Page 53 of Pucking Obsessed

She uses air quotes, taunting him like a bratty little sister when she says,“best friend’s little sister.”

Callum scowls, taking another bite before saying, “When I’m finished eating, I’m going to fling you out the window by your braid.”

I snort, trying to cover my laugh because we’re on the first floor of the building.

The lighthearted mood shatters when someone clears their throat behind Callum. I look up and say a silent prayer for our pretend bodyguard. Callum’s shoulders stiffen instantly, his almost finished bagel pausing halfway to his mouth. “He’s behind me, isn’t he?”

Tristan stands behind Callum’s chair, the hood of his sweatshirt pulled up over his head and a scowl on his face that makes Hayden look… approachable. His dark green eyes are locked on the back of Callum’s head, and his jaw is so tense it looks like it could crack a rock.

Callum turns his head slightly, trying to meet Tristan’s glare with a grin that’s way too forced. “You know, Tristan,” he says, still chewing, “you should really loosen up, it would do you good.”

Tristan doesn’t even blink. His voice is calm, too calm, when he says, “I’ll loosen up when you stop threatening to throw my sister out windows.”

Winter’s face flushes, her gaze glued to her plate as if it’s suddenly the most interesting thing she’s ever seen. She breathes in deep before looking up at him and saying,“Tristan, don’t—” Winter’s chair scrapes back as she gets up, but before she can move, Hayden steps in.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Hayden says, setting a jug of chocolate milk on our table and then shoves himself between Tristan and Callum.“You know he’s a lunatic. Why the fuck would you?—”

Callum doesn’t let him finish. He stands too, his backwards hat slightly askew as he takes the knife with the peanut butter on it and licks it clean like he’s unfazed. “She was giving me shit, so I gave her shit back. It was a joke.” He shrugs, casual as ever, “Anyone else calls her your sister, and you fly to fucking outer space on a rage rocket. I threaten to dangle her out a window, and suddenly she’s family?” His tone shifts then, all humorbleeding out as his expression hardens. “You know I’d protect her with my life.”

And the thing is, I believe him. Callum may act like everything’s a joke, but there’s a seriousness to the way he says it that feels undeniably real. He’d protect Winter and me because of the bond he has with Hayden and Tristan.

Winter steps in front of Tristan, allowing Hayden to back off. Her small hand presses firmly against Tristan’s chest when she says, “It was a joke, I promise. Callum looked out for us all morning. I was teasing him about Lilac.”

Tristan frowns, his gaze softening as his hand comes up to rub the long braid that trails down her back. The bomb that is Tristan Vale seems to be diffused for now.

Callum, of course, doesn’t know when to stop.

“That’s what I fucking thought,” he says, and I swear everyone in dining hall freezes for a second as he takes off running toward the exit. Over his shoulder, he yells, “See you bitches at the game tonight. Don’t die before then!”

Tristan grumbles something, but his arm wraps protectively around Winter and I relax because I don’t think he’s going to chase after him. Hayden shakes his head before turning his attention to me. He steps around the table, leaning down to press a kiss to my temple before sliding into the seat beside me. His hand lands on my thigh like it’s a claim.

I glance up at him, leaning into him and giving him a quick kiss before nestling into his side while he opens his chocolate milk. As much as I love the intensity between Hayden and me, moments like this calm me in a way I didn’t know I needed until I met him.

Winter waves at us as Tristan guides her away from the table and toward the exit. I wave back, calling out to her, “See you at the game!” She doesn’t turn around because Tristan is handingher one of his headphones. She pops it in her ear closest to him and he mirrors her, putting the other one in his ear.

“The game is going to be interesting,” I say to Hayden with a laugh, because this was the most ridiculous breakfast I’ve ever had.

My eyes follow Hayden as he moves across the ice. He’s having a phenomenal game tonight. Tristan hasn’t killed Callum, so if it wasn’t for us all having a mystery stalker hellbent on tormenting us, all would be right in our little world.

I feel myself getting giddy as my mind drifts to this morning. I’d woken up to a bouquet of daisies, already arranged in a vase on the table next to the bed.

Our bed.

The thought slips in uninvited, and my cheeks heat.Not ours. His.But it doesn’t feel that way anymore. Not when I’ve been spending every night there, tangled in his sheets, with his arm draped over me like he owns me. A few days ago when we got back to his room, all of my things had been moved from my dorm per Hayden’s request. My pink vanity sticks out like a sore thumb in such a neutral space, and I’d told him that we could move it someplace else. He wasn’t having any of that because Hayden, apparently, likes to lounge in bed and watch me get ready in the mornings.

The thought makes my skin flush, and I glance down at my lap, twisting the edges of my pink coat between my fingers. Next to me, Winter leans forward, swiping through pictures of what looks like really old books on her phone. Since I’ve beenspending more time at the guys’ house, I’ve noticed that she and Tristan read a lot together.

She looks up at me and asks, “Wanna stop by the library after the game? My order is in.” She looks so excited that I can’t help but nod enthusiastically. Hayden is going to be annoyed, but I’ll make it up to him when we get home.

It’s a shock when Kirsten appears, sliding into the seat on my other side. Her hair is a little messy, her cheeks flushed like she was in a rush to get here. I stiffen automatically, but she waves me off with a bright laugh.

“You two don’t have to look so panicked,” she says, her voice overly chipper. “I’m not going to cause a scene.”

Winter straightens slightly, her gaze flicking to Kirsten before returning to her phone.

I relax a little, though I’m still a little on edge. I don’t want any drama tonight, and where there’s Kirsten, drama is sure to follow.

Kirsten almost hesitantly places her hand over mine. “Look, I’m sorry for lashing out at the wedding,” she says quietly, her tone softer than I expect. “None of the way I’ve been feeling has anything to do with you. I’m really glad my brother has you. I’ve been awful. I don’t blame him for the things he says or how he feels about me.”

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