Page 3 of Trust Me Always

“Wait, her dorm forwhat?”

Ismile at Brady, pretending Alister doesn’t exist. “Lavender and chamomile.”

“What the hell are you two talking?—”

Brady tears me from him, winding me to his back like nothing, and I latch on, my head snapping forward just as Brady places himself on level footing with Alister, cutting the asshole off.

He doesn’t say a word, just stares down at Alister a moment before chuckling and spinning on his heels. Brady leaps up the stairs with me on his back, and when we reach the room once more, my bestie Ari and the boys are waiting for us.

As we step inside, he spins, both of us now staring down the narrow stairwell at the blond…who is still standing where we left him.

Brady pats my thighs, now woven around him from behind, so I lower them to the floor, but before I can step away, he twists his torso and reaches back until he can wrap his arm around my waist. He hauls me against his side, speaking to Alister. “Cameron will call you if she wants to talk, but I wouldn’t bet on it. If you haven’t figured it out yet, she’s a stubborn one.”

“I’m well aware,” Alister bites back.

“Then you’re aware she’s not in the business of second chances.”

Alister crosses his arms. “Which will make it all the sweeter when she awards me one.”

“Don’t hold your breath.”

“Don’t fall for my girl.”

My brows snap together, but Brady only laughs, shaking his head at the guy who can’t take a hint—or refuses to. But it’s not the words that Alister spoke that linger long after Ari and I head back to our dorm.

It’s the look of sheer determination that was etched across his attractive face as his eyes met mine.

He’s not going to walk away from the idea of us so easily.

The question is, What the hell am I going to do about it?

CHAPTER TWO

Cameron

“Remindme why I agreed to this again?” I whine the second I drag my feet out of my dorm and spot Brady right where he said he’d be waiting. “It’s like the witching hour.”

Brady grins, pushing off his shoulder and walking closer with his arms behind his back. “It’s eight in the morning, baby girl.”

“Like I said: the witching hour.” My lips poke out in a pout, shoulders drooped and all. “The sun isn’t even fully in the sky yet.”

“If you took those giant saucers you call sunglasses off, you’d see the sun is nice and high, but either way, you know I got you.” He brings his hands forward, revealing what he was hiding.

I freeze on the spot, eyes glued to the familiar to-go cup. “Is that an iced Caramel Cookie Crumble with extra cookie and extra crumble?”

“You mean is this a whole-ass sugar bomb for the sugar queen? Yes. Yes, it is.”

I squeal, erasing the distance between us, and take the large drink into my hands, inhaling the addictive scent of toasted chocolate chip. My eyes close, and I go in for a decent-sized suck through the straw, so I won’t get brain freeze. “I fucking love you, Brady Lancaster.” He merely laughs and I can’t be bothered to open my eyes, just sigh, leaning forward and letting my forearms rest against Brady’s chest with a smile. “Such a good boy, you are. Let’s make Ari jealous.” I pull my phone out, putting my straw tomy lips, and Brady lifts his drink into the frame too, pressing his chin to my cheek with a smirk.

I snap the photo and send it to my best friend.

Me: Proof. He loves me more.

“Wait!” Brady tries to snag the phone, but I dodge his grabby hands and spin around, straw stuck between my lips.

“Girl.” He points a finger at me. “If you just cost me that plate of spicy spaghetti she promised to bring me tomorrow night, you’re getting an ass whoopin’.”

“You mean the way I’m about to whoop your ass in Communications.”

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