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My throat tightens as he gazes down at me with those gorgeous blue eyes.I don’t care what Samantha said about him.Everything in my gut tells me he’s a nice guy.She warned me over and over though, implying that he’d try to trick me into thinking he was a good guy because his brother was in town, and he’d be on his best behavior for the kid’s sake.
Did he do something to piss off Samantha?
All I can manage to do is nod, and he walks me backward, until I’m sitting safely on the bed.“If you want to get into something more comfortable…” he says as he glances at my jeans and sweater—and not in a sexual way.He walks to his dresser, pulls out a T-shirt and a pair of sweats and brings them to me.“…you can put these on.They’re big but they tie at the waist.”
I take the clothes and the fresh scent of fabric softener reaches my nose.Without thinking I bring them to my face and inhale.A strange, ridiculous noise crawls out of my throat.
“Are you going to be sick?”I drop the clothes and find Cheddar squatting in front of me, concern dancing in his eyes as they assess me.“I can take you to the bathroom.”
“No…I should leave.”
“Nope.You’re not going anywhere.”
It’s crazy, because I don’t want to go anywhere.I want to sleep in his bed tonight, and this is all so out of character for me.“Your brother.He needs you.”
He exhales and scrubs his fingers through his hair.“He and his buddy are staying in my dorm room.Nate will take care of them.”He pulls his phone from his pocket, and the warmest smile comes over his face as he reads something.
“What?”I ask.
His hair falls forward with a quick shake of his head.“Nothing, just a friend.”
Wait!
Is he reading our exchange from earlier tonight?If so, is that how he smiles when he reads messages from me—or rather Lisa?Yes, Samantha insisted I go on the app and friend Cheddar.I didn’t want to, so she went ahead and set the whole profile up, and swiped on Rhys Taylor, which she somehow found out was Cheddar’s real name.This is all so horrible.
My heart pounds so hard it hurts all the way to my throat.Honestly, I couldn’t hate myself any more than I already do.I stare at the man with a player reputation.So what if he does?That doesn’t mean he’s a bad guy, or takes women home without consent, like Samantha assured me he did, and we just needed proof.Of course, I want to shut down guys like that, but everything in my gut—and his actions tonight—tell me he’s not that guy.
“I…I should get changed.”
He stands and hesitates.“Bathroom is across the hall, and I’m going to run downstairs to get you water.Can you make it by yourself or do you need help?”
“I can make it.”
He nods and my gaze drops to take in his perfect backside as he walks to the door.“Wait,” he says and turns back to me.He comes back to me, a look of determination in his eyes.What is he doing?
“Phone?”
“What?”
“I want to put my contact information into your phone.”He jerks his thumb over his shoulder.“I’ll only be across the hall, but if I don’t hear you and you need me, you can call.”
I swallow the guilt and hand over my phone.He puts his information in, and calls himself.“There, now I have yours.”He angles his head.“It’s Leeza, right?”
He knows my name?
How the hell does the hottest guy on the hockey team know my name?More importantly, why do I like that so much?I’m not into players.I’m a serious student and have my journalism career to focus on.I shake my head to clear it, working to convince myself that it’s not important if he knows my name.
Wait, does he know I work for the gazette?
“Yes,” I say.“It’s Leeza.”
“I’ve seen you around, but we’ve never met.I’m Cheddar, but I think you already know that.”
“Everyone knows that,” I mumble and try to remember I’m supposed to be intoxicated.“I should sleep.”
“Agreed.I’ll be right back.”He leaves and quietly clicks the door shut.I listen to his footsteps on the stairs and I hurry out of my clothes and into his.I shoot off a text to Samantha that nothing is happening, and she can go home, and by the time I hear him coming up the stairs, I’m all tucked into his bed.He knocks.
“Are you decent?”
