little piece of me that wants her to know I’m hanging out with them. As soon as that thought filters through my mind, Oswald lifts his head. “Come on, Wavy baby. Save me.”
I can feel every eye from the small group of girls on me. Why did I think it was a good idea that she knew I was with them? When I don’t move to come help him, Oswald untangles himself from the other two and jogs over. “I won’t let them get too rough, promise.” He bends forward, shoves his shoulder into my stomach, and hoists me over his back.
There’s too much happening at once for me to process much else besides the air whooshing out of my lungs.God, now he knows how heavy I really am, my butt is in the air, and the girls are all watching.When I start to bounce, I grab hold of his sides, and a tiny squeal leaves my lips. A hot crack from a palm lands on my ass, and I gasp. “Oswald.” I may sound properly scandalized, but the two halves of my brain are warring because I don’t feel scandalized—especially when he kneads the same area all too briefly before tipping back over and setting me on my feet, right in the middle of the three of them.
I feel woozy for a second, and I choose to blame it on the blood draining from my head. At least I have an excuse as to why my face would be bright red.
“What the heck were you doing way back there?” Oswald demands more than asks, but he’s still being playful.
“I thought I was at a safe enough distance not to get swept up in your wrestling match.”
“I told you we would be gentle.”
“Right before you threw me over your shoulder,” I retort, keeping my voice down. From the corner of my eye, I can see the group of girls walking closer. Memphis turns his head to follow my gaze and takes several steps back from us, creating the most distance between him and me.
