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“No. I shouldn’t have done that.” He scanned my outfit, taking his time. “You look nice. Let me show you around.”
When we moved through the kitchen, Chase was passing out tiny glasses with amber liquid in them. “Salut,” Jared said, clinking his glass to ours. Megan glanced at me with eyes raised in reservation. I had reservations, too, but acted like I knew what I was doing. I tilted my shot back, and she followed my lead. It tasted sweet and cinnamonny, but kind of burned as it went down my throat.
“One more Fireball.” Jared motioned with his finger. The second one went down easier, and I started feeling a warmth bloom up my neck to my face. “Let me show you around.” He removed the shot glass from my hand and pulled me with him.
Jared kept a hand at the small of my back as we moved around the house. The house was huge, but you wouldn’t know it because there were so many people everywhere. I’d heard rumors floating around about how Jared’s parties were legendary. I wasn’t sure exactly what it meant to reach legendary status, but just seeing the crowd, it seemed like everyone agreed. I was cautious as I kept peering around hoping, I didn’t run into Dmitri. Fortunately, with so many people here, it would be easier to avoid crossing paths with him.
“Have you seen Dmitri?”
“No, but I’m sure he’s here somewhere, or will be. You want me to text him?”
He pulled out his phone, and I clutched his wrist. “No.” Jared peered down at me in question. I realized I sounded panicky. I toned it down and smiled. “I mean, I was just asking. I don’t need to talk to him or anything.”
“Okay.” He grinned and leaned close to me. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I get it now. He didn’t want you here. Did he? As a matter of fact, I wondered why I’d never seen you at any of the parties this year.” He had a wry look on his face. “I guess he’s serious about keeping you out of trouble.”
I tilted my head, lost. “Trouble?”
He laughed good-naturedly and reached out, straightening my bunny ear headband on my head. “He threatened some of the guys on the team, underclassmen, to stay away from you. I thought he was fucking around, but I guess he really meant it.”
My blood pressure shot up when I heard what Jared admitted. “He did what?” No wonder the boys who were in some of my classes wouldn’t even give me the time of day, or avoided me like the plague, when they’d been so nice at first. I wanted to kill Dmitri for trying to control my social life. I truly thought his warnings were amusing, but apparently, he really would stoop that low.
“Dude takes his job as protective older brother very seriously,” he teased.
“He’s not actually my brother.”
“He’s not?”
I shook my head and crossed my arms, still scanning the crowd. “He is just an overbearing asshole,” I said under my breath.
“English please.” Jared peered at me in puzzlement. “Sorry, sweetheart, I don’t speak Russian. I only know a little Spanish, but it’s shady at best.”
I didn’t realize I had slipped into Romanian. “It was nothing.” I shook it off as we passed through the house to the outdoor area. “By the way, I’m not Russian. I’m from Romania.”
“Oh. I thought Dmitri was Russian…”
“He is. I’m not. We’re not related by blood.” Someone called out Jared’s name and fist bumped him as he passed by. I eyed the crowd. “I hear you have some great parties.”
“You would be correct.” He slipped his arm around my shoulder, leading me by the large pool, and it was then I realized how many people were outside, as well. There was a bonfire going on, and groups of people crowded around it as music boomed through the night sky.
I saw Megan approaching us, and she appeared worried as she pulled me aside, away from Jared.
“Dmitri’s here. He saw me. He asked me if you were here, too.”
I felt my heart race. Damn nerves. “What did you say?” Did she tell him I was? Knowing Dmitri, he probably charmed her into telling him everything.
“I said you didn’t feel well after dinner, and I took you home.”
Wow. I was impressed Megan didn’t sing like a canary. However, my cell started ringing. I pulled it out and glanced at my friend. “He’s calling.” I stood frozen as the phone vibrated in my hand. I let it go to voicemail and decided to send him a text.
Me:What???? I’m trying to sleep.
Dmitri:Liar.
The hairs on the back of my neck tingled as I casually spun around. “I don’t see him.”
