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The thing is, in none of the photos do I glimpse the fear in her eyes that I saw at the party. She was devastated, and I understand why. She saw Mike, that fucker, kissing someone else. Still, it was like she was somewhere else when she whispered something about the pounding having to stop. It was strange since there was no pounding, except for the music.

Brandon hunches over to peer at my screen. “Seriously, man? How complicated can it be? Fuck her and get over it. I hate this food.”

I scowl at him again, shoving my phone into my pocket. “Shut up and eat.”

“Impossible. How can someone even call this food?” He returns to pushing the food around on his plate like a little child pouting.

“You’re such a baby. It’s not that bad,” I say.

“I bet you’d eat cardboard if it meant seeing that girl.”

“I would because I don’t want to mess it up.”

Brandon snorts. “Please. You’re the king of smooth. Flash that megawatt smile, and she’ll be putty in your hands.”

“It’s not that simple.” I could have already made another move, but I’m not sure if I should. “You don’t get it.”

“So explain,” Connor says.

“Her family isn’t exactly friendly with mine.”

“Uuh, I see it already. Romeo and Juliet,” Brandon says.

Yeah. A twisted version of Romeo and Juliet, without the poetry and the fancy clothes. Just a whole lot of bullshit and bad blood.

My gaze drifts back to Lil. Jason wraps an arm around her shoulders, and she stiffens at the contact before slipping gracefully out of his hold. Good girl.

Brandon’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Who cares if your family doesn’t agree? Given how she eye-fucked you at practice, she’s head over heels for you.”

“That’s what’s weird. It seems like she doesn’t know.”

“I don’t see the problem.” Brandon shrugs. “You should get her before I do.”

I give him a dead stare. “I already told you. Keep your hands to Naomi.”

Ju, Lil’s roommate, joins them. I could talk to her about Lil, but she has such a big mouth. Not an option, then.

“Connor, help me out here,” Brandon says.

“The food is awful,” Connor says.

I roll my eyes. “Thanks for the input.”

“Lil is not like the other girls you’ve dated, and she is not Blake.” Connor sets down his fork, wiping his mouth. “Getting involved with her won’t be simple or casual. Are you ready for that? Or will you get bored and move on to the next girl, like you always do?”

“Am I that bad?”

“You’re an amazing guy,” Brandon interjects. “But you have a reputation for being a playboy. She looks more like the girl next door. Someone who needs someone more… serious and committed.”

“Are you saying I’m not capable of serious?” I can do serious. I just haven’t found the one I want to do it with. Until now.

“Name one serious relationship you had,” Brandon says. “The on and off with Blake doesn’t count.”

Shit.

“Think about it.” Connor claps my shoulder and stands. “I need to go. See you later.”

They are right to doubt me. I’ve never been one to commit. But one thing I know for sure—Lil isn’t just another girl. She never has been.

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