Page 71 of Give You Up

They head for the stairs with Dare’s arm across Syn’s shoulders. He glances back, and not clueless, he shoots me one of those weird maniacal grins and says, “Don’t think for a minute you fooled me, hashtag TD. I know B down to the birthmark on her inner right thigh, and this boy will not be outsmarted or outplayed by an outsider.”

“Dare.”

If I were Dare, I would listen to the warning in Syn’s voice, but the guy doesn’t listen worth a damn. Go figure. He turns them around, and still touching my girl, he points his middle finger at me.

“You planning on breaking her heart?”

“Negative that.”

“Smart ass. You plan on sticking around Dumas?”

“That’s between me and Syn.”

“A fucking lie. It’s either a yes or a no.”

“Dare.”

“Don’t Dare me, Syn. I am not a kid. I am looking out for your best interest.”

“Why? You have feelings for her?” Fuck, why’d I voice my suspicion?

If he says yes, I can kiss my progress with Syn goodbye. Dare is a Sterling and, according to Andy, possessive as fuck. He will never let Syn go if he is in love with her. And Syn? She might say her body is mine exclusively, but her loyalty and friendship are to Dare.

“Syn, tell him exactly what I am to you. Don’t hold back, B. I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings.”

He’s putting the ball in her court? Or do they know where they stand with the other? Whatever it is, they have stoked my curiosity. A guy and a girl cannot be friends. I have always believed that. Eventually, someone will want more out of the friendship.

Syn sighs, and taking Dare’s arm off her shoulders, she places it on the spot above her heart. I cannot take my eyes off the back of his hand on my girl’s heart. Is this the part when she gives me the devasting truth, that she’s sticking around Dumas forhim?

“Taron, Dare is like a brother to me. We’re friends. He gave you a hard time because he’s protective, like a big brother for his little sister. There’s nothing between us.”

I am still not so sure. “I’d like to hear his answer.” I look at Dare. His face is unreadable. “Well, man, do you have feelings for Syn?”

“Of course I do. I love her. Like. A. Sister.” Huge smile on his face again, and he opens his arms. “Come here. Group hug.”

Fuck.Fuck. I am so relieved, I step into his man-hug. Shoulder bump him. Hug Syn to me the same time he does the same. We stay like that, and that is how Dare’s “surprise” for Syn finds us when Midnight opens the door.

None of us heard the doorbell ring. Dare and I are too loud bullshitting with one another over who had the better poker face, and who was ready to pummel the other first. I admitted that he had the poker face, and I was the one ready to do the beating. He laughed and had the balls to collar me and smash his knuckles on the top of my head, messing up my hair.

That fucker.

“Hey, Syn, guess who is here?”

We face the door. Syn lets out a squeal and runs over to a girl her height and build and comes to a dead stop in front of her and her entourage.

I shake my head. Entourage is the wrong word. The four guys, dressed in dark suits and wearing aviator sunglasses, are the woman’s bodyguards. The one with the deep scar transecting his face sets the suitcase he is holding onto the floor.

“Hello, Syn.”

The woman’s voice is soft and friendly. She has on one of those pants suits. The royal blue highlights her tan and her long black hair. On her arms, up to her sleeves, are white satin gloves.

She lifts her sunglasses off her face and rests them on top of her head. Her bright eyes sweep the room and lock on me. One eye is blue and the other green. So it’s true. Blaise Lexington has different-color eyes.

“Blaise, I’ve missed you.”

They do this air kiss thing, aiming for each other’s cheeks but not touching skin.

“I was hoping you would stop by. I saw on TMZ you were at the gala in Alexandria.”

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