Page 38 of The Assist
“So, I surmise there’s no boyfriend. If there were, he’d have tracked you down and kicked my ass by now.”
“Was that a question?”
“Yeah.” I laugh out the word. “Is there a guy?”
The tiniest shake of her head is my answer. “And you aren’t dating anyone and on top of the list for every girl downstairs. I’m actually surprised I’m the only one who thought to come upstairs.”
“Smart girl.” I worry a little about the talk she might have heard. I haven’t dated anyone since freshman year when I realized I didn’t have the time or energy for that while playing college ball, but I’m not ignorant to the rumors and talk that have me sleeping with or paired up with a different girl every week. Not true, by the way. Girls are too exhausting to go through them like Joel does.
She rolls her eyes. “I just wanted to check on you. I saw you favoring the leg as you went up the stairs.
“I’ll be all right. Feels better already. So, why no boyfriend? I haven’t heard any chatter, but I’m not blind.”
“You have the weirdest way of asking a question that feels like it isn’t really a question.”
I cross my arms behind my head and wait for her to answer.
“I’ve dated a little, but nothing serious.”
I’m content to keep her to myself in my room. Hell, I didn’t even want to party before she showed up, but Blair isn’t an easy nut to crack. Maybe the atmosphere downstairs and another drink or two will loosen her up. And I don’t mean that in a crass way. I’m more interested in learning something about her than getting in her pants. At least for tonight.
“You ever seen a six-six guy do a keg stand?” I ask as I stand and hold out my hand to her.
She puts her delicate hand in mine. “No.”
“Let’s go find Joel then. It should be just about showtime.”
I wrap an arm around her shoulders and make sure to lean some weight on her so she feels like she’s helping me. Part of me does it to claim her, selfish man that I am. Mostly, though, I just want an excuse to touch her.
Joel is exactly where I expected him to be—the center of fucking attention on the back patio. Girls hang off either side, and he’s telling one of the five stories he tells every damn time he gets drunk. He stops mid-sentence when he spots Blair and me.
“Reynolds!” He calls out my name and lifts the bottle in his hand. “About time that you two lovebirds decided to show your faces.”
I grin but feel Blair shrink a little in my arms. Fucking Joel. “Don’t be jealous that I got the hottest girl on my arm.”
It’s a dick thing to say, considering the two on his, but I’ll trade their annoyance to make Blair feel less unsure. I nudge us through to an outdoor patio set. “Shaw, wanna give me and Blair your seats?”
He growls at me and doesn’t budge.
“Come on man, I need to get off my foot.”
He nods to the girls next to him, and they leave slowly, taking their damn time as he glares at me.
“They always do what you say?” Blair asks when we are seated.
“I wish. The freshman are the worst. Takes half the season to get their egos in check.”
“Who keeps yours in check?”
“Ball busters like you.”
I pull her closer so she’s all but on my lap. She doesn’t resist, and my dick starts making plans. A girl stumbles past us, covering her mouth like she is about to puke, and Blair and I watch in combined horror and fascination as she moves like lightning into the house.
“Not exactly how I pictured our first date.”
“This is a date?” Her voice borders on panic.
“Kinda feels like one. We’re hanging out together, and I plan to try to kiss you at the end of the night.”
