Page 73 of Trust Me

“I’m not looking for anyone tonight,” I said seriously.

“Well, me either, but you never know.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I know.”

“Okay.” He tugged his arm back, then started typing on his phone.

Great, now I was coming across as a weirdo. But the idea of him finding someone he liked at that frat house made me want to turn the car right back around and drag him inside the apartment. Maybe I’d barricade the door.

This could be the night he found the woman of his dreams. It could be the story he told his future kids. It was Dean’s personal ‘How I Met Your Mother’ special.

“Whoa, man. You look kind of off.”

Shaking my head, I forced a smile. “I’m good. Just spacing out.”

“Alright.”

After a second, I switched lanes. I continued until I was on the shoulder, ignoring the aggressive honking from one of the people behind me. Once I came to a stop, I turned to him.

Brooks’ words came back to me, and even though I’d been open about my attraction, it wasn’t enough. It didn’t feel fair to him.

“I have to be honest, Dean. About the way I’m feeling.”

“Don’t.”

“But—”

“Oli, stop.” The clear annoyance in his voice stopped me in my tracks. “Nothing serious tonight. We’re going to a party.”

My gaze fell, all of my momentary courage fleeing as fast as it had come. It had been a stupid idea, of course. Logically, I knew that. Still, I felt fueled by that horrific image of Dean and some random blonde that would inevitably spark his interest.

Sadie was blonde. I’d found her on Instagram, and while she was obviously beautiful, there was nothing special about her. Nothing in her eyes that screamed for more. No reason for him to be intrigued by her. And that was what he needed. Intrigue. Passion. Something that kept driving him closer with every breath.

I felt that, but of course he didn’t. Not for me.

Shifting into drive again, I merged onto the road without a word. He didn’t attempt to start up conversation, and neither did I. If I truly had luck on my side, we’d just move past this, just as we had when I told him I was attracted to him and when I jokingly called him pet names.

All fine and dandy, that’s what it was.

When we pulled up to the frat house, it was already full of people. I immediately tried to go a different way, but Dean touched my back, gently guiding me with him. When I didn’t resist, he dropped his arm to his side and put a bit more distance between us. My skin burned where he’d touched me, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from begging for more.

“I kind of wish you drank,” he said with a laugh when we reached the kitchen.

I smiled a little. “Everyone seems to.”

“I don’t want you to. It’s just an icebreaker, really. Especially when people loosen up.”

“Sounds like a lazy way to connect.”

“Hm. I guess you’re right. Genuine effort it is, then.”

He cracked open a beer, and I watched his throat as he drained half of it. I wondered if that was normal for him or if he was covering something up. There was a bit of tension in his shoulders, but other than that, he didn’t show any signs that he was bothered.

Movement off to the side drew my gaze, and I clocked Linc coming closer with some of the other guys from the football team. He grabbed Dean’s hand and pulled him into his chest. His huge smile lit up his face, making his hazel eyes stand out. His were more brown than mine, and they suited him magnificently. In his beanie and black t-shirt, he looked stunning.

After he said something to Dean, he turned and greeted me the same way. “What’s good, man? Heard you and Dean moved in together.”

“Yeah, he’s moving up in the world,” I replied. “I give him less hell than his last roommate, at least.”