Page 67 of Wish You Were Mine (Kings of Eden Falls #3)

LUCY

“Hey, I’m gonna go grab a tampon from my car real quick,” I told Nora, stepping up to the bathroom sink in The Garden’s restroom after discovering that my period had started. “I’ll be right back.”

“I can grab it for you if you want,” she offered, grabbing a paper towel to dry her hands.

“That’s okay.” I shook my head. “It’s not too heavy yet, so I should be fine to head outside.”

What I didn’t tell her was that I was more than happy for the excuse to slip out for a few minutes—away from the heat, the noise, and Brody.

He’d been a little too touchy on the dance floor for my taste tonight, hands at my waist, hips pressing closer than I wanted, his “ Don’t be shy” whisper in my ear every time I tried to put some distance between us.

Yeah, I needed a moment to breathe and regain my bearings.

The night air was cool when I stepped outside, a welcome change from the humid press of bodies inside .

My car was parked toward the back of the lot, away from the streetlights, so I clicked the key fob to make my headlights flash and give me a target to walk toward.

That was when a dark figure stepped beside me out of nowhere.

“Hey, where are you headed?” a familiar voice came from the tall figure.

“Oh, Brody!” I gasped, putting a hand to my chest. “You scared me.”

And something about the sudden appearance of a tall, broad figure in the dim parking lot sent me straight back to that night I’d run to Owen’s apartment, a stranger’s footsteps pounding behind me.

“You leaving already?” Brody asked, stepping closer, oblivious to the spike in my pulse.

“Not yet.” I pointed toward the row of cars where my headlights had just flashed. “Just grabbing something from my car.”

“Cool.” He exhaled like he was relieved. “I’ll walk you there. Never can be too safe.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, and I meant it. The shadows felt heavier out here than they had a minute ago.

“You having fun tonight?” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

“Yeah.” I wrapped my arms around myself, wishing I’d grabbed my jacket. Because even though it was technically spring, it was still chilly at night.

“Good.” Brody’s eyes flicked over me, the intensity in his eyes making me suddenly aware of every inch of skin my corset top left bare. “I am, too. Way better than the last time we came here, right?”

“Yeah.” I gave a small laugh. “A lot nicer without you and Josh trying to beat each other up. ”

“True.” He smirked. “Plus, I got to dance with you this time.”

And while I knew he was trying to be playful, I got the feeling that he was hoping for more than a few dances.

Should I tell him I wasn’t in a place for anything romantic right now? That my heart was still wounded—tangled up in someone else?

I didn’t know.

We reached my car, and I opened the door, bending across the driver’s seat to grab my purse. I found it easily and took a quick peek inside to make sure I had a tampon in there.

But when I straightened to stand, Brody’s solid form was right there—much closer than I expected.

“Sorry—” I startled, trying to take a step forward even though there was nowhere to go.

“Don’t be,” he said. Then before I knew it, his hands were on my hips and he was turning me so my back was pressed against my car.

“Hey! What are you doing?”

“Since I finally have you alone…” He grinned, leaning in. “I was thinking we could do a little chemistry test.”

“Oh—” I braced my hands against his chest, heat and panic tangling in my veins. “I’m…not really in the science mood right now.”

“Come on, Lucy.” He bent down, his breath brushing my ear. “You’ve been teasing me all semester. Just give me one little kiss. I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

“Sorry.” My stomach knotted. “I just…don’t feel that way. I thought we were just friends.”

“That’s only because you haven’t kissed me yet.” His hot breath hit my face, laced with cinnamon whiskey. “Believe me, I’ll rock your world.”

Before I could respond, his hands came up, fingers clamping along my jaw, thumbs grazing my cheeks like he thought this was tender. Like this was something I wanted.

“Stop, Brody—” I shoved at his chest.

But he didn’t budge.

My pulse roared in my ears, and the smell of alcohol, the scrape of his calloused fingers against my skin, and the way the cold metal of my car door pressed into my back all closed in until I could barely breathe.

“Just give me a chance.” He tilted my face higher, his grip firm, insistent—like he expected me to melt into him if he angled me right.

And then?—

“Get away from her!” Owen’s voice, sharp and furious, cut through the dark like a lifeline.

Brody twisted toward the sound but didn’t let go, his fingers still clamped to my jaw, hot and unyielding.

“She said no,” Owen growled. And the next second, he wrenched Brody back by the collar.

Brody stumbled, boots scuffing against the pavement. For a split second, I thought that would be the end of it. Until he spun around and shoved Owen hard, sending him back a step.

“You’ve got a problem with me kissing Lucy?” Brody sneered.

“You heard me.” Owen’s tone was ice. “Back. Off.”

“What?” Brody’s eyes narrowed, his mouth curling into an ugly grin. “You don’t want to share?”

I froze, pulse thundering in my ears. Share? What was he talking about?

I only had to wait a beat for the answer.

“You two thought you were so sneaky,” he spat, eyes wild. “But I’ve been onto you all semester—caught Lucy running up to your place back in January. Didn’t even know who she was meeting until I followed her again. ”

Followed me?

A cold chill swept through me, locking up my spine. Was he the one who’d shadowed me that night, the reason my skin had prickled all the way to Owen’s door?

All this time, I’d thought his crush was harmless. Sweet, even. But this…this sounded a lot like stalking.

“Then at her meet,” Brody went on, “when you were filming her. Going off on those guys behind you for a couple of crude comments? That was hilarious considering you were already living out their fantasies.”

“You need to stay the hell away from her,” Owen said, his jaw tight, voice like steel. “If you so much as look at her again, President Archibald will make sure you regret it. He doesn’t take risks where his daughter’s safety is concerned.”

When Brody let out a short, sharp laugh, Owen stepped forward, his fists curling at his sides.

He’s seconds away from putting Brody on the ground.

But before Owen could wipe the smug look off Brody’s face, another deep voice cut in, “What the hell is going on here?”

I turned toward the sound, and my breath caught. Because my ex was storming toward us.

I hadn’t even seen Josh tonight, but suddenly there he was, shoving Brody back and stepping between us.

“You really want to do this again?” Brody asked, holding up his fists.

“I’d love to,” Josh said. And, strangely enough, I didn’t mind seeing his temper flare for once.

“Save it for the ice,” Owen said, stopping the two hockey players from going at it. Then, looking back at Brody, Owen said, “Leave now. Or I’m calling the police.”

Brody backed away slowly, an arrogant smirk lifting his lips before he turned and disappeared into the dark .

And yeah, I was definitely switching lab partners this week. If my dad didn’t expel him first.

“You okay?” Owen’s voice softened as he pulled me into his chest.

And it was then that I realized how badly I was shaking.

“I will be,” I said, clinging to the safety of his arms. “Thanks to you.”