Page 30 of Give You Up

“In your dreams, buddy.”

“Has already happened, among other things.” His grin widens.

“Taron.” I blow at strands of hair falling in my eye.

“One listen.” The smile leaves his face. “Me and Lily coming out of the bathroom isn’t what you think happened.”

“I couldn’t care less what you do with other girls.”

“Syn, some dude stuck his hand up her dress and felt her up. She was stunned, embarrassed,violated. She wanted somewhere private to talk.”

“Oh, God, is she okay?”

“She is. I drove her home. She was shook up.”

I bet she was.

“I’m glad you were there for her, Taron.”

“Any guy would’ve done what I did.”

“Um, excuse me, but it was a guy who molested her. A different guy could do the same or worse. You’re a good guy.”

He looks away. I’ve embarrassed him.

“She transferred in last year,” he mutters. “Doesn’t have a lot of friends. She was hoping I’d be at the party.”

“So you and she aren’t together?”

Why am I asking? He arrived on campus a month after I saw him at Bayside. Could a guy seriously move that fast? Except I wouldn’t put it past Taron to be the exception. He is gorgeous. A charmer. Has an edge to him with his quick temper. There are girls who find edgy sexy. I am one of them.

“Never met her until sex ed class. I don’t want to gloss over what happened to Lily—and if it happens to you, I’ll fuck up the guy within an inch of his life—but when can I swing by and give you back the ring?”

His concern for Lily melts my heart, while him pounding at his chest in my defense, if need be, slicks my panties. How did I go from feeling nothing with the guys I’ve hooked up with to this heat that engulfs my body from head to toe at something as innocent as Taron coming to my defense?

This is not normal.

Or I’m not normal.

But how I reacted to my mom’s death and the truth of who my fathers are isn’t normal either. I return my head to the conversation.

“Tomorrow in class.”

“Or I can stop by now.”

“You don’t have my address.”

“You can give it to me.”

His voice is gravelly, drawing my attention to his mouth. Taron has such a nice mouth. Kissable. Delectable. I would suck his bottom lip into my mouth. Nip on their fullness. Gauge their softness with the tip of my tongue.

“Syn?”

“Oh, I’m, um, I’m not home.”

“Dare?” His jaw clenches. His eyes narrow.

“Yes.”

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