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“Of course, I’d swing by. How could I come to Washington and not visit my three favorite people? Who is this with you?”

Syn glances over her shoulder and smiles at me. “My friend Taron. We grew up together.”

“Hello. It’s nice to meet more of Syn’s friends. She has nice friends.”

She clasps her gloved hands in front of her and gives me a slight nod and a small smile. Another surprise. Blaise Lexington isn’t the ice queen people have said she is.

“Who is ready for pool time?”

Midnight comes back inside, having gone out to check on what he has on the grill. Blaise must have given her bodyguards some secret agent signal. The guys book it up the stairs after Dare, except for the dude with the scar. He follows Midnight out the sliding glass door and into the backyard.

Syn hangs back, her gaze swinging from me to Blaise to where Dare disappeared to.

“Do you mind if I have time with your friend?” Blaise asks.

“Not at all. Go easy on him.”

Syn gives me a quick peck on the cheek. Chaste. Tame. Fuck, I want her mouth full on mine, tasting me as I fist my fingers in her hair.

She hurries up the stairs, and I check out her swaying hips and tight ass. Damn, those hips can move, and double damn, her ass is tight. Is Synpurposefullygetting me hot and bothered? Is shetestingmy self-restraint? ’Cause if I had my way, I’d be claiming her mouth and pawing her fine body in front of her friends.

There’s feminine laughter next to me. Blaise smiles. It’s not a flirty one but shy. And the look on her face is what I would call wonderment.

“I’ve seen guys hit on Syn at parties, and she’s never openly teased one before.”

My suspicion is spot on.

“Dare included?”

“Yes.”

Her admission does something to my heart. It speeds up knowing that I have leverage over Syn’s best friend. Could I be Syn’s guy while giving up the best friend title to Dare? I’ll have to mull over that thought more. If I had my way, Syn would be my girl and my best friend, like old times. But how well did that work out for us? It didn’t.

Already a poor friend for not looking out for Syn’s shy and famously reclusive friend, I open my mouth to ask Blaise if she wants me to get her a drink or pour her a shot. Not my place, but I can find my way around just fine. Except someone is ringing the doorbell. Syn and Dare aren’t in a hurry to get the door. Neither is Midnight or Blaise. Shrugging, I saunter over and open the door.

Two girls are standing on the other side. One is Asian, and the other is slim and tall with long brown hair.

“You must be Syn’s friend Taron. Arie Kim, nice to meet you. This is Ever Moretti.”

“Hey.” I step aside and let them through.

It’s nice for a change that they keep their gazes on my face. Nice, too, that they’re not backstabbing Syn by flirting or trying to get with me. It’s happened before. I am not out to destroy friendships. There are girls who do so on their own.

“Where is everyone?” Ever asks, looking around. “Oh, hi, Blaise.”

She waves. Blaise waves back.

“Do you both go to DU?”

“Yep.” Smiling, Arie also waves to Blaise.

“Cool.” I stick out my fist.

The girls and I fist bump before they hurry up the stairs. They must do this barbequing and swimming thing often. How often do they go down the stairs buck naked riding on a mattress? I groan, picturing Syn’s bouncing tits and wearing nothing but her big-ass grin.

I turn back to Blaise.

“Do you want something to drink?”