Page 20 of Pack Giroux

"Hi," I tell him, looking up into his brown eyes. I admire him as I speak, loving his caramel-colored hair that hangs down past his shoulders. One side is pulled to the front like it has a mind of its own and does what it wants. Well, what I want is to reach out and touch it to see if it's as soft as it looks.

"Hey," he says with a quick smile. "Nice to officially meet you in person. You did great out there."

"Thanks," I tell him. "Nice to see you in person for once, too."

Before we can say anything further, the other two who were apparently holding back to let us meet get tired of waiting and rush over. Kinkaid wraps me up in a hug, but Grady picks me up underneath my arms and swings me in a quick circle like I weigh nothing. To him and his muscles, I probably don't.

"Got plans for dinner?" he asks, setting me back down on my feet and throwing an arm around my shoulders.

I glance up at Raine, but he doesn't tell them about how many plans Idon'thave. "Nope," I tell him. "You?"

"Well," he drawls out. "We were kind of hoping to take this pretty, kickass girl out."

"Let me know how that goes," I tease, slipping out from under his arm and walking toward the locker room.

When none of them speak or move, I turn, walking backwards slowly. "I'm kidding. I'd love to. Just give me time to shower and get some clothes on."

Kinkaid chuckles like he already knew I was playing with them. The other two I guess didn't. Grady perks up and Raine is looking at my body like he's the big bad wolf about to gobble me up.

"Want us to wait on you here?" he asks.

"I'll have to go back to my dorm for clothes," I tell them before flicking my eyes over to Kinkaid. "Meet you at our bench in thirty?"

He nods and fills the others in as I make my way into the locker room. I think I set some kind of record for how fast I take a shower and get ready. Probably helps that I don't do makeup and decide to let my hair air-dry. I throw on the only dress that I bought that's black with small white-and-peach colored roses on it. The girl at the shop had helped me pair it with a pair of black tights and a black-jean jacket. She'd said my Converse would be fine to wear with it, too, since they're pretty universal.

Stuffing my phone, keys, and tiny wallet that holds my student ID and bank card in the front pockets of the jacket, I head out. Thankfully, none of my roommates have come back yet. I seriously don't understand what I've done to make them be like they are. Other than jealousy. Nichole did sit on the bench today, and I'd overheard the coach telling her that she could have her spot back when she got better than me. Unfortunately, she was the only one that was even slightly on my side. Now, I bet she's going to be just like the others. It's not like I did it on purpose or anything. I just did what I was told to do.

It rests on my mind as I make my way across campus to where I know I'm being waited on. The moment I spot them, more than my step picks up. My mood and my shoulders both do, too. Raine sits on the bench with his elbows back on the tableas he stares up at Kinkaid standing in front of him with his hands in his pockets. Grady is sitting on the very edge of the table, leaning his arms down on his knees, head volleying back and forth between the other two. They're all smiling and laughing, letting me know that whatever they're discussing it's not serious. It makes me a tad bit sad being an outsider looking into their moment, but it makes me just as happy knowing they've got each other.

Grady spots me first and jumps off his seat to jog over. He does the same thing he did in the gym, picking me up under my arms and swinging me in a circle. Only this time we get three in before he sets me back down. Before I know what's happening, his lips drop to mine in the quickest kiss ever before he pulls away.

"Sorry," he says, eyes alight with excitement. "I couldn't help it. You're so beautiful."

Pushing my glasses up my nose from where they fell as we were swinging, I know that my cheeks are pink from both his kiss and his compliment. I don't get to thank him before the others walk up.

"Be careful doing that when she's in a dress, dude," Kinkaid scolds him. "Don't want to be flashing our girl's bum to the world."

Just when I didn't think my face could flame any hotter. Grady winces. "My bad."

"Kind of my fault," I say, trying to alleviate his stress. "I should probably stop wearing dresses this short."

"NO!" they all burst out at the same time.

I cover my mouth and snicker behind it. Guess that settles that then.

Raine holds out an elbow for me to take, giving me the option on whether I want us touching or not. I take it without hesitation, and we begin walking toward the parking lot oncampus. I wasn't able to get a scent from him in the gym. I figured it was because there were so many people and scents mingling in the small space. This close to him alone, it's easier, though, it's still subtle. Which is weird for an alpha, because normally their scent tends to overwhelm me. My body can still tell he's an alpha nonetheless. He smells like the first spring day after a cold, hard winter. Like fresh, warm sunlight if that even has a smell. It's what it makes me think of. Does that mean that I want to lay underneath him like I would the sun after being so cold for so long, soaking up everything he has to offer? Absolutely.

Trying to get my brain out of the gutter it's rolled into, I ask them, "So, where are we going?"

"To victory dinner, silly," Kinkaid answers from behind us. I flick my gaze over my shoulder, and he grins, "It's a surprise, but you'll love it."

He's right. I do love it. They take me to this place that is like a giant arcade for adults. We order a quick dinner and then spend hours playing games and competing against each other. It's the most fun I've had probably in my entire life. It brought out their competitive sides, too. I knew I already had one, obviously. But Raine, as quiet as he appears to be, doesn't like to lose. Not that he's a bad sport about it, but he always comes back with, "Let's go again."

In the hours we spend goofing off, I think I laugh more than I have my whole life. By the time that it's over, I'm so tired that I can barely hold my eyes open. What with the adrenaline from the game then going out for hours, when we get into Kinkaid’s SUV to drive back to campus, I'm fighting sleep.

"Want to stay with us tonight since it's so late?" Kinkaid asks, glancing over at me.

"Sure," I tell him for more than one reason. I don't have classes tomorrow, and I'd love to see where they live. Plus, we'rein the middle of the city, and they'd have to drive me then come all the way back. I'm pretty sure they're as tired as I am.

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