Page 45

“Nice to meet you, man. A friend of Syn’s is a friend of mine.” He sticks his hand out the window of his Jeep.

I stare at his hand for a second before I grasp it, squeezing hard. The guy doesn’t wince, and my respect for him inches up a notch. Letting go, I give him one of those bro nods, that he and I are all good when it comes to Syn. He smiles back and I hate it, but I am liking the guy.

I mean, shit, he took care of my girl while I was making a mess of my life back in Cali, still torn up over what Syn did to me.

“Dare, Taron and I are doing a favor for Midnight. We’ll be in Alexandria and staying overnight Friday.”

“Yeah, Midnight gave me the four-one-one. Why don’t you stay Saturday too, and make it a weekend getaway? You only have weekends free for so long before all hell breaks loose with games, Syn.”

“Are you sure? Won’t you be . . . unhappy?”

“I got my fix last night. Just promise you’ll come by Sunday. That you’re mine for the entire day.”

They’re talking as though I’m not there, and I am ready to cut the conversation short and tell Syn I should bounce, giving her time with her best friend. Except she slides her small hand in my big one and sidles up to me, anchoring me to her and the situation at hand, this weird push-pull, give-and-take thing happening with her and Dare.

“I would, but I’m corgi-sitting Primie.”

“How about I text Cindy the change of plans and you and Taron can meet at my place on Sunday? Come by in the afternoon.”

Suddenly, I’m finding myself very much at home. More than I ever did at Stanford. This guy doesn’t know me. Could see me as a threat to his friendship with Syn. Yet, he lumped my name with hers, and bam, I am in their crew. Until he swings his gaze to me and, with a dangerous glint in his intense eyes, says, “Fuck with her heart, and I will rip out yours after I castrate you with a butter knife. Got it?”

I stick out my fist. “Loud and clear.”

16

Syn

On my drive home from work that night, I had two cars following me. One of the drivers was Dare and the other, Taron. I’m not surprised Taron is seeing me home. He did tell me before leaving Shades that he would feel better knowing I made it home safe.

You would think we haven’t been apart for four years. As soon as I had my driver’s license and started working at this fast food joint a few months after I turned sixteen, Taron waited for me in the parking lot in his truck and made sure I arrived home safely. He can be so protective. If he didn’t like the position of QB so much, I’m certain he would be one of the guys who protected the QB from getting sacked.

And Dare? Dare waiting for me in the parking lot was a surprise. As soon as I saw him inside his Jeep, I knew instantly him being there had something to do with Midnight’s text. He came charging up in his black supped-up Jeep like a knight on his steed, coming to my rescue. Thank goodness he was there. Taron and I had come close to kissing, and I am not ready to go there with him.

Will I ever?

His high number of sex partners gets my stomach in a knot, but that’s not the only thing. The last PA he had, the one he liked, according to Hank, is a girl Taron’s had with him since his junior year. She is willowy, with chestnut-brown hair, bright amber eyes, and flawless skin. She’s not inked and pierced like me.

If I were to ship someone with Taron, it would be his ex-PA, Sydney. God, even her name is heavenly rather than dark and ominous.

How can I compete with time even though Taron says he’s mine and wants to be mine again? Now I understand what he must have felt when I brought up Dare and how he understands me best because he’s been with me for the past three years. Dare and I never overstepped our friend zone.

Did Taron with Sydney?

My phone on my bed chirps, yanking me out of my thoughts. I grab it and check my messages. It’s Taron.

Off limits: Ready?

Me: Yep

Off limits: Good. I’m sitting in your driveway.

I grab my suitcase and hurry out of my bedroom and to the front door before Taron changes his mind and decides not to wait for me inside his truck but would rather come inside. We’re on our way to Alexandria. Too late. I took too long. There’s a knock on my door.

I crack open the door. Taron’s on the other side with his hands jammed inside the pockets of his jeans and his shoulders pulled inward. At his feet is a large box.

“What is that?” I keep the door cracked open. There are items inside my place I am not ready for him to see.

“Parts to build you a computer including two screens so you can really look at your calendar. I also thought we can write the papers together. A collaborative project.”