Page 14 of Wicked

“Long black hair. Big blue eyes. Thin. What is it about her I wouldn’t like, Conway?”

Nothing. What he ticked off describes his ex-girlfriends.

“She’s moody,” I reason.

“She’s been all smiles. Tolerated your lame-ass attempt at flirting with her. Doesn’t cave to your BS. She’s very much my type.”

I scoff