No. This wasn’t happening. I couldn’t take this. Not with the specter of Colby hanging over me. “Blake, we did this before—”

He held a hand up, interrupting me. “That was two years ago, and you gave me up for Colby.”

I stared at him, remembering all the times he’d picked me up for school when I didn’t have a ride, the times he’d sat in the diner where I waited tables just to keep me company.

I did love him in way, but it wasn’t a gut-wrenching, I-might-die-if-I-don’t-see-you kind of love. It was easy and soft, like a warm blanket on a winter’s night in front of the fire.

Could there be more with him?

He fiddled with his notebook, his eyes jumping to my face and then glancing back down. “The thing is, we are perfect for each other, you just don’t see it. I already know everything about you. Your favorite color, the kinds of books you like to read, the songs you love. I know you want to get a tattoo, but you can’t afford it. Hell, I even know you snore when you sleep—”

“Blake, stop, please. I can’t do this right now. We’re in the middle of class.”

Pressure, pressure.

“Why not? Because you’re afraid I’m right? You and I were meant to be from the very beginning, and you just got sidetracked by Colby.” Intensity laced his voice, making me squirm.

My rules had no room for a serious relationship—even with Blake. “Please—just let it go.”

He slumped down in his seat and shook his head angrily.

Thank goodness a sleepy-eyed Dax strolled into the auditorium right then, getting my attention. He was wearing skinny jeans, high-tops, a WU shirt, and an infectious grin that looked like trouble with a capital T. He gave Blake a fist bump and plopped down in the seat on the other side of me. Completely oblivious to the tension. Aren’t most guys?

He gave me a wide grin, and I had to smile back. His face brightened even more. “Hiya. I take it you’ve forgiven me for being sloshed on Friday night?”

I nodded. “Declan’s more than made up for your shortcomings.”

He grinned and shrugged, the movement reminding me of Declan. “Indeed, he’s the good one.”

More students piled in, including Declan, who stalked in wearing frayed jeans and a shirt that showcased his muscled chest to perfection. My eyes feasted on his forearms, tracing the lines of his skulls and roses. Last night, he’d held me tight as if he were afraid I’d slip away—yet he was the one who left without saying goodbye.

This morning I’d been partly relieved and disappointed he was gone, but that feeling had morphed into being pissed. And me being mad over him—made me madder.

I didn’t want to care that he’d left.

That didn’t stop the heat from settling in me when his gray eyes met mine.

He walked over to us, his gaze locked with mine the entire way.

“Hey.” I cleared my throat to get rid of the nervousness. “We’re being geeks and sitting up front. You wanna join us?”

He flicked his eyes from Dax to Blake on either side of me, almost as if he’d ask one of them to get up, but that was completely insane.

He shrugged broad shoulders. “I’ll just sit behind you guys.”

It was stadium style seating, so he had to take the stairs and then turn down the row behind us. He selected the seat behind me.

And even though we weren’t touching, I could feel him there, the warmth from his skin radiating across to mine.

Dax ran his eyes over the syllabus that had been left on the top of each desk. “I’m not quite sure how I ended up here. I must have had a hangover when I selected courses.” He checked out the female students who were coming in. “Although I have to admit, there are some hotties in here.”

“And you?” I turned around to look at Declan. “Do you like literature?”

“I’m an English major with a minor in business,” Declan said.

“No way.”

His lips quirked. “Yes, way. And why not?”

“I’m just surprised. I just assumed …”

“He’s a Neanderthal?” Dax said. “Most people do, but bro here is a sucker for poems and sonnets, boring tosh that makes me want to shoot myself. He’s overcompensating by opening his own gym soon.”

“You two are completely opposite,” I mused.

Dax snorted. “So, I’m the Neanderthal?”

I laughed. “No. Okay, maybe.”

A flurry of activity came from the door, and we turned to see a petite brunette in a tube top and short-shorts make a beeline for us. Lorna from the frat house. Fabulous.

She came to a halt in front of Blake, and when she took in that there wasn’t an empty seat next to him, she sent me an evil look and then moved her gaze to Declan.

“Is the seat next to you free?” she asked with a pout.

My eyes narrowed.

Had Declan slept with her?

Ugh.

Why did I care?

“Yeah,” Declan nodded, his eyes off me and on her.

“Awesome,” she said with a bright smile and made her way over to his aisle.

“She’s pretty hot, huh?” Dax whispered to me as she and Declan took up a close conversation after she got settled. “She’s limber too. All the brothers at the house love it. She can do this thing where she puts her legs behind her head and—”

“Stop.”

He grinned sheepishly. “I’m teasing. It’s her tube tops that keeps us riveted. Blokes keep waiting for one to fall off.”

I snapped my fingers. “Shucks. If only I had the guts to wear one I could be just like Limber Lorna—my dream.” I batted my eyelashes.

He laughed loudly, causing Declan to send us a sharp glare. What was his problem?

“If you do, pick a blue one to match your eyes. They’re gorgeous,” Dax said.

I blushed. “That’s sweet—and oddly the most sincere thing you may have ever said to me. Thank you, Dax. I think you’ve more than made up for almost kissing me.”

“Almost? Trust me, love, there was some lip-on-lip action. Don’t you remember?” He leaned in and gave me a quick peck on the cheek, his full lips brushing against my skin, sending little tingles over me.

A chuckle erupted from me. With no alcohol on his breath and no crazy party going on in the background, his kiss didn’t bother me at all.

“What’s so funny? That was grade-A kissing right there from the Sex Lord,” he said, pretending to be affronted by my laughter.

I rubbed my lips. “You gave me goosebumps, goof.”

“Goosebumps today, orgasm later?”

I barked out a laugh. “Do you ever stop with the flirting?”

“I can’t. It’s like I’m hardwired to get as many girls as I can. It’s probably a coping mechanism because my mum died when I was young.” He sent me a rueful look.

He’d said it all as a joke, but underneath I sensed the truth. “Sorry. Declan mentioned some of what you went through when you came here. It must have been hard leaving everything behind for the United States.”

“Yeah, people talk funny here, and you have weird names for things. For us a lift is an elevator, a chip is a French fry, a biscuit is a cookie, a shag is a fuck, and don’t even get me started on football.” He waggled his eyebrows.

Declan cleared his throat, and I tossed a glance back to see him glaring at both of us. His hands sat on top of his desk, one clutching his pen tightly.

I arched a brow at him. Don’t even go there with me, buddy. You have no right to be jealous. You left me this morning, I wanted to yell out.

Blake leaned over until our shoulders touched. He’d been quiet since the twins sat down. “Want to grab lunch later?”

I thought about it. With Colby walking around, I didn’t want to be alone. “You mind if we ask these guys to come too?” I nodded toward the twins. “And maybe Shelley?” I wasn’t ready for the talk he’d mentioned, and I needed a buffer between us.

“Something wrong with just me?”

“No, of course not. I just want to branch out and get to know more people.”

Like a normal college girl.

Dr. Feldman came into the auditorium, saving me from Blake’s reply. She was a tall, sparse lady with long brown hair she kept in a thick braid down her back, and her face was like stone, making you wonder if she ever smiled.