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“One,” I say, raising a finger, “Dean is not my boyfriend. And tw
o,” I say, adding another, “I don’t think all men make you pay for yourself on a date. Just the cheap ones.”
She chuckles, sweeping her black hair over her shoulder. “Maybe I just need better taste in men.”
“Dean is off-limits,” I say before she can make another comment about him.
“Because he’s yours?” She gives me a sly smirk.
“No, Sil. Because he’s Dean. We don’t shit where we eat.”
“Ooh, that’s a pleasant picture you just painted.”
“We graduate in a few weeks. Dean will go back to Florida, and we’ll go back to Chicago to start our internships.”
“Don’t you want to know if there’s something more between you two before you never see him again?”
What is her problem tonight?
“I’ll see Dean again. He’s staying with my family for a week when he comes for the NHL Draft.”
“But what happens after that?”
“He could get picked by the Blackhawks,” I counter. “Then, he’d be in Chicago with us.”
“Or the Oilers could get him, and then he’d be in another country. What would you do then? Fly to Canada to see him?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Why are you being such a nag?”
She blows out a deep breath. “You don’t see what other people see when they’re around you two. Duke and Austin give you shit about Dean because they see it, too.”
My older brothers love Dean, but they also don’t want us dating either. Well, in their defense, Duke and Austin don’t want me to date anyone, ever. If I chose to remain celibate for the rest of my life, that would make them super happy.
Dating has always been a struggle for me. And once Theo and Travis started at Strick U, my dating life went from somewhat hopeless to impossible. With an overprotective dad and four brothers who hover over me, they have chased away every guy I ever liked. But Dean never let their attitudes deter him.
I slide the wristlet in place and turn away from her, sick of having this conversation. “I have to meet Dean and the twins. Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?”
She shakes her head. “Nope, I’m meeting the girls at O’Shea’s. It’s two-dollar beer night.”
“Have fun.” I pull her into a hug, and she smacks a kiss on my cheek.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I laugh and then head out the door.
On the front porch at the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house, I find Dean, leaning back in a chair. He sips a beer as he talks to his teammates. As usual, men and women crowd around him, competing for his attention. He’s the life of the party wherever we go.
Dean glances over, and once our eyes meet, he jumps up with his beer in hand. “You made it,” he says, shuffling down the steps. “And you’re late.”
I laugh. “I didn’t think it mattered. These parties usually go all night.”
“Yeah, but I thought you were bailing on me.”
“Nope.” I shake my head. “Where’s Theo and Travis? I thought they were here.”
He glances around the porch and front lawn that are covered in plastic cups, bottles, and cigarettes. Then, he shrugs. “Who knows? They were just out here. I think I heard Theo say something about getting beer for the girls.”
“How many of them were there?”
