Page 58 of Trust Me

“My second favorite food? I don’t sit around rating them.”

“Maybe you should. Life’s all about choices. Gotta make good ones.”

His soft laugh had me staring at the side of his face while we walked down the hall. He held the door open for me, keeping his gaze on my eyes the entire time. I smiled at him, but he just raised a brow.

While I was distracted, someone came barreling out of the door like a man on a mission, colliding with my backpack. It sent me off balance, but strong hands grabbed me, like two vices that even the most powerful wind couldn’t stop from holding me in place.

“Hey, asshole!” Dean shouted. When the guy kept walking, he shook his head. He was still holding onto my arms, and I was just staring at him. I was pretty sure my eyes were wide as saucers, but there was a commanding edge to his voice that froze me in place.

“Want me to find out where he lives?” Brooks asked, coming up beside us.

Dean softened his grip, then dropped his hands. “You okay?”

“All good.” I knew my voice sounded lame as hell, but what was a guy to do about it?

With a nod, he turned on his heel and started walking away. Was I supposed to follow? He hadn’t invited me, but damn, I wanted to.

I jumped a little when Brooks hooked his arm through mine. “Last class, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I know. Just being polite.”

I walked with him toward the parking lot, still thinking about the look in Dean’s eyes. The bass in his voice. His anger should’ve made me feel trapped while his hands were on me, but it hadn’t.

“So, things are going well with you guys,” Brooks said, drawing me out of my head.

“Yeah, we’re doing fine.”

“That’s an understatement.”

Pulling my arm free, I turned toward him and crossed my arms. “Dean ignored you earlier.”

“He’s not my biggest fan at the moment.” He shrugged casually. “A lot of things hang in the balance right now. You choosing sides, Oli?”

After studying him for a second, I shook my head. “Just analyzing.”

“You’re good at that.”

“So are you. For different reasons, though.”

A real chuckle passed his lips. “And both of our reasons have led us to want something we can’t have. Or can we?”

“Your contrived air of mystery doesn’t throw me off, you know.”

His lips thinned for the briefest moment before he forced them to curve upward. “Oh, yeah?”

“Just go after Tilian already.”

“Go after Dean, then.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. “That’s different.”

“Not really. I told you he’s a nurturer. And look at him, trying to take care of you.”

“I . . .”

“Speechless. I love it.”