Page 53 of Study Buddies

“Done,” Lucas said, and he took the bag from her. He slid his arm around her waist and led her past me. I followed, knocking over a sculpture and a pile of books as I went. The fucking asshole deserved it.

I beat them to the car and opened the passenger door. Lucas led her to it and then let go of her, stepping back.

“Thank you,” Tori said softly. “Both of you.”

Lucas gave her a gentle smile, and I nodded, and grasped Tori’s waist. I lifted her into the passenger seat, reluctantly letting go when I was sure she was steady.

I waited, half expecting Lucas to yell at me for touching his girl on their date night, but his attention was all on Tori.

“We’re going to take you home right now,” he said softly, staring up at her. “You never have to see him again.”

I turned away, but then Tori’s voice reached me.

“Home?”

Lucas nodded. “It’s your home too, Tori.”

She frowned. “But… but what about our date?”

Lucas and I both gaped up at her in surprise. Then he shook his head. “We can go out another time, sweetheart. Let’s just get you home.”

She looked like she was going to say something else, but then she nodded.

Shit.

I couldn’t believe I was doing this. “Do you really want to go?” I asked her.

She held my gaze for a long moment. “I do.” Her voice didn’t waver.

“But, after the night you had—” Lucas sputtered, but I put my hand on his chest, halting him.

“Let her speak.”

Tori shot me a grateful look. “I’d still like to go, if Lucas would.” Those dark eyes flicked back and forth between me and Lucas. “Todd—he’s already ruined so many things for me. I don’t want him to ruin this, too.”

Lucas didn’t look convinced, which was even more proof that he didn’t deserve to go on a date with a goddess like Tori. But I was interested in her reaction, not his.

“You’re sure about this?” I asked.

“Yes.” She nodded for extra emphasis.

“Would you swear it on a thesaurus?”

Tori froze for a split second and then nodded. I swore I saw the tiniest bit of amusement in her eyes, and I was glad I’d remembered the name of that fucking thing.

“Take her to dinner,” I told Lucas, who looked confused.

He looked at her face for a long moment before nodding. But then, just as quickly, he shook his head. “Shit, I don’t even have my car here.”

“I’ll drop you off at the restaurant.”

“But we won’t have a way to get home.”

Jesus, was this guytryingto screw this night up for Tori? “I’ll get Jay, and we’ll bring your car to the restaurant.”

Lucas stared at me as if I’d started speaking Klingon. Even Tori looked surprised.

“Why are you being… nice?” Lucas’s voice was full of suspicion.

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