Page 104 of Dozer

“About?”

“Fuck, you people.” Coop put a huge hand on my arm. “I promised Levi I wouldn’t say shit to Diego. She told me about Dean Chambers.”

“Stay out of it,” I said to him. “Play football, party with your friends, do college shit. This isn’t going to end well. I’m doing you a favor. Keep your eye on Levi, but you leave the shit with the professor to me.”

“Dozer, I can’t just let some douche fucking scare her. I’ve loved that girl since junior high.”

Those words slid like ice through my veins. “Maybe I wasn’t clear, Pippa’s mine.”

Coop growled. “Love her like a sister, asshole. I’m dating Levi.”

“Love her from a distance. Back off from this.”

“I’m not backing off from Pippa or Levi.”

I huffed a chuckle, and then lowered my voice. “We’re not friends, but you don’t want me as an enemy.”

“No, I don’t want you or your club as an enemy, but don’t think you have exclusive rights to care about Pippa.”

“Or Levi. I told you before, Levi is a Heller. Fucking hurt her, we’ll hurt you.”

What the fuck? He laughed and slapped me on the back. Got to admit, I felt it. The guy was strong.

“Levi gave me the run down on the Hellers. She thought I might want to reconsider before taking her out. I thought she was exaggerating. But I think shemight have left a few things out.” His gaze locked on the butt of the gun tucked in my jeans.

I adjusted my cut to cover the weapon.

“You know it’s a felony to carry on campus.”

“Nah, it’s a misdemeanor if you don’t have a permit.”

“You have a permit?”

I shrugged because I wasn’t confessing my misdemeanor to Coop. It was my first of the day, probably wouldn’t be my last.

The doors opened and students began to file out of class.

Levi smiled at Coop. He leaned in and kissed her. A boyfriend looked good on her. She smiled at him as he tucked her close to his side.

Pippa slung her backpack over her shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

Did she really need to ask that? “Keeping you safe.”

I thought she’d tell me to fuck off, but she stepped closer. “You can’t follow me around.”

“We’re going to go get a bite to eat in the Union Center.” Levi laced her fingers with Coop’s.

“Pipsqueak, you two can come with us.”

Pippa shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“Fucking insecure, numb, and empty,” I said and pushed away from the wall. “Looks like you’re stuck with me.”

“I have another class.”

“I’ll wait.” I stuffed my hands into my pockets to keep from touching her. We walked for a few minutes. I hated the awkwardness between us.Nothing I could say now would fix what had already been said.

“My class is an hour and fifteen minutes. It’s in the engineering building.”

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