Page 78 of Stay With Me

Landen sighs as if he feels bad telling him my secret. “Yeah, she likes ’em fresh outta high school. Kinda weird if you ask me, but figured I’d tell ya before you get embarrassed like I did.”

Oh my God. I’m going to kill him!

“Got it. Thanks, man.”

Landen claps his shoulder again. “No problem. Good to see ya.”

Kyle walks away with a quick glance over his shoulder at me and this time he stares with disgust.Fucking great.

“Are you insane? Like seriously, you need your brain checked out!” I grit out between my teeth.

“It was either tellin’ him that or the truth…” He arches a brow, challenging me to stay mad at him for saving my ass.

I huff, crossing my arms. “You couldn’t come up with anything better than makin’ me sound like a predator?”

“I implied they were of age!”

Scowling, I smack his arm and then chug the rest of my wine. “Never askin’ you for help again.”

“Oh, c’mon, Mags.” He wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his chest. “I’m your favorite and we both know it.”

“Be careful. Tripp nearly pushed Damien out of the way when he was just standin’ next to me in the receiving line.”

He laughs. “Is that what that was? What a loser.”

I elbow him in the ribs and he backs away. “Pro tip, women like men who aren’t afraid to claim what’s theirs.”

“My bad. I wasn’t aware y’all wanted to be treated like property.”

“Geez, you’re dense. This is exactly why you’ll never have the balls to ask Ellie out. You think she should come to you because you’re God’s gift to women.”

“Not true. Although I could be, but that’s not why I’m not askin’ her out.”

“Mm-hmm. She’s here somewhere. If you’re such an expert on women, go ask her for a dance later.”

His shoulder lifts. “Fine. No problem. I will.”

His rambling causes me to smile. He’s so going to chicken out.

“And are you gonna dance with your boy toy in front of everyone?”

Little does he know I already planned to.

“If that’s what it takes for you to stop being a little bitch and tell Ellie you like her.”

The fact that she hates him makes this so much better.

He huffs at mylittle bitchcomment. “Deal.”

Chapter Seventeen

Tripp

By the time we get to the dance, my brothers are well on their way to tipsy. Wilder’s made it his mission to be as rowdy as ever and constantly have a drink in his hand. Waylon and Landen are close behind and dancing like their asses are on fire. Although I don’t have to drive and can walk home, I don’t overdo it with drinking. My eyes are laser focused on Magnolia and witnessing guy after guy hit on her.

I watched from across the room as Landen got Kyle away from her. I’m not sure what was said, but at least it worked. He’s our second cousin, so we only see him during family reunions, but he’s made his way to the bottom of my favorite cousins list.

“Wouldn’t it just be easier to ask her out?” Noah’s voice next to me makes me jump. I didn’t even notice her coming my way.