Page 58 of Off Limits

Before I know it, I’m searching her out again, seeing if the same guys are talking to them or if they’ve been shut down and moved on. They’re still there, and from her body language, Autumn is obviously flirting, but Ellie is more reserved, her arms crossed, her cup held in front of her like a shield. I can practically hear her voice being polite and answering whatever inane questions the asshole in front of her must be asking, while clearly broadcasting her disinterest.

Fucking right she’s not interested. Not when she already has plans with me.

The poor asshole’s getting bored, realizing he’s not getting anywhere, looking around, but his friend’s not ready to go yet, since Autumn’s turned on the charm. She’s a funny one, cycling from floaty and flighty to brash and abrasive to seductive and charming in the span of minutes. Good luck to whatever sucker she charms into her bed tonight. I’m sure some guys might find that sort of ride appealing, but I’ll stick with the sassy and sweet girl standing next to her.

“What are you staring at?” Cal asks, trying to follow my gaze.

I turn quickly. “Nothing.” I sip my drink, the beer warm from being in my hand for too long. Gross. “What was Andersen saying?”

“I dunno, man.” Cal’s not taking the bait. “Seriously, did you see your steady hookup or something? If so, go get her and bring her over. Anyone who’s claimed as much of your attention as she has deserves a welcome, at least.”

“Oh, uh,” stammer, “no, it’s, um—” I mean, yes, that is who I’m looking at, but I can’t say that. And anyway, thinking of Ellie as just a hookup feels all kinds of wrong. She’s not just a random chick I’m using to sate my physical needs. She’s so much more than that. Sweet. Kind. Caring. Fun.

If it were up to me, I’d be calling her my girlfriend. Or at least the girl I’m dating, even though most of our “dates” consist of takeout in her room—so we don’t risk being seen by someone who might tell Cal I’m out with his sister—and helping her with her statistics homework. That part doesn’t take long, though. She catches on quick, she just needed someone to explain the concepts to her in a way that makes sense. And once she learned the trick of only listening to the first explanation the professor gives and tuning out the other more confusing ones, she’s had far less trouble, so her need for my help is steadily declining.

I feel it when Cal spots her, though. He goes quiet, and he swells up to his full height, his chest puffing out. “The fuck?” he breathes.

Martinez stops mid-sentence. “What’s up, McAdam?”

Nostrils flaring, Cal jerks his head in Ellie’s direction. “My little sister’s here.”

Martinez, bless him, just looks confused. He looks in the direction Cal indicated, then back at Cal. “So? She’s a student, right? Why shouldn’t she be here?”

Why indeed? But that kind of logic doesn’t work on Cal. He just sees his baby sister and has decided she shouldn’t be anywhere there are boys who might find her attractive.

He cuts through the crowd on a direct path to his sister. I follow him, hoping to stop him before he does something stupid.

“Cal, man. Come on. Martinez has a point, don’t you think? She’s not even the youngest one here. Jenkins and Leota are both freshmen and they’re here.”

He rounds on me. “You think I give a fuck about that?” But clearly he doesn’t care about my answer, because he’s headed for Ellie again.

“Dude, we talked about this,” I call after him, but he either ignores me or doesn’t hear me.

Like she can sense a disturbance in the air—or maybe sense me—Ellie looks up and her eyes widen when she sees Cal on the warpath headed right for her with me next to him. Her eyes dart between him and me, and I mouth, “I’m sorry,” over her brother’s shoulder.

“Ellie,” he barks. “I thought we had this conversation already.”

She gives him all her attention, her chin tilting up. “And what conversation would that be?”

He snorts like an angry bull. “The one where you don’t come to parties.”

Ellie’s eyebrows climb her forehead, and the conversation between her roommate and the guy she’s talking to dies out, everyone in earshot turning to listen to the confrontation. Everyone loves drama, after all.

Face twisted up into a mockery of thoughtfulness, Ellie taps her lips with one finger. “Hmm. I don’t seem to recall having that conversation.”

“Yes, you do,” he growls. “This is no place for you. You don’t belong here.”

She rolls her eyes and lets out an exasperated sigh. “Cal, I hate to break it to you, but you’re not actually the boss of me. If I want to go to a party, I’m perfectly within my rights to do so.Youaren’t in charge of anything here. You’re not a member of this frat. You don’t get to kick me out.”

I can practically hear Cal grinding his teeth in frustration, and it’s made worse when Autumn leans in and puts in her two cents. “Go, Ellie. You tell him!”

Ellie tries and fails to fight down her smirk. Then she gives into it all the way, laughing and shaking her head. “I’m not bothering you, Cal.” She makes a shooing motion with her hands. “Just go back to your friends, and leave me to mine, okay?” And with that, she turns her back on him, pulling Autumn along with her as they move away.

Autumn casts a look back at me, her eyes bouncing between me and Cal, who looks like he should have steam coming out of his ears, then she throws her head back and laughs as she follows Ellie somewhere else.

Making a note of the direction they went, I shove Cal’s shoulder. Not hard. Just enough to pull him out of the frustration coma caused by his sister.

His brows pulled together, he slowly turns his head to look at me, then shoves me back.

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