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Twyler hops up from the couch and hands Reid the remote control. “Come on, Shelby, I’ll walk with you.”

“You sure?” I ask, just happy to be getting out of this room. Between my brother’s judgement and Reid’s nonchalance, I’m ready for an escape.

“Yep,” she stuffs her feet into sneakers. “I have to meet Reese on campus anyway.”

I pass Nadia on the way to the door and say, “Thanks, for helping me get ready.”

“No problem.” She squeezes my arm. “You’re going to do a great job.”

“Shel–” Axel calls as we step onto the cold, dark porch. “You’re going to do great. And if anyone bothers you, knee them in the junk.”

“Thanks, bro.” I wrap my arms around him and give him a hug, because there could be worse things than having an overprotective brother.

14

Reid

I leavefive minutes after Shelby and Twyler, telling Axel I have an assignment to work on. It’s not a lie. I do have a project due for my art theory class, but when I get to the sidewalk in front of the Teal House, instead of turning right, toward home, I go to the left.

Toward the strip.

I tell myself it’s because I didn’t want to hang out with the love-birds, watching them pretend to study while really just eyefucking each other until they just started outright fucking. Then I tell myself it’s because I’m hungry and there’s nothing good to eat at the Manor, and I need fuel before I can focus on my homework.

But when I open the door to the Badger Den and instantly look for Shelby, I know I’m full of shit.

I came here for her.

Not that I want her to know that, so I pass a table of college girls, and slide into a booth in the back, the one in the dark corner that always seems to be a little sticky and has a shitty viewof the big screens. Sure enough, I think, shrugging out of my jacket, I can only see the bottom half of the game, but I’ve got a direct view of Shelby coming to and from the bar.

I had no fucking clue she’d be at the Teal House when I agreed to go with Axel. I’d done everything I could to avoid her,particularlyin tight spaces or with her overprotective brother around. But I stepped in the house and it felt like I got rammed into the boards. It took everything in me not to stare at her curvy little ass in those tight jeans, or the small strips of flesh visible at her waist and thighs. It took an act of God to act disinterested when I was asked to give my opinion. I had thoughts, alright, thoughts that wentstraightto my dick.

“Hey, Reid.” A familiar waitress appears, blocking my view of the bar. “You here alone?”

“Josie.” I lean back, trying to keep an eye on Shelby while she helps a table of frat boys. “Yep, it’s just me. Thought I’d grab something to eat.”

“What can I get you?”

“Basket of three-alarm wings and fries,” I rattle off, not looking at the menu. “And a Coke.”

“You’ve got it.”

The bar isn’t as packed as it is when Wittmore plays. Not that I’m here during, but the post-game crowd is always thick, standing room only. Tonight everyone has a seat, the frat boys in the center, taking up a long stretch of pushed together tables. A few locals–older people who probably have been coming here since they were students, and then the table of sorority girls, a couple I realize look vaguely familiar and keep not-so-discreetly checking me out.

At the bar, Mike and the other employees are patient with Shelby as she learns the ropes, and although it’s obvious she’s nervous, there’s a spark of confidence in her I haven’t seen before.

Well, maybe once, when she was riding my hand between her legs.

Nope, not going there.

“What are you doing here?” Shelby blinks, holding my dinner in her hands.

I nod at the food. “Eating.”

Her eyes narrow, but she slides the wings and fries over to me.

“Did he send you here to keep track of me?”

“He?” I ask innocently.