athletic frame relaxed, and he held out a hand.
I left him hanging. Total dick move. “I can’t say the same.” A not so gentle pinch came from behind, digging into my side. I relented and shoved my hand into his extended one, tightening my grip just so we were clear who was the boss.
Surfer boy gave me a nod, and a look of understanding crept into his eyes. “It’s cool man. I’ve got a little sister. I would be just as untrusting, probably more.”
I doubted that, but it meant something to me knowing that he might understand a miniscule of where I was coming from. My gut reaction was to be a prick, but for Lexi’s sake, for her chance at happiness, I pushed that part of me aside—for now. I was not going to be held responsible for ruining her life as she dramatically would put it.
“You don’t know me, but I’d like to change that,” Colin added.
First impressions: Colin wasn’t another tool. He seemed genuine in his intentions toward Lexi. I mean, if he was willing to go through me to see her, that spoke volumes. I was a severe obstacle. The tension lines around my mouth softened. “Sure, I’m willing to give it a shot, for Lexi.”
Colin grinned. “Good.”
I sidestepped, allowing him to take Lexi’s hand. “He’s not what I imagined,” I mumbled, staring as Lexi went into the house with a guy other than me. Emma was trailing behind them. The fireball redhead looked over her shoulder at me. An understanding passed between us. She would keep an eye on the budding Romeo and Juliet.
Angel snorted. “What? Nice?”
“No. Not as impressive as me.”
She nudged me in the side. “Be happy for her.” She was being serious.
I slipped my hand around her slender waist, pulling her close to me. “I’m getting there.”
“Good,” she said, grinning, and she placed a hand on my chest. “Now let’s go.”
I let her haul me inside the house. No sooner had we stepped foot into the overcrowded space, did I start to feel like Bruce Banner about to go into beast mode. The hardwood floors were sticky and vibrated under my feet in beat with the bass. Loud music pumped from the back of the house.
The few parties I had been dragged to back home were no different than this. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but it didn’t really matter. High school or college, people’s reactions were still the same. They took a step back as I strolled by. They stared, wondering what dark alley I had strolled in from. It was natural to me. Angel still struggled with the unnecessary attention.
We found a corner with a clear sight of the exit—you never know when you might need a quick getaway. Angel leaned against the wall. The dim lighting cast dark shadows along her cheeks. “Get me a drink?” she asked.
I tilted my head to the side, deliberating. Things had been wacky lately, and I wasn’t so sure Angel and alcohol should mix.
Sensing my internal turmoil, she assumed it was because I didn’t want to leave her alone. “I’ll be fine,” she insisted.
I hoped so. Weaving my way toward the kitchen, I followed the stench of sweat and sour yeast. Some lightweight bozo, who obviously couldn’t hold his beer, bumped into me. I growled as he staggered, ninety-nine percent sure my eyes were glowing.
“Watch it, asshole,” he snapped, slurring.
Keep calm. Don’t break his nose.
I worked my jaw, but kept walking, the less confrontation the better for all.
“Hey!” Sloshie called.
He wasn’t worth my time. I turned the corner into a room that might have once been a functioning kitchen. A quick perusal of the beverage selection and I was glad Angel wasn’t picky. I snatched two plastic cups from the stack and hit the tap. Goldish brew poured into the bottom, fizzing the cup with white foam.
Itching to get back to Angel, I only filled them halfway and turned back the way I’d come. She was waiting where I’d left her, but she wasn’t alone. And from the looks of it, someone was making the moves on my
I left him hanging. Total dick move. “I can’t say the same.” A not so gentle pinch came from behind, digging into my side. I relented and shoved my hand into his extended one, tightening my grip just so we were clear who was the boss.
Surfer boy gave me a nod, and a look of understanding crept into his eyes. “It’s cool man. I’ve got a little sister. I would be just as untrusting, probably more.”
I doubted that, but it meant something to me knowing that he might understand a miniscule of where I was coming from. My gut reaction was to be a prick, but for Lexi’s sake, for her chance at happiness, I pushed that part of me aside—for now. I was not going to be held responsible for ruining her life as she dramatically would put it.
“You don’t know me, but I’d like to change that,” Colin added.
First impressions: Colin wasn’t another tool. He seemed genuine in his intentions toward Lexi. I mean, if he was willing to go through me to see her, that spoke volumes. I was a severe obstacle. The tension lines around my mouth softened. “Sure, I’m willing to give it a shot, for Lexi.”
Colin grinned. “Good.”
I sidestepped, allowing him to take Lexi’s hand. “He’s not what I imagined,” I mumbled, staring as Lexi went into the house with a guy other than me. Emma was trailing behind them. The fireball redhead looked over her shoulder at me. An understanding passed between us. She would keep an eye on the budding Romeo and Juliet.
Angel snorted. “What? Nice?”
“No. Not as impressive as me.”
She nudged me in the side. “Be happy for her.” She was being serious.
I slipped my hand around her slender waist, pulling her close to me. “I’m getting there.”
“Good,” she said, grinning, and she placed a hand on my chest. “Now let’s go.”
I let her haul me inside the house. No sooner had we stepped foot into the overcrowded space, did I start to feel like Bruce Banner about to go into beast mode. The hardwood floors were sticky and vibrated under my feet in beat with the bass. Loud music pumped from the back of the house.
The few parties I had been dragged to back home were no different than this. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but it didn’t really matter. High school or college, people’s reactions were still the same. They took a step back as I strolled by. They stared, wondering what dark alley I had strolled in from. It was natural to me. Angel still struggled with the unnecessary attention.
We found a corner with a clear sight of the exit—you never know when you might need a quick getaway. Angel leaned against the wall. The dim lighting cast dark shadows along her cheeks. “Get me a drink?” she asked.
I tilted my head to the side, deliberating. Things had been wacky lately, and I wasn’t so sure Angel and alcohol should mix.
Sensing my internal turmoil, she assumed it was because I didn’t want to leave her alone. “I’ll be fine,” she insisted.
I hoped so. Weaving my way toward the kitchen, I followed the stench of sweat and sour yeast. Some lightweight bozo, who obviously couldn’t hold his beer, bumped into me. I growled as he staggered, ninety-nine percent sure my eyes were glowing.
“Watch it, asshole,” he snapped, slurring.
Keep calm. Don’t break his nose.
I worked my jaw, but kept walking, the less confrontation the better for all.
“Hey!” Sloshie called.
He wasn’t worth my time. I turned the corner into a room that might have once been a functioning kitchen. A quick perusal of the beverage selection and I was glad Angel wasn’t picky. I snatched two plastic cups from the stack and hit the tap. Goldish brew poured into the bottom, fizzing the cup with white foam.
Itching to get back to Angel, I only filled them halfway and turned back the way I’d come. She was waiting where I’d left her, but she wasn’t alone. And from the looks of it, someone was making the moves on my
Similar Books
