I turned and snagged the sticky note. “Chance.”
“Don’t argue,” August said.
“I wasn’t going to argue,” I said to air because August had shut himself inside his room, leaving me alone with Shepard.
He gave me that concerned brotherly look he always did. “I’ll trade if you want.”
Disappointment fueled the slow turn of my head side to side. “It’s cool. I’ll be fine. Have at it.”
I walked in my room and shut the door between me and my crush. I leaned my back against it, wanting to sag to the floor. My dissatisfaction didn’t stem from being stuck with the last room, but because I wanted Shep to look at me like he did other girls and not a sister.
I glanced down at my non-existent chest. Besides being his best friend’s sister, I was also not the object of guy’s desires. My shapeless twig figure hadn’t changed as much as I’d hoped over the years. Mom called me slender or even willowy to make me sound pretty. But the truth was, if not for my hair and face, I resembled a boy.
Shepard’s taste in girls had been ones with big boobs and plastic smiles. I hadn’t been a cheerleader, I’d played soccer and sometimes basketball. Growing up around boys, my skills in sports had excelled.
When I heard the last door closed, I frowned. Why had it taken so long for Shep to go in his room? I shook my head to myself. He probably checked out the bathroom I’d spied at the end of the hall. What other reason would he have had to stand in the hallway?
* * *
2 – Shepard
* * *
There had been a moment I’d let passed. I stood there already regretting it. Finley had stood there looking slightly flushed like a pink rose. I narrowed my eyes. Pink rose? What the fuck? That summed it up, didn’t it? Whenever I was around her, I got tongue tied and memories of stupid poems we studied in English classes swirled in my head.
Stupidly I moved, moments too late. Good thing August hadn’t been there. He might have figured out the only secret I’d ever hidden from him. I wanted his sister, beneath me, beside me because I’d claimed her as mine even if it was only in my head.
I one armed the door closed with my duffle still hanging from my shoulder and braced myself there as if waiting for impact. I set the guitar bag to the other side against the wall.
We were here without parents and their rules. Though we’d kept most guys away from Finley with threats of lost limbs and those that made it past our wards, threats of death, Layton was a huge school. And in a couple of weeks, Finley would be out of our control.
There was no way August and I could keep the guys from noticing her. My chance was slipping away. And wasn’t that ironic. She was in Chance’s room as if fated to push me into action.
My door flew open and a blur tackled me to the bed. My bag landed on the floor somewhere as I fought off August.
“Get off me man,” I said, shoving him to the side.
He laughed until he was red in the face. I lay there staring first at the ceiling and then at the large windows that faced the street and two on the side.
“Can you fucking believe it?” he said. “We are on our own.”
I covered my face with my hands and said, “Not exactly. If you hadn’t acted like an asshole, you would have noticed Finn. You know the guy who owns the place.”
“Shit!” He sat up. “I was trying to beat Bea.”
Finley’s legal name was Beatrice Finley Farrow. She was the second born of the triplets. Their father in a moment of genius according to him, named his first born son Augusta after himself and decided to name his second born, Beatrice to follow the alphabet and his third Cooper. Their mother hadn’t liked Beatrice and had argued for Finley. She won the battle, but lost the war. Finley had become her middle name.
“You know she doesn’t like it when you call her Bea.”
He shrugged. “What are big brothers for?”
I didn’t argue that they were only minutes apart. I wouldn’t say anything that would make him suspicious about my intentions towards the only female Farrow sibling.
“You should go introduce yourself to Finn.”
“I will and then we’re going to the cook out at the Omega house.”
Omega Psi Beta or Theda, I wasn’t sure of its full Greek name. The only Omega on campus, it was called by that name and it was the fraternity most players joined.
I closed my eyes. ‘Dude, we just got here, and practice starts tomorrow.”
The three plus hour ride had been long enough. I just wanted to chill.
“Exactly, which is why we should party today. We can rest when we’re dead. Sawyer said we could be gods. Now’s our time.”
August looked up to Sawyer like a God. Apparently, he ruled the school.
“You just have pussy on the brain.”
He slapped mychest. “Don’t you.”
I had his sister on the brain and finally getting my mouth on hers.
He shoved me clearing my thoughts and I laughed. “Fine. I do.”
“This is our chance to have our pick.”
The question just popped out. “Is Finley going?”
His face scrunched up and glanced at his hand. “I hope not, my knuckles still haven’t heeled from that party last weekend.”
