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I gulp as my feet come to a resounding halt.“Oh, you want to go to Ryan’s room to change?”
“No.I wasn’t suggesting that.”
Holy shit, what is she suggesting?
“I’m not going to kick you out of your own room again.You left last night because of me.”She circles her finger.“You turn that way, and I’ll turn this way.”She walks to my bed, to where her clothes are laid out, and turns her back to me.Does she not realize I can see her in the mirror?Maybe she does and goddammit, maybe she wants me to look.
Fuck me twice.
I turn to avoid temptation, and since I showered last night, and don’t have time for another this morning, I quickly dress, and when she’s done, I turn and take in my sweats on her.She’s in the same sweater she wore last night.
A few minutes later we’re outside and sliding into my car, which has been sitting in Ryan’s driveway.I vaguely remember where Kendra lives.I pull into the driveway and the front door opens, and out walks my asshole brother, looking mussed and well fucked.
I’m going to kill him.
I crook my finger and at least he looks a bit worried.He should be.I’m going to kick his ass.I’m about to open my door and grab him by the scruff of the neck, stopping when Leeza’s hand lands on my lap.It does two things at the same time: heat me up and cool me down.I turn to her.
“Don’t be too hard on him.”
If only she wasn’t being too hard on me.
“Leeza—”
“They’re both young, doing what young people do.You can’t help who you like, or that her brother is the captain of the hockey team.Also, is it fair, Cheddar?Shouldn’t she do what is right for her, what’s in her heart?She’s old enough to make her own decisions and shouldn’t be a puppet on a string, manipulated by some marionette.”
Why do I get the sense she’s talking about something personal here?
“Her brother just worries about her.”
“I understand.You worry about your brother too.But I’m guessing it was all consensual…” I scrub my face as Dane opens the back door.“Last night, you took me home and cared for me, showing your brother how it’s supposed to be done.I think you both come from a good place.”
I smile at that.She’s pretty astute for a girl I just met.“What did I tell you?”I growl at my kid brother as he slides into the car.
“Sorry, bro.”
“Sorry, bro.That’s all you have to say?”Leeza eyes me, but I have to be hard on the kid.I don’t want him getting his ass kicked in the streets, or booted from the team next year.
“I like her, and I think she likes me too.”
“Clearly.”I adjust the rearview mirror and catch his grin.He might like her now, but it will be eight months before he’s going here full time and I’m sure they’ll forget all about each other.I relax and let my worries go.“Dane, this is Leeza.Do you remember her from last night?
“Yeah.”Dane leans forward and grabs the back of Leeza seat.“How are you feeling?”I smile at his concern.
Leeza folds her hand on her lap and stretches them out.“Great.I slept it off, and your brother took good care of me.”
“Did he cook you breakfast?”
“Of course.Did you cook Kendra breakfast?”she asks with a raised brow.
“No, I left her sleeping, and didn’t want to mess around in her kitchen, but do you think we could grab a breakfast sandwich and coffee so I can bring something back to her for when she wakes up?
I nod, my heart warming at his consideration.Maybe he’ll do okay here after all, and maybe he was just showing off in front of his friend last night, pretending to be something he wasn’t—something everyone expects of him—especially since he’s my kid brother.Shit, maybe I’m not setting a good example at all.But today, I plan to be Rhys, not Cheddar, and show him it’s okay to be who you really are.If people don’t like Rhys, screw them.I laugh to myself.It took me long enough to figure that shit out.
“Yeah sure, kid.”I back out of the driveway.“Where’s Jesse?”
“Asleep in your dorm.”
“Alone, I hope?”
