AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My lips pull into a sneer as I lean closer, my voice hard as I say, “I’d rather be crazyanda bitch than your whore.”
A laugh splutters behind me, followed by clapping.
I turn on my heel, past a beaming, applauding Jace, and march down the porch with his approval trailing after me.
JACE
I’m still laughing my ass off by the time Brynn pulls my truck up to the curb of my apartment. It only took minimal prodding to convince her to drive us since I had too much to drink at theparty, and I’m glad. This way, I won’t have to worry about her walking back to the dorms.
It’s late, so the night is quiet and the roads empty. Above us, the sky is a dark bed of stars. It almost reminds me of our nights back in Riverside, if not for the girl beside me. Brynn never joined us. Maybe once or twice as a freshman before she stepped back from our circle of friends entirely. One day she was hanging out with Teagan, me, and the boys like everything was normal and then she just . . . didn’t.
“I’m so glad you find my situation funny,” she says, her tone dry.
“You know it’s not the situation I find funny, clearly.” I roll my eyes because she’s so dramatic.
She turns to me. “Is this the part where you tell me, ‘I told you so’?”
“Of course not.” My lips twitch. “I mean, even if Iwasright, which I clearly was, I would never say that. I think it’s now obvious he’s the biggest douchebag on the face of the planet.”
Brynn groans and leans her head back against the car seat. “The first guy I have an interest in at college and he’s a dud. I really thought he was different. Aren’t there any good guys anymore?”
My mouth twists. “I hang out with dudes 99 percent of the time, except for when I seek female companionship”—Brynn snorts—“and I will tell you that no, there aren’t. It’s slim pickings. We’re all dogs. You might as well become a nun and join a convent. I say cut your losses now.”
“Oh, you and Teagan would love that. I’ll just become celibate and join a convent. Thanks for the pep talk, Taggart.”
“Any time.” I slap a hand over her thigh in what’s meant to be a friendly gesture, but my hand lingers a little longer than it should. Her skin is smooth and warm, and sends an electric jolt up my arm as her gaze drops to where my hand meets her leg.
My pulse stampedes in my chest, and my thoughts drift to dangerous places. Like the moment earlier in the dorms where I caged her in between my arms. I wanted to kiss her then. Just like I want to kiss her now.
I have no idea what the hell is happening to me or where these feelings are coming from, but the part of my brain still functioning screams at me to retreat. Bail. She’s Teagan’s sister—a no-go zone—so I clear my throat and extricate my hand as casually as possible, noting the pink staining Brynn’s cheeks as I do. “Is it wrong that I feel like Stanley turning out to be the world’s biggest dumbass was worth it just to see you deck him?”
Brynn’s frown curls into a smile before a laugh splutters from her lips. “The look on his face . . .”
“So classic,” I crow. “And your final burn was the most epic mic drop I’ve probably ever witnessed. In fact, I think we need to make T-shirts or personalized mugs.”
The corners of Brynn’s eyes crinkle as she laughs even harder. “It was just being honest. Iwouldrather be a crazy bitch than his whore.”
“Thank God for that because you being a crazy bitch makes my life a whole hell of a lot easier. After tonight, I’m not sure I have to worry about you anymore.”
Brynn’s laughter dies in her throat and she rolls her eyes. “You never did. You’re not my babysitter, Taggart.”
And just like that, Brynn’s hackles rise.
“I’ll give you more space from here on out.”
“Oh, why, thank you. What a gift.”
I grin at her snarky tone and reach across her to turn the ignition off. “Wanna come up?” I nod toward my apartment building.
She peers up at the building through the windshield. “To your bachelor pad? No thanks. No telling what venereal disease I might catch just by breathing the same air.”
“Hilarious.” I huff out a half laugh.
“Why are we here, anyway?” she asks, flashing me some serious side-eye. “I thought the point was for me to have a ride back to my dorm?”
“Just need to grab something, then we’ll get you home. Be right back.”
I leave my truck, taking the stairs two at a time until I reach the second story landing where I let myself into the apartment. It’s quiet, so I assume Chris is still out, which is just as well. I’m sure he’d give me shit for being with Brynn right now.
