Page 129 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

He chuckles when he watches me climb in, shutting the door behind me.

The drive to Colter’s house is short. He doesn’t live too far from Whiskey Sinner’s. A light on the front porch is on, but his roommates appear to be out when we pull up.

“Where are your roommates? I thought you said there were three of them.”

“Oh, they’re at a party out at Greencastle tonight. I skipped it, though, you know…”

You know, because of me.

“You didn’t have to do that. We could’ve gone to another party instead if you wanted.”

He shakes his head, leading me inside. He motions around the living room and into the kitchen, muttering under his breath for me to make myself at home.

“I know we didn’t have to go to Whiskey Sinner’s. I mean, I don’t have to do anything, right? I wanted to, though. Just like I wanted you to stay here. You said back there if it’s too much to ask, and I just want to say again that I don’t mind you staying here. I have a room you can sleep in, whether it’s only for tonight or until you can get into your place. I just didn’t understand why you wouldn’t want to stay with your brother, that’s all. I thought you might feel more comfortable with that option.”

I shrug. “I mean, I feel comfortable with you too. Besides, I don’t want him to report back to my dad. It’s not something I want to deal with. Plus, he has a roommate, and we don’t exactly like each other.”

He nods in understanding, but there’s curiosity in his gaze, like he wants to know more but doesn’t want to press me on it.

“Have you heard of Tanner Freeman?”

“I’m familiar with the name,” he says, leaning against the kitchen counter, pulling out a bottle of whiskey. “I’ve heard rumors that he’s the reason Alec left to play for Keaton.”

Colter opens the cabinet next to him and pulls out a bottle of whiskey. He holds it out, silently asking me if I’d like a shot.

“I’ll take you up on it.”

He grabs two glasses from the cabinet and untwists the cap, pouring two fingers of the dark bourbon into each glass.

“How well do you and my brother know each other?” I ask, taking a sip. I grit my teeth and suck in a sharp breath at the bite.

The liquor coursing through my system and the lust in his gaze make me feel hot. Mostly the look in his eyes if I’m honest.

“Not well. He had a chip on his shoulder because he didn’t get much playing time last season. I mean, I get it. I’m close friends with the two guys who did. So I have that as a strike against me. Plus, I think he’d want to pop me in the jaw if he knew I was alone with his sister and the thoughts I have running through my mind.”

“Why is that exactly?” I tilt my head to the side.

He smirks. “Well, for starters, if it was Wyatt in your shoes and one of my teammates were having the same thoughts about her, I’d be ready to haul his ass out of here to knock some sense into him.”

My face heats at the visual, and not because he’s threatening my brother, but from what he could be thinking.

I take a step toward him and lift my glass between us, finishing it off before I reach for the bottle to pour another. My hip brushes against his thigh, but I don’t move, don’t say a word, needing the liquid courage for what I want to say next.

Tingles spread throughout my body at the thought of being alone with him. It’s only one night together, but how would I handle being with him if I stayed the whole week?

“Let me show you to your room,” he whispers.

Colter caps the bottle of whiskey and puts it away in the cabinet. I don’t say anything when he links our hands again and leads me to the room, stopping at a door at the far end of the hallway.

When he opens the door and holds his arm out for me to enter, it’s pretty apparent in a matter of seconds that this isn’t just any room.

It’s his room.

It’s neat. I’m actually surprised for a young guy in college that it’s as clean as it is. There’s a desk with a laptop sitting open on the far wall. Across from it is a dresser with various colognes and a watch sitting next to them.

I’m impressed. Maybe I’m used to living with Alec, but he never kept his space this nice.

I stop near the side of his bed and turn to him, raising my brow in confusion. I thought he said he had an open room, not that I’d be sleeping with him.

---