Page 40 of Bad Crush
“Well, you better figure it out quickly because we’re all hanging out tonight.”
My expression must give away my hesitation.
“No excuses. I’m totally cool with my brother hooking up with my best friend, but I am not cool with it driving a wedge between us. Plus, Rhett and his girlfriend broke up, and we need to be there for him and help take his mind off it.”
“Rhett and Carrie broke up?”
Ginny nods.
“Wow.” Rhett’s had the same girlfriend as long as I’ve known him. Since high school, or maybe even longer. They’ve been doing long-distance since she’s at a college in Nebraska, but I thought they were solid.
“Okay.” I give in. “But I have to finish this paper first.”
Ginny leans forward and hugs my neck. “No matter what, Adam doesn’t come between us, okay?”
“Okay,” I reply automatically. Of course, that’s the last thing I want, but hearing Ginny voice the concern makes me wonder exactly what she thinks is going to happen that she’d need to choose sides.
* * *
When I get to the guys’apartment an hour later, everyone is outside on the deck. They’ve got the fire pit going and music playing.
Adam smiles when he spots me, and the guys all say hey.
Dakota’s holding two glasses of wine and lifts one toward me. “Celebratory wine for finishing your paper orfuck it, I’m dropping the classbooze. I figured it was appropriate to drink either way.”
“Celebratory,” I say as I take the wine. “I finished. It might be crap, but it’s done.”
I sit next to Adam. Not on him or any closer than I’d sit to any of the guys, but Mav grins. “You two are gonna hook up again tonight, aren’t you?”
Adam throws an arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer. “Get it all out of your system. We can take it.”
“We can?” I whisper to him.
“I got you.”
And he does. He holds onto me as the guys tease us. Mostly, Mav. It breaks the ice, and it isn’t as weird after that. I relax. I don’t think I realized how nervous I was about this screwing up the group’s vibe. They’re important to me. They’re more than friends and the only type of family I really know anymore.
Rhett’s always quiet, so it’s hard to get a read on his mood until Maverick turns his questions on him.
“How are you doing, buddy?”
“Fine.” Rhett continues to stare off into space as he answers.
Maverick hands him the bottle of Mad Dog. “Every time you give a one-word answer, you have to do a shot.”
Rhett doesn’t even bother arguing, just takes the bottle and a healthy pull.
“Now, how are you doing, buddy?” Mav asks again.
“Doing fine.” He holds up a hand with two fingers. “That was two words.”
“Is he okay? I can’t tell,” I ask Adam quietly.
“He’ll be fine.”
“Let’s play sardines tonight,” Rhett says. “I don’t want to sit here. I need to move around.”
Everyone mumbles their willingness. We head inside to get warmer clothes. I go with Adam into his room where he pulls a sweatshirt on over my head and then a beanie.
