She fucking knows exactly what she’s doing.
“I will see you at Tartarus House,” I tell Blaine as I turn around and waltz off. “We’ve got a party to prepare for.” I glance at her once more, savoring the sight of her in those tight little yoga pants. “And I will see you there tomorrow night.”
CRYSTAL
The doorbell rings, and I grab my bag and hurry downstairs.
Kayla approaches, but I swiftly intervene as she opens the door.
Blaine steps inside in a pair of black PVC pants and a see-through black mesh shirt, along with a silver necklace, and I swear, every time I see him, he looks even sexier than before. His hair is styled in a curly wave, half of it in a bun, while loose strands fall beside his defined jaw.
He grabs the doorpost and checks out my short red dress with puffy shoulders, his eyes slowly skittering across my body like a spider draws a web, ensnaring me. “Well, hello there, gorgeous.” He pulls me into his arms.
“Holy shit … Blaine Navarro?” One of the girls behind me squeals, making me turn my head.
Some others gasp in shock, and one nearly faints on the couch.
“What the hell is he doing here?” another one asks while they all try to get up close. “Oh my God!”
He winks. “I’m just here to pick up Crystal Murphy, ladies. But I appreciate the sentiment.”
A collective disappointing sigh follows from my fellow sororitygirls.
“Don’t pay attention to them. They’re just jealous,” Kayla says, winking before she slaps my butt. “You have fun with whatever you two are going to do.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, trying not to blush as he escorts me outside.
“I won’t bother you ladies any longer,” Blaine muses, blowing them an air-kiss. “Enjoy your evening!”
When the door closes, half of the girls behind me squeal their heads off.
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“Ah, don’t worry. I’m used to the attention that comes with looking as good as I do.”
God, the arrogance of this guy. It’s insane yet … kind of endearing.
With a giant smile, he offers me his arm. “Care to take a walk, darling?”
I hook my arm through his. “Do I even have a choice?”
“Well, you could always try to outrun them,” he says. “Take your mom on a long vacation.”
“Nice fantasy you got going there,” I reply as we walk across the road.
“Ahh, we all know Ares and Caleb would probably chase you and your mother to the end of the world.”
I snigger to myself. “Sounds about right. I still don’t understand why he wants to get rid of her so badly he’d threaten to get her killed. It can’t be just to protect his dad.”
Blaine sighs. “He has … issues.”
“Evening.”
Caleb’s sudden intrusion makes all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. But when I turn to look at him, I’m momentarily too flabbergasted to speak. I’ve never seen him wear a dark red shirt, but the color suits him well. It makes all of his tattoos and piercings jump out … especially with that unbuttoned part at the top. Of course he paired it with some black jeans and a ton of intimidating jewelry.
I wonder if he’s brought that knife of his along, too.
“I didn’t know you were also coming to pick me up. Am I that much of a threat?” I ask.