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“Thanks?” I squeaked out as my butt hit the car seat. “I guess you’re impressed by good hygiene.”
He left me hanging with one of his mysterious smiles and closed the door.
We pulled off campus and turned into a neighborhood with rows of fraternity and sorority houses. “I thought we were headed to Austin?”
“We are.” He parked the car in front of a three-story Greek revival house surrounded by a group of people dressed in formal wear and lounging in front of a sleek black party bus in the driveway. “We’re taking a party bus.”
Gathering our things, he led me over to the bus. Once Axel was spotted, it seemed he became the center of attention, and everyone flocked to him. I felt myself tense up, but he kept a firm hand at my back as he greeted people with ease.
“Who’s this?” a tall, willowy blonde who looked like a cover model called out, staring at me as if I were some undiscovered specimen. “She doesn’t look like your type.” Her eyes shot to Axel, who was shoving our bags into the luggage compartments. Did he do her wrong? She sure as hell looked like it. “New blood?” Her words were snarky and felt like I was part of an inside joke I wasn’t in on.
Axel stood up and shook his head before glancing down at me. “Let’s get on the bus.”
He held out his hand, and I slipped mine into his, pushing the snarky, beautiful girl’s comment aside.I don’t know these people. I couldn’t care less what they thought of me. It is only one night, and I can do this.
We found a spot inside the bus, and more people joined us. There was a bottle of champagne on ice beside us, with flutes, and Axel seized them and poured me a glass.
“Maybe I shouldn’t,” I said cautiously as he held it out in front of me.
“Why?”
“I feel like I need to keep my wits about me.”
“Lose your wits, and I’ll keep a watch out.” He nudged his chin. “Relax a little for once.”
“Easy for you to say,” I said under my breath wishing for once I could act as relaxed as he always seemed. He sat with his legs spread, and he draped a muscled arm, straining under the fabric of his charcoal grey tailored suit, over the back of the seat. He looked every bit a sophisticated gentleman who was very much in his element.
More couples were filing onto the bus and stopped to fist-bump him or say a few words as if he were the king being greeted by his people. I’m certain if he had a signet ring, they would drop to their knees and kiss it. I watched in silence and took a sip of the champagne, licking my lips.Damn, this is good.
I glanced over and saw him watching me intently.
“What?”
He ran a finger over his bottom lip, then shifted his attention to something behind me. “Where the fuck is Jensen?” some guy with chestnut brown hair and an air of privilege snapped as he whisked by us.
Axel’s demeanor remained relaxed. “He’ll be here, Justin. Calm your tits.”
“He better be here within the next five minutes or we’re leaving his ass.”
“Yeah, right.” Axel chuckled, but there was no humor in his eyes. “You itching to get your ass kicked by him again?”
“Whatever, man.” Justin shook his head and led the blonde standing beside him—the one who’d made the ‘new blood’ comment to me—to the front of the bus.
A few minutes later, it seemed the bus was filled. Drinks were passed around, and the murmur of conversations was all around us. Axel looked up from his phone as I saw another couple climb on, both looking flushed. “You got here just in time. We were about to leave without you,” he said.
The large guy, who looked like a Viking, flashed a smile at Axel and led his date to sit down beside us. He looked familiar, as well. Seeing his build, I was certain he played on the football team. “You know you wouldn’t have taken off without me.”
Axel reached behind us and grabbed the bottle of Dom and another glass before handing it to the gorgeous redhead. “Kenz, you want some champagne?”
“I would love some. Thanks.” Axel poured her a glass and introduced us as he refilled my glass.
“And this loser”—Axel pointed a beer bottle at the Viking—“is Nicholas.”
“Nick will suffice.” He jerked the bottle out of Axel’s hand.
“Glad to see you finally graced us with your presence, Jensen. Thanks for holding up the party, as usual,” Justin called out sarcastically.
Nick smirked, pulling Kenzie close. “What’s wrong, Davis? You sound like a whiny ex-girlfriend.”
