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I still don’t like the teasing. I’m used to giving, not receiving, and I’m usually the strongest and filthiest in the pack. Well, I got to have some friends while I’m here. My uncle used to say that a choosy man rarely gets laid. I guess the same thing can be said of friends one makes at school. I watch Jaxon as he scrolls on his phone, and Hudson waves to some random guy from our class heading down the street. I take another bite of my burrito and finish it off. This ain’t...isn’t so bad, being friends with them.
We have to be friends because we are equals in a way I can’t figure out yet. We’ve been through some serious shit in our past. They rarely talk about it, but I can tell. It makes us a little tougher than the rest of the people on our floor. We get each other without having to explain why that is.
“Ash, are you going to the gym later?” Hudson calls out. “Your ass is getting soft.”
I scowl at him. “Why are you looking down there, man? You’re not my type, Hud.”
We laugh the insults off, but that hitting shit has got to stop. I guess we’re bonding; we’ve given each other nicknames.
“Hey, why are you guys hanging out here? Aren’t you freezing your nuts off?” Kurt Ashford steps out onto the porch, wearing a thick tan coat with a wooly lining. He looks ready to go discover the arctic. When we pledge Alpha, he’s the man we’ll deal with. And the day I met him, I understood immediately why Alpha would consider three misfits like us. He’s a good-looking WASP like Hudson but has a ton of tats like Jaxon, and his standoffish attitude matches my own. It’s like he’s all of us rolled up into one guy.
He runs his bare, reddening hands down his arms. “Even when it’s freezing, I like hanging out here,” he admits. “We just wipe the snow off the seats and use it to chill our beer.” He plops down into an Adirondack chair near mine. “Sam’s convinced the three of you are pledging. That’s good. We need more cool brothers.”
Hudson nods. “Yeah, I checked out the other frats, but this is the only one worth joining. I want to hang with people I can respect.”
“Very true,” Sam replies. “I pledged my first year, too, and Alpha has always been supportive. We have a good crew here. And we keep each other hooked up.”
The conversation stalls, but I’ve got a feeling Kurt’s not out here to convince us. He keeps staring off at the other porches, but the wheels in his head are grinding so hard I can smell acrid fumes. So what does he really want?
“So, who’s that girl I see you guys hanging out with?” he asks. “The blonde with the long legs in the skinny jeans. What’s her name? Charlene?” He waves his hand as if it helps him think.
“Charlotte,” Hudson corrects him. “You’re probably talking about Charlotte.”
“Are you seeing her?” he asks.
Hudson shakes his head. “We’re not close like that anymore. We knew each other when we were growing up.” He shrugs. “Maybe, but not right now.”
“So, you wouldn’t mind if I said something to her?” Kurt asks.
“What are you planning to say?” I ask him.
Kurt’s face is hard to read as he looks me up and down. He sums me up quickly, undecided if I’m a threat or a waste of time. “So, are you hooking up with her?”
The words don’t sound smooth as they all watch me. “We’re from the same town. Her sister asked me to help her out.”
“Why does she need help?” Kurt laughs. “She looks like she’s doing okay. Is she damaged goods?”
I don’t like the leering smirk on his face. “She’s had a few rough times recently,” I reply. “Her dad is really sick.”
“So, she could use a little comfort?”
“Look, don’t play around with her. She’s not in a good place. And I promised.”
“Hey, I don’t whore around.”
I glance at Hudson, who’s leaning against the rail with his hands folded. He looks pissed but blows off the jab. My gaze goes back to Kurt, who’s smirking like he knows what he said. If he’s looking for more intel on Charlotte, it’s not coming from me.
“Look, don’t mess with her, all right?” Hudson steps in. “She’s getting used to being away from home.”
“So you’re interested in her too.”
“We have a history.” Hudson doesn’t explain and meets my stern gaze with his own. A history of what? He’s been digging hard into my connection with Charlotte, but he’s given up nothing on his end.
“Just back off.”
Kurt holds up his hands. “Hey, I get it; you have your eye on her. But if she looks my way—”
“Just leave the girl alone.” I’m on my feet when I say it, and the looks of shock from Hudson and Jaxon let me know I’ve crossed a line. Kurt stands up, and we’re eye to eye, giving each other the filthiest look that would make another man back down.
