Page 1 of Guarded Love

1

WILLOW

TWO YEARS AGO

Shit.

Double shit.

Triple shit with whipped cream and a cherry on top.

There’s no way this could be happening to me.

Of all the parties that are going on around campus on this Saturday night, he just had to show up here?

Blaise Dalton.

I feel like the universe is playing some kind of cruel joke at my expense. Just when I need a stress-relieving break from school, he appears, looking like the very definition of awkward and yet somehow still pulling it off as cool. His blond hair is messy, like he's ran his hands through it one too many times. He's still in his red Crestwood Red Wolves hoodie. I would bet money he was dragged here straight from the rink by one of his teammates. Hell, my older brother would have been one of the people bringing him here if he was on campus this weekend. That’s what best friends and roommates do, after all.

This is what I get for accepting my best friend Ari’s dare to go out by myself tonight. I take another sip of the drink I have no intention of finishing, all the while telling myself to ignorehim. I need to pretend his sudden appearance doesn't make my stomach drop through the floor. But before I can think of an escape plan, he spots me.

Our eyes lock across the room, and for a second, I see surprise flash in his. He looks just as shocked as I feel, like he’s a deer caught in headlights and I’m sure I resemble the same. It’s probably the very last place he'd expect to find me. But then he grins, a half-smile I know is meant to be casual. And I swear my stomach tumbles into hell.

There's no way I can avoid him now.

He starts working his way through the crowd, dodging the people and cups of beer with grace that, in my mind, a man his size shouldn’t have. I consider slipping out the back door before he gets any closer, sparing us both this awkward greeting, but something makes me stay. Maybe it's because I’m curious about what he's doing here…yeah, that’s what I’m going to keep telling myself.

“Willow,” is all he says, when he finally reaches me.

He towers over me, even more than usual because I’m in flats. I slowly move my head up to meet his beautiful blue eyes.

Not that I would ever tell him that.

“Blaise,” I say as I raise my brow. “Surprised to see you here alone.”

He shrugs. “The same could be said for you.”

Even I have to admit he’s not wrong. "Touché. So what's your excuse?"

"Wilder dragged me away from my gaming session. Said I needed 'human interaction' or something equally ridiculous." He makes air quotes with his fingers, and I can't help but smile. "Said he’d meet me here or something, but who knows ifhehas even made it here."

"Sounds about right." At least that’s based on what I knew about him from my brother Knox. I did my best to not hangaround the hockey team, but got enough information about them from him.

"So where's your entourage?" Blaise asks, glancing around like he expects Ari or some of my other friends to materialize out of thin air.

"Flying solo tonight." I take another sip of my drink, grateful for something to do with my hands. "Ari dared me to have a night out by myself. Said I needed to 'expand my social circle' or whatever."

His eyebrows shoot up. "And you actually took the dare? I'm impressed, Sanchez."

"What can I say? I'm full of surprises."

"That you are." His eyes linger on mine a beat too long.

The music shifts to something with a heavier bass that I swear is vibrating through the floor. Someone bumps into me from behind, pushing me slightly forward. Blaise's hand shoots out to steady me, and in a split second, I’m wishing for the floor to swallow me whole. I’m grateful for his quick reflexes, but I’m not sure how I feel about having the warmth from his fingers against my bare arm.

"Sorry," I mutter, stepping back to put some distance between us. “Anyway, attending a party alone does allow for some excellent people watching experiences.”

"People watching, huh?" Blaise shifts his weight before sticking his hands in his pockets. "Any interesting subjects tonight?"

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