If he hadn’t, I would have hit the asshole who’d been staring at Finley’s ass as she danced that night. The guy looking hadn’t been what’d done it. It had been when he wildly pointed at her ass and mimed pumping his hips that earned in a broken jaw.
“Yeah, but maybe taking her would be good. We could get the word out early that she’s off limits.”
August chuckled. “She’ll kill us if she finds out.” He shook his head. “I don’t know man. I don’t feel like babysitting her today.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Your loss. There are sure to be plenty babes there.”
“What about Cooper?”
He thought about it. “He’s going. He needs to get out. I’m pretty sure he’s still a virgin.”
Since he brought it up, I seized on the opportunity.
“Do you think Finley is?”
He laid back. “If she isn’t, I don’t want to know who the unlucky bastard is. I’d end up with a murder charge.”
I tried to laugh it off. “You can’t expect her to stay that way the rest of her life.”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t expect, I know for god damn sure until she marries some asshole, he won’t touch her that way.”
He sat up and got to his feet. “Let’s not talk about that. I’m going to talk to Finn.”
“And Finley?” I asked.
His stare was cool. “What’s this sudden interest in my sister?”
Shit, I’d taken it too far.
I folded my hands behind my head. “Nothing, I didn’t know if you were going to tell her if you wanted me too.”
He studied me for a second too long. He was going to call me on my bullshit. I felt sweat form around my collar.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll tell her on my way down.”
I shrugged, and he finally turned and left my room. I closed my eyes. That had been close. Maybe the party was a good idea. That conversation was confirmation that Finley was and would forever be off limits. If I could hook up with someone else, it might take my mind off the only girl I’d ever truly wanted.
To pass the time, I started to unpack my duffle. We’d shipped the rest and it should arrive in a few days. I didn’t have much either way and it took no time to unpack my stuff in the chest of drawers. I plopped back on the bed and tried not to think about what Finley would wear to a cookout.
My popped open my eyes when my phone buzzed. I guessed I dozed off. On the screen was a text from August saying let’s bounce.
I got up and swung open the door same time as Finley and stopped dead.
Talk about smoke show. Her hair was pulled back, giving me a lovely view of her neck. I wanted to bury my face there and kiss the line of her throa
t all the way the shirt that left a inches of skin exposed inches above her shorts that should be illegal worldwide.
If I could, I would have shifted on my feet an adjusted myself. My dick was on red alert. Unconsciously, the nub of my nails dug in my palm. It was going to be a long fucking night. My knuckles would be split before the night was over.
Acknowledgments
First and always, thank you to all my readers. You guys make this worth it. I appreciate you for your continued support. If not for you, I couldn’t do this. Your mean the world to me. A BIG Thank You!
To my beta readers, you guys Rock & Roll. Your feedback is much appreciated. To Diane, Samantha, Ashley, and Kelly, Thank you and much love!
To Michele, thank you for always coming through with my last minute request. It was so great meeting you in New York.
To Scott, I bought this picture years before it was the in thing to buy pictures from fashion photographers and I still love it.
A HUGE THANK YOU to Paige. Thanks for working me in. I appreciate you so much. Thanks to D for putting the shine on.
About the Author
Terri E. Laine, USA Today bestselling author, left a lucrative career as a CPA to pursue her love for writing. Outside of her roles as a wife and mother of three, she’s always been a dreamer and as such became an avid reader at a young age.
Many years later, she got a crazy idea to write a novel and set out to try to publish it. With over a dozen titles published under various pen names, the rest is history. Her journey has been a blessing, and a dream realized. She looks forward to many more memories to come.
STALK ME AT
Facebook: terrielainebooks
Instagram @terrielaineauthor
Goodreads: terri e laine
Newsletter Signup: http://eepurl.com/bDJ9kb
* * *
I have several upcoming releases, make sure to sign up for my newsletter or check my website for details.
www.terrielaine.com
Also by Terri E. Laine
Because of Him
Captivated by Him
Chasing Butterflies
Catching Fireflies
Changing Hearts
Craving Dragonflies
Ride or Die
Sex, Alcohol, and My Neighbor (in Beer Googles Anthology)
Honey (in Vault Anthology)
Sugar
* * *
other books co-authored
by Terri E. Laine
* * *
Cruel and Beautiful
A Mess of A Man
A Beautiful Sin
One Wrong Choice
Sidelined
Fastball
Hooked
Worth Every Risk
Craving Dragonflies Page 30