Page 91 of The Bro-code

Me? I would have had the entire team spit in Topher’s chili and God forbid we won next week, that bastard would eat spit until the end of the season.

CHAPTER 17

DIRTY DANCING

BAY

Before we know it, the house is full of people, the beer is flowing and the usual party shenanigans begin.

The dining table is soon turned into a beer pong playing field and I’m out.

It’s funny how up to last year these kinds of parties were totally my scene, but now all I want is to retreat to my room for an early night.

Maybe Cole isn’t the only one who’s “getting old.” Maybe I’m starting to get over the wildest part of the college experience. Or not. I might not be getting in line to do body shots, but what happened earlier in the locker room with Jagger definitely falls in my definition of wild.

What does it say about me that if I were to go back to my room, I’d rather take Jagger with me?

We both know that it isn’t a good idea though, not while everyone is wide awake and not even close to drunk enough to not notice.

So all Jagger and I can do is exchange a few heated looks when we cross paths, but we never spent time together at parties before and we stick to that habit to fly under the radar.

I should probably find my Zeta sisters. I’ve been checking on each of them since we were separated, but it would be good to have a few one on one conversations and make sure that everyone is settling well into their new accommodations.

It’s better to do that sober, so rather than pouring myself a mixed drink or grabbing a wine cooler, I go to the fridge for a bottle of my favorite sparkling water.

“Hey,” a familiar voice calls out from behind me. “Could you get me one of those too?”

I turn to glare at Ryker, who’s standing behind me looking infuriatingly sexy in a black t-shirt that clings to his mouthwatering muscles in a way that should be illegal. Don’t even start me off about how his faded blue jeans hug his long, muscular legs. The guy is hot AF and he knows it.

“Didn’t they teach you to say please in South Carolina?” I provoke him.

Rather than being irritated by my tone, his ice blue eyes flash with amusement. “I wouldn’t know, since I didn’t grow up there. I’m originally from Connecticut.”

Like Topher. That immediately rubs me the wrong way, even though it isn’t Ryker’s fault that he grew up in the same state as my ex. “I’m still not hearing a please. It would be the least you could do, since this is my personal stash of water.”

Rather than correcting his poor manners, Ryker offers me an arrogant smirk. “Why doesn’t it surprise me that you’d drink some expensive, pretentious French sparkling water?”

I close the fridge, without taking a second bottle out. I was totally going to share my water with him, but if he can’t be nice, he can forget it. “I’d say that you’re just as pretentious as I am, since you asked me for a bottle.”

His smile widens. “Well played, Cinnamon. Well played.”

God, he has no business looking so hot. “My name is Bay,” I bite out.

“I gathered that much, Cinnamon.” He provokes me.

“Why do you keep calling me that? I told you it’s not my name.”

Ryker chuckles. “That’s what I named you in my head at the airport when you refused to tell me your name. I guess in California they don’t teach you manners either, or how to properly make someone’s acquaintance. So you don’t get me to use the name you very rudely withheld from me.”

“Touché,” I grumble, annoyed by the way he’s questioning my manners the same way I did his earlier. “Just FYI, I didn’t grow up in California either.” I inform him, without telling him where I’m from.. “Now since you’re a dead ringer for Emily Post, would you step aside? I need to go outside and you’re standing in my way.”

He doesn’t do what I just asked him.

Ryker actually takes one step closer, forcing me to retreat until my back touches the fridge door.

“In a minute,” he drawls, placing a hand on the chrome door of the fridge, on one side of my head. “I just wanted to talk to you, Cinnamon.”

He’s standing so close that our chests are almost touching. I can feel the heat radiating from his fit body; his spicy, masculine scent is making my skin break out in goosebumps.

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