Page 112 of Loved

"Obviously," I said with a laugh.

"Let's play a different map,” Brendan said. “I'm demanding a rematch. I refuse to accept the fact that I just got beat by a girl who's never touched an Xbox before."

"You're just mad because she's touching an Xbox instead of you," Rob said and switched to a snowy mountainside.

Brendan laughed. "Fair enough."

"I'm so sorry," I whispered into Penny’s ear.

"It's fine." She smiled up at me.

God, she really was ridiculously adorable. And even though Rob and Brendan were being terrible, I was glad that she liked hanging out with the guys. She was going to love Mason and Matt too. It was going to be just like old times when we moved to NYC.

***

After several rounds of Golden Eye, Brendan stood up and stretched. "I think I've redeemed myself."

"Yeah, whatever," Penny mumbled.

She had only gotten one kill since our first game. And it was because I’d let her kill me on purpose because I felt bad.

"Yeah," Rob said. "Clearly Penny just got lucky before. I think I'm done playing for the night. Who wants to go out?"

"I think I'm going to stay in tonight," I said and yawned. I didn’t need to beat up any other professors. So I wanted to stay in with Penny. Besides, it was a lot easier to not do something stupid that would upset her when I was right next to her.

"Stop being lame." Rob stood up and stretched too.

"You can go," Penny said. "Melissa asked me if I'd come over and help her get ready for the Sigma Pi formal."

Oh."Are you sure?" I ran my hand down the side of her neck.

"Yeah, go have fun." She smiled.

Well…"Actually, I do have a few things I need to get done,” I said. I didn’t want to go out drinking again. I had something better in mind.

Rob laughed. "Crap, do we have to go beat someone else up? That was fun and all, but I have some other things in mind for tonight."

"No, nothing like that." I gave Penny a mischievous smile.

"Why are you smiling like that? I'm with Rob on this one. Please stop beating people up."

I laughed. "I'm not going to beat anyone up. Do you want me to drop you off at your dorm?" Rob and Brendan had already started walking toward the elevator.

"No, I think I'd like some fresh air after sitting on the couch all day."

"Okay." I tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Try to pace yourself tonight."

I knew I’d worried her this morning. She expected me to be hungover and I wasn’t. Being with someone like me wasn’t exactly easy. But she didn’t have anything to worry about tonight. Or at all. I didn’t need any vices when I had her. And last night I was in complete control. Alcohol had never really been my weakness anyway. Drugs were my real problem. Well, drugs and sex.

But I was fine. I was good. "You don't need to worry about me." I winked at her.

"What on earth are you planning to do? Now I'm more worried than before."

"There's nothing to worry about tonight." I kissed her cheek and got up off the couch. I was on a new mission, but this one wasn’t going to upset her. At least, I hoped it wouldn’t.

Chapter 29

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