I don’t miss the way the corners of her eyes crinkle, or how her lips twitch, like she’s trying really hard not to smile, though eventually, she gives in and I’m given a flash of her perfect white teeth.
She opens her mouth to say something but then snaps it closed as her focus is drawn somewhere behind me. I turn my head just in time to see the stunning redhead that is Charlotte O’Malley, one of Maisie’s closest friends, heading our way, her expression a mix of confusion and humor.
I don’t know Maisie’s friends well, but I’ve seen them around enough to know who they are, especially Charlotte, who actually hooked up with one of my roommates freshman year. Not that he told me that. I just happened tobe sitting at the kitchen table when she snuck out the next morning.
“Well, well.” She stops at the edge of our table, her gaze locked on Maisie as they seem to have a private conversation without ever speaking a word.
I take a moment to watch the two of them. While Charlotte is beautiful, there’s no denying that, she is no Maisie Rose. In fact, I can’t think of a single woman I’ve ever met who even holds a candle to Maisie’s beauty. She’s so unique in both her appearance and her spitfire personality. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I like her so much. She’s not afraid to go toe-to-toe with me and tell me exactly what she thinks. For someone who’s spent his life with yes-women, it’s refreshing to have someone who doesn’t immediately bend to my will.
“What are you doing here?” Maisie finally asks, her gaze snagging on the man who steps up next to Charlotte, his hand falling to the small of her back like he can’t help but touch her.
He’s tall, not quite as tall as me but close, with dirty-blond hair and a full beard a few shades darker. His eyes flash to me, assessing. I tip my chin in way of hello.
“We had a late start to the morning, so we decided to cancel our plans today and just spend some time together. I’ve been craving blueberry pancakes.” Charlotte smiles, holding up the takeout bag in her hand, her gaze bouncing to mine for the briefest of moments before going back to Maisie.
“What areyoudoing here?” She tips her head in my direction, but her focus remains on Mais.
“It’s a very long story.” Maisie blows out a breath.
“It must be if you two are sitting here... together.” A knowing smile spreads across Charlotte’s mouth.
“Have you spoken to your sister?” Maisie asks the man at Charlotte’s side.
Lyric’s brother... Interesting.
“Not today.” He shakes his head.
“Why?” It’s Charlotte who asks.
“Let’s just say, last night wasinteresting. Lyric can fill you in.”
“Everything okay?” Concern tugs at her brows.
“Yeah.” Maisie nods.
“I wouldn’t say it’s okay. Given that Maisie plans to return to her dorm with a woman who drugged and tried to rape my friend last night.”
If I can’t talk some sense into her, perhaps one of her friends can.
“What?” Charlotte’s eyes widen as she looks back at Mais. “Lana?”
Mais nods.
“A ploy to get back at Macallan,” she confirms.
“What happened?”
“Long story short, she tried to get me involved. I refused, of course. Then, when Mac got there, she tried to say it was me who did it.”
“Who did she drug?”
“Joey.”
“QB Joey?”
“Yep.”
“What did she drug him with?”
