Page 11 of Merry Mischief List

There’s a brief shuffle, and the door swings open, directly into my face.

“Oww!” I shout, bringing my hands up to my nose as the pounding in my head triples.

“Oh my god,” Porter gasps, peeking his head around the door. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

“Fantastic. I’ve always wanted a nose job, so thanks for saving me the money,” I deadpan, opening the door wide and brushing past him to dart down the stairs. His footsteps echo behind me, and I choose to ignore them. I slow my pace towards the front door, where my carry-on bag and purse are sitting. Everything perfectly in place for my inevitable getaway.

“I made breakfast,” he says as I continue towards my things.

“No thanks, I’ve gotta…” I pause, trying to figure out what excuse I can possibly give considering he and I both know I don’t have anywhere to be. “Go.”

“Okay.”

I pause and turn to face him. “Did um… we sleep together last night?”

“Sleep, as in?” An amused smile crosses his face.

“Did we have sex?” I clarify to leave no room for misinterpretation.

“I don’t sleep with students, and…" He trails off, eyes roaming me disapprovingly from head to toes. “You’re also Jess’s kid sister.”

Kidsister?!

“Right.” I nod my head, heat flushing my cheeks in embarrassment and anger. “Well, I guess I better go find a school bus to hop on.”

I reach for my purse and, in my rush, knock it to the ground. All the contents are scattered out on his spotless wood floors, and he rushes over, helping me repack. “I’ve got it.”

“I don’t mind.” He extends a hand towards me with my little box from the airport. “Wouldn’t want you to forget your emergency cupcake,” he says, a smug grin on his lips.

Oh, good god. He’ll never let that go now.

I snatch the container from his hand and shove the remaining items in my bag before standing up. “Thanks.”

He eyes me amusingly before folding his thick arms across his chest. It’s the same damn thing he does when the boys are out on the field, and he looks even sexier now his attention is fixated on me. He’s wearing athletic shorts and a tight T-shirt that fits him like a second skin.Ugh, stop being so damn hot.

“Andi?” Porter says, snapping me out of my ogling.

“Yeah!” I resituate the purse on my shoulder and grab the handle of my carry-on. “Thanks for…” I glance toward the stairs to his bedroom. “Letting me crash. Better get home before I miss curfew.” I run out and down the steps of his front porch onto the sidewalk of what appears to be a bougie neighborhood of townhomes.

Where the hell am I?

Taking a deep breath, I pull out my phone, opening the Uber app. My foot bounces impatiently as I type in the address for my place, and the screen goes black.

Excuse me, what the hell?

I press the side button, and as if this morning couldn’t get any worse, my damn phone is dead.

“Of course,” I groan, shoving it back in my purse.Where the hell am I? How am I gonna get back to campus?

Embarrassment settles into my bones as I realize there’s only one option that doesn’t leave me flat broke or on public transportation for the next several hours.

I turn around slowly, and that same smug grin awaits me with the door propped open and a cup of coffee in his hands. My pridealmosthas me turning back around and bolting in the opposite direction, but the raging hangover is begging me to suck it up.

I drag myself back to the front porch, and Porter’s annoyingly arrogant smile only grows.

“Forget something?” he mocks.

“Well…” I clear my throat, hands on my hips. “Considering youkidnappedme and apparently live in—well, to be honest, I have no idea where we are.”

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