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Tomas’ head turns to Alexandria as he smiles. "I was wondering when I was going to get to meet you. I know you're enjoying Liv, because who doesn't, but I hope you're enjoying Bennington, too."
Continuing the petulant child act, Julian sputters, "Who the fuck is he?"
“Go back to Ryan, Julian. We didn't want to see you," Lex says through narrowed eyes and gritted teeth.
Tomas sees his empty chair, slides it over, and practically sits on top of me. With an obvious death wish, Julian stands behind me, palms gripping my shoulders. DeLuca looks to me, then to Julian's hands, stands, and removes them one by one.
"You fucking touch her again and you die."
Matt shrugs at Julian. "Look, man, I've already seen him throw punches on some dickhead in her class for the same nonsense, and I’m not above breaking your kneecaps myself. Just walk away."
When Julian doesn't immediately move and DeLuca winds back his already clenched fist, Matt stands up, grabbing Julian by the neck of his shirt. Julian finally finds his legs like a newborn giraffe and walks away, looking back over his shoulder at DeLuca and me half of the time. DeLuca relaxes a bit once he's gone and spends a few minutes jesting about our obvious hangovers.
"What are you doing later?" he growls in my ear.
I shrug. "We've been debating."
"On?" he asks, pressing me closer.
Jealous, needy DeLuca is a touchy, unrestrained Neanderthal, and it's intoxicating as hell. Suddenly, our good behavior is ready to go out the window.
"Frat party or more wine." Lex grins.
I glance at DeLuca, who gives me his panty-melting grin.
"I'll come disguised." He winks, which is somehow even hotter than his grin.
"To which?"
"Either," he replies with a slight wince.
"Let's have another wine night," Mia says, watching his reaction knowingly.
"You're really not obligated. We really should try to behave ourselves," I say too dramatically, causing Lex to give me an inquisitive look..
Whether that comes to fruition is up to DeLuca. Right now, he looks like he's teetering on the verge somewhere in the same plane of right versus wrong that I am. I'm convinced he'll be the voice of reason and decline until he gives me a smug smile.
"Oh, the tease can't handle spending some time with me?" He elbows me playfully.
Before I can answer, he looks away. "I should finish up brunch with my parents."
He plants a chaste kiss on my right cheek before waving to Mia, Matt, and Lex and walking back to his table. His parents give him a curious look, and he gives a sheepish grin in return. The looks on his parents' faces are not unlike the looks on my friend's faces. Lex and Mia both look at me with an all-knowing grin while Matt just stops and stares.
"Someone, please say something," I beg.
Lex is the first one to break the silence. "Dude, you have it bad."
"Yeah, but he's as pussy-whipped as you are dicknotized."
I pause to consider what they've just said. What DeLuca has already said. We've been so wrapped up in the physical stuff I didn't start to consider that I really enjoy just being around him. It's like this semester has already been five months as opposed to just the five weeks that it is. We have so much in our academic futures and our careers on the line and this could jeopardize, if not taint, all of it. On the other hand, it could be our chance at love. The universe does have a knack for always bringing us together.
His parents rise first and give me a tender smile as they pass. DeLuca follows behind, protectively ushering his mom's petite frame. He meets my eyes for a moment, giving me a small smile and mouths, see you later. I don't argue, still dissolving in the chaos of my mind. I figure if I change my mind about him coming tonight, I'll text him. My stomach drops as I see him talking to Julian, the pair wearing looks of icy rage. A minute or two later, Tomas leaves.
We finish up our brunch not long after Tomas and his parents.. Still at the bar, Julian briefly gives me a steely look, a stormy expression on his face. I don't really care much about how Julian feels as I stare straight ahead. There are more important things at stake here, like what we're doing tonight and how I'm gonna make it through the night with Tomas without fucking or killing him, depending on how he answers my line of questioning.
Despite my best efforts, my friends do not allow me to uninvite DeLuca. We settle on another wine night, sure to be as chaotic as the previous. Under the guise of alcohol, I need to ask him about the affair with the student. Maybe his response will help me sort through my growing weariness of being in over my head. He shows up at my door around quarter after eight, wearing one of those ever-so-snug T-shirts that accentuate his muscles and dark wash denim that hugs his thighs and his ass in all the right places.
"Where's the disguise?" I ask in mock confusion.
