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Fitz looked to Scott, who was fighting back his own grin. “He’s never not gotten attention, so … no.”
“Should I be worried about this?”
The two shared another look.
Scott’s grin softened. “You’ll be fine. You know Kash. He has three contingencies in place in case we need a quick getaway.”
That eased up some of the sudden guilt I was feeling for making them do this. But thinking back, I realized I wasn’t making them do it. I knew Kash would come, but Matt was the one who showed up without being invited. He already knew about the game, and he was the one who announced he was coming.
I was glad he did. I was thinking this would be a lot more fun with him.
Other people were walking around us, all going to the football stadium.
At first I tensed up, but only a few people checked us out. Those people shot to Scott and Fitz behind us, but Kash and Matt were drawing the most attention.
I saw what Scott said. Matt didn’t know how to not get attention. Even him walking with his head high, his back straight, his pom-poms in the air, he was someone. They just didn’t know who, or couldn’t tell.
“He looks like a wealthy golden boy fraternity brother.”
I glanced to Melissa. She’d been watching me, and she nodded to Matt. “Your brother. I can tell you’re worried, but that’s what the people are thinking when they see him. Your man is something else, but he doesn’t want attention, and they’re reading that. He’s keeping his head down so they can’t see him. They’re going off his demeanor, and he’s got a vibe that he’s dark and mysterious, but somehow he’s putting out another vibe that people need to not pay him attention. They aren’t.
“Your brother, on the other hand, is something else. Fraternity rich kid. That’s what they’re chalking him up to being. And then they think Kash is one too, so they’re getting attention. It’s just not the attention you’re worried they’re getting.” She nodded at them. “Guys like them, they’re going to draw focus from people. Just who they are. Both are manipulating it into something else. Smart.”
Yes. It was.
I remembered back to when Kash hugged me this morning, tucked my hair back into my sweatshirt, and said under his breath, “Fresh-faced student. Light. Nice. Eyes will skip over you, thinking you’re another pretty face.”
I’d been struck then by his words, but it made sense now. He was feeling out what “vibe” I was putting out, and he was right.
Innocent. Light. That’s the aura Kash wanted me to give out, so with that in mind, I stopped worrying.
We had a game to enjoy.
THIRTY-THREE
Liam was waving us up. He and his friends took up a whole section, spanning five rows. They didn’t fill out the entire row, but Kash was right. Athletes traveled in groups, large groups. Liam was in their third row when he spotted us. The grin faded when he took in Kash, then Matt, then Fitz, and lastly Scott.
Coming down the steps to meet us, he put his hands in his pockets. “I was expecting Liss, Bailey, and maybe a couple guys.”
Kash stared at him. “Well—”
Matt popped his head up, grinning wide. “Deal with it.”
He and Kash both laughed.
Melissa began giggling.
Liam was clueless, his eyebrows raised. He gave me a look. “You know the inside joke?”
I shook my head. “You don’t want to know.”
Kash cleared his throat. “If there aren’t any extra seats, we can sit somewhere else.”
Matt snorted. “That’s code for either he’ll bribe the people for their seats if Bailey wants to stay, or he’ll maneuver us all into a box upstairs.” He hopped up on the same step Liam was standing on, threw his arm around his shoulder, and squeezed Liam to him.
“We’re here for three reasons,” he said, and stuck a finger out. “One: because Bailey wants to be normal. She’s been missing that phenomenon. Me, I was born amazing, so I don’t know any other way.” He held up a second finger. “Two: football. That says enough,” he continued. Then he put three fingers in the air. “And the last reason: to drive Kashton crazy. He’s tempering it right now. He really wants to throw his weight around, bash some heads, make some threats and move Bailey to safety, but he can’t, because we’re back to number one: Bailey. He’s kinda nuts for her, so he’s already primed. Our first meeting sucked, so I’m reintroducing myself. I’m Matt, Bailey’s smarter brother.”
Kash’s mouth twitched.
Liam was slack-jawed. He took Melissa and me in. “He’s for real?”
Melissa nodded. “He’s been like this the whole ride over. I think this is how he is normally.”
Matt winked at her. “Just wait till I get some liquor in me. I won’t care if Bailey’s here. You’re going to be hearing some fabulous pickup lines.” His arm still around Liam, he leaned toward Melissa and dropped his tone suggestively. “They’ll be so smooth, you might learn what ‘combustible climax’ means.” He winked. “If you get my drift.”
