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Seven
The Offer
Byron
He had one goal now. Just one. Get her the hell home and out of his car where Byron could finally get the scent of her out of his nose and stop with his arbitrary questioning. He had zero business questioning anything she did. He’d hoped the smell of puke in his car might mask that intoxicating scent ofher. The moment she’d been close enough, he’d been assaulted by her fragrance and no amount of puke was undoing it. It’s why he hadn’t offered to throw the dirty clothes back in his trunk.
From the moment he first laid eyes on her tonight in that tiny dress and those fuck-me heels with her newestfriendJoseph in tow he’d felt almost sick to his stomach. How and why a girl he knew so little about except the basics, her name, general age, where she was from and now confirmation that she didn’t do the boyfriend thing, could get so far under his skin, was infuriating. She’d just confirmed she was exactly what Nine had referred to from day one.
She was a young college girl, fresh out of her parents safeguarding clutches. Clearly, she was looking to run free and experiment all of life’s adventures. And as well she should be. It’s what young adults did once they were out in the big world all on their own. So, what did Byron care? He had no business getting any ideas about a girl like this, let alone getting all bent over the fact that she was at least being honest about it. This was a chick he’d been hung up on solely on the basis of her looks and sweet laugh. Seeing what a spitfire she could be, despite the sweet innocence behind those huge brown eyes was hot as fuck. If anything, he should be all for trying to get on herjust friendslist. It’s all he had time for right now, anyway, right? He did keep saying he needed to get laid.
But while the thought of having sweet, yet sexy as fuck Vannah under him was one that already had his cock twitching, his gut was screaming otherwise. Already he was acting like an entitled prick who had the nerve to question anything about her personal life and choices when it wasnoneof his business. Who the hell was he kidding? Even if he didn’t understandwhy, his gut already knew getting involved with her inanyway would not end well.
Only he was curious about something thatdidpertain to him. So, he’d ask about that, and then drop the rest of his unjustified interrogation about her personal life.
“How’d you know my name?”
She sat up a little straighter, glancing out the window and cleared her throat. “I saw you last week at Starbucks. Heard them call your name when your order was ready.”
Byron turned to her as they came to another stop. Pulling a strand of hair behind her ear, it was clear she was avoiding facing him. She stared straight ahead instead. Like she had more than once tonight, Byron could see she was blushing again. Even her neck and ears were red now.
As intense as this night had been for him so far, it’s the only times all night he hadn’t been able to refrain from smirking. He was tempted to ask why this embarrassed her, but his tightening gut knew why. Just like she’d turned beet red after saying his name, and again when he’d brought up the subject of boyfriends earlier, Byron was reminded. He may never understand it, and he’d be an idiot to try and figure it out, but Vannah was also feeling something sheshouldn’tbe for someone she hardly knew. Those moments they’d had in the past several weeks, hadn’t been imagined. But having been down this road before, with this type ofyounggirl, he’d be damned if he’d get sucked into that again.
Without further comment and trying not to overthink the fact that she remembered the name she heard of somerandomguy over a week ago, Byron drove on silently as his heart sped up. Thankfully, the ride to her dorm wasn’t much further so the awkward silence didn’t go on for too much longer. The dorms weren’t like the ones he’d been expecting. While Byron didn’t stay in a dorm during his time at ESU, he’d been privy to the inside of many. Back in his day of partying in them. Most were no bigger than a small hotel room. He’d driven by these before but assumed they were apartments because of the size of them.
It wasn’t until Byron pulled up as close as he could to the entrance of the dorms, that something dawned on him. “You’re not on the second floor, are you?”
Vannah shook her head but then frowned when she motioned to her left. “No but there are a few stairs we’ll have to scale to get to our dorm. It’s okay though,” she added quickly. “I’ll get her up one step at a time.”
“One step at a time?” Byron scoffed glancing back at her completely passed out friend in his backseat. “She ain’t doing any walking anytime soon. I already knew I’d be carrying her in for you. I just hadn’t given any thought to the possibility of stairs.”
“No, you’ve done enough, Byron.” Her face tinging again nearly had him smiling, but she went on quickly. “I’m sure I can round up a few of our neighbors and friends to help me with her.”
Shaking his head without a word, he opened his door and got out. No way would this five-foot- nothing little thing be carrying someone who outweighed her by at least thirty pounds. Even with help from her other likely equally dainty neighbors.
Then he had another thought. A lot of these dorms were coed. What she might mean byfriendscould be some of the guys he’d already seen her with. Some of whom might be more than willing to help her, then hang out and chat about the night she’d had. The utter irritation over just the thought, was confusing as fuck. But it was just another reminder why he should just hurry up, get this over with, and get away from the girl. The sooner the better. Pulling the backdoor open with a purpose now, Byron leaned in and got to work.
He’d been right on the nose about her friend being in no shape to walk anywhere anytime soon. She was out cold and absolute dead weight. Eventually, he managed to throw her over his shoulder, and they were on their way. As expected, carrying her wasn’t nearly the chore he knew Vannah was thinking, given all the wincing, and apologizing she did.
With minimal heaving and puffing as they made it up the few stairs, they were finally at her dorm door. Vannah worked quickly to get the door open and within minutes they were in the largest dorm room he’d ever been in. It was literally about the size of his two-bedroom apartment. Full kitchen, front room and all. After getting Sochee in bed in her own room, and Vannah assuring Byron she was fine and that she could take it from there, they walked back out to the front room.
The mounting temptation to delay his stay and possibly get to know her a little better, had Byron making a B-line to the front door. Despite how tempting it was, he had the presence of mind to remind himself what a bad idea that would be. If it were any other girl maybe. But his gut knew better, and his ridiculous reaction to just hearing her engage with another interested dude, had been further confirmation of it. She wouldn’t be just another chick he could pass the time with and not demand anything more.
Vannah continued to thank him and apologize for her initial assumption of him. “Listen,” she said softly when he got to the door. She motioned to the stuff she’d dropped on the floor when she’d rushed through the front door. “I’m gonna get those cleaned for you.”
Byron glanced down confused. Next to her purse and Sochee’s shoes, were his crumpled gym shorts and tank. He hadn’t even noticed she’d brought them with her from the car.
Oh, hell no.
“That’s okay.”
He shook his head starting to reach for them, but she took a step forward and he froze when his hand grazed her body just an inch from her breasts. Expecting her face to flush, he was surprised it didn’t. Instead, she reached for the clothes before he could.
“I absolutely insist. After everything you did for us tonight and the way I first treated you, getting them cleaned is theleastI can do. I just need to know what the best way to get them back to you is. Should I mail them?”
“Seriously.” He shook his head feeling panicked, as he reached out for the clothes again. “You don’t have to. They were already dirty and they’re just gym clothes. They don’t need to be cleaned.”
Shaking her head adamantly, her brows furrowed in stubborn defiance. It was adorable as shit and he needed to get the hell out of there with his clothes so he could cut all ties with hernow.
