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“And your dad is—”
“White?” he finished for her. “Yeah.”
“Okay, legacy.” She smiled.
“So what about you? Are you in a sorority? Let me guess: AKA, Delta, Zeta, Sigma Gamma Rho?”
“Nope. To my family’s horror, I’m breaking about two generations’ worth of tradition.”
“You made it,” a voice said behind her.
Nicole knew that voice. She could’ve picked it out with her eyes closed.
“That was a kick-ass game, man,” Brandon said, stepping around her to slap Drew’s hand.
“Thanks, bro.”
She turned, and there he was, showered and put together now, a long way from the pads and helmet she’d watched from way up in the stands. The henley he had on fit snug across his chest and shoulders, showing off all those hours he spent in the weight room. And he was looking at her the same way he had at the mall, taking his sweet time about it and not even trying to hide it.
Brandon caught it. “This is Nicole,” he said, easing back to make room for Drew.
“We’ve met,” Drew said.
Brandon shot her a sideways look. “Once. Briefly,” she said. Her neck went hot, and she did her best to act like it was nothing. “But it’s nice to see you again.”
“I’m glad you decided to come,” Drew said.
“My best friend invited me. She’s around here somewhere.”
“I invited you too. And here you are.”
He most certainly had. Right after kissing another girl, too. And still, there Nicole was, way too happy to see him. It had been so much easier when Drew was just somebody she watched from across campus. Having him this close was a whole different thing.
“It’s a great party,” she said, and turned toward Brandon to pull him back in. She hadn’t meant to forget the guy existed the second Drew showed up, but she basically had.
“Glad you’re having a good time,” Brandon said, but his focus had already drifted to a girl in a denim miniskirt passing behind them. “I’m gonna go.” He started backing away. “But I’ll see you around, Nicole.”
“Yeah, sure. See you in class, Brandon.”
“And then there were two,” Drew said.
A shiver rolled through her before she could stop it. Jesus, give me strength.
She could’ve walked away and told him she wasn’t interested. It wasn’t like it would’ve ruined his night. Even out on the deck with everybody around, she could feel people watching them. Girls slowed down when they walked past, looking a little too long, and the conversations closest to them got real quiet. The minute she left, Drew wouldn’t be alone for long.
He was all up in her space now, one arm braced on the deck railing behind her, his body angled into hers.
“Where’s your girl?” Nicole asked. She had to remember who she was dealing with here. Drew was a player, and everybody knew it.
“Don’t have one. Remember?”
“Right,” she drawled.
“What about your man?”
“My ex.” Why did she feel the need to clarify? “And he’s not here.”
“Good.” Drew leaned in, dipping his head until his mouth was near her ear. “But even if he was, it wouldn’t keep me away from you.”
