Page 33 of Give You Up

“Didn’t get her name. But no worries. We talked, that’s all, okay?”

“Hey, who you talk to or spend time with is none of my business.”

“It’s not what I’m seeing and hearing from you, Pixie Dust.”

I heave a sigh, still not happy with his answer. “What did she look like?”

“Your height. Long dark hair. Quirky. Talked a lot about her family’s lavender farm and how she and her friends pay homage to Sasquatch annually with this huge party. The girls call themselves the Sass Squad.”

I cover my laughter with my hand. “Oh my gosh, Taron. You were with Gwen Bliss. She’s one of my best friends. Is your roommate by chance Jordan Halpin?”

“Yeah, why?”

“That’s Gwen’s best guy friend.”

“You have nice friends, Syn.”

They are good people. I am so lucky to have them in my life.

“Syn, let’s work together on finding the guy. Don’t do this alone, Pixie Dust. The guy is dangerous.”

“My friends have connections. Involve them too.”

“As long as I’m a part of your crew, they are in.”

“You don’t fool me, big guy. It’s them who have to accept you and not the other way around.”

“And if I’m your guy? Will that ease my way into your crowd?”

“That’s up to Dare. He gets the last word.”

“You have no say?”

This is where the other shoe drops. “Taron, I gave all three rings to him when I was nineteen.” But Dare isn’t the one I gave Taron’s rings away to. Where is Hunter now? He would be twenty-three, Dare’s age.

There is deafening silence followed by Taron disappearing from sight, then something crashing into the wall. Sounded like glass breaking. Will he ever learn to control his temper?

“What was his ask? Wait, I don’t want to know. Forget the crew shit. If you can’t decide that I’m your guy, then I don’t want in. The choice is yours to make, Syn. You shouldn’t accept anything less.”

Why is he so arrogant?

“He’s not less. Dare is my best friend. He was there when you weren’t. Talked sense into me when I needed someone to speak the harsh truth. It’s the reason I gave him the rings. He knows what’s best for me.”

“That’s a cop out and a bunch of bull crap. Get back to me when you’re done being dependent on a man for your worth, Syn.”

“You’re being an ass.”

“I speak the harsh truth and I’m an ass, but when he does, he gets your rings and your loyalty?”

“Yes. It’s how me and the rings work. You know that. You’re the one who gave them to me. You’re the one who set the boundaries and the rules. You, Taron. So don’t be pissed at me when I followedyourrules.”

He disappears from the screen, and there’s grousing and muttering. Finally, he returns, his handsome face taking up my screen.

“What’s B stand for?”

There’s movement. The phone shakes. I get a view of him stripping off his shirt. The shirt is tossed onto the floor. My mood goes from annoyed to fangirling on the hot-as-sin QB with the charming smile and hot temper. He is the devil and the angel, and he wants to be mine.

I stare at his bare chest. My, he is solid. I ogle his muscles, the patch of dark hair on his chest, and the sinful strip that disappears down the waistband of his low-hung blue jeans.

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