Page 24 of Resist Me

I forced a laugh. “Yup. Former god now.”

“Oh, yeah. West’s ego is about to grow like the Grinch’s heart.”

“Only if he lets it. What’s your name?”

“I’m an asshole, obviously. Brooks.” He held out his hand and I took it. His thumb stroked over my skin before he pulled back.

Hm. Interesting.

“What are you studying?” I asked.

Brooks let out a long raspberry. “Law.”

“Damn. I’ll have to make sure to keep my nose clean around you.”

“On the contrary, we should be living it up before I’m obligated to give a shit.”

“To living it up, then.”

I clinked my bottle against his and continued to study him as I drained it. He was attractive and seemed like an interesting person. We might hit it off if I went for it, but I didn’t feel drawn to him. I’d been on too many bad dates lately to feel inclined to jump on an opportunity just because he was handsome and approached me.

Was he even my type? I didn’t know. While I’d dated in the past, I’d never found that spark that people talked about. Many times, I’d decided that it didn’t exist, then I came across people like Kai and Sen. It was weird to use their relationship as evidence for an idea that was probably imaginary, but some things could just be felt. It was the same way around my parents and I used to wonder if they were just lucky or there was more to it.

Even if it wasn’t as obvious and powerful as a spark, I wanted to feel… something. And I wanted to know that I wouldn’t end up burned when it all went to shit. Too many people fed on you like vampires of the heart. I was tired of being drained by them with nothing to show for it.

Brooks motioned for me to come close with a strange glint in his eye. Hesitantly, I leaned to the side.

“Do you think they’ll be offended if I tell them their place is a shit hole?” he whispered.

I snorted a laugh. “If they don’t already know that, they’re all delusional.”

“They’ll just call me a trust fund kid if I say it.”

“Trust fund, huh? Yeah, you have that vibe.”

He scoffed. “Alright, Linc. What about you? What makes you who you are?”

Tapping my finger on the glass bottle, I considered the question. “I’m just out here trying to survive like everybody else.”

“Sounds like there’s more to it.”

“There is.”

He studied me for another moment before he chuckled. “You’re different than I thought you’d be. Not in a bad way. Honestly, everyone I’ve become friends with here has surprised me in one way or another.”

“How so?”

“Kai looks like the broody bad boy in every romance novel, but he’s more of a golden retriever. Humble despite excelling at everything in his life. Sen, well, he’s kind of obvious, but he’s super sweet. The definition of a tortured soul.”

“And West?” I ventured, bringing the bottle to my lips. When I remembered that it was empty, I held it in my lap.

“He’s crazy,” Brooks laughed. I grunted my agreement. “But there’s a lot more depth to him than I originally thought. He’s surprisingly transparent if someone cares to know him, but I think a lot of people don’t try because they make quick assumptions about him. I think the guy faces the devil in the mirror every day, but he walks outside and spreads joy. I respect the hell out of it.”

I heard West’s laugh from the kitchen and turned toward it. He was talking to a few of the football players, waving his hands in the air excitedly. He exuded a childish sort of energy that turned me off, but they seemed captivated. I wondered what he was saying.

He leaned back against the fridge with a lingering smile as he listened to Caleb. His eyes met mine and I was about to turn away, but I held his gaze. That familiar cocky expression was in place. As I stared at him, though, I thought I saw something else underneath. It was probably because of Brooks’ words. I was looking for whatever he claimed dwelled inside of West. If it was there, I wouldn’t discover it, nor did I have any desire to.

Tearing my gaze away, I returned my attention to Brooks. He was already looking at me in a way that made me uncomfortable.

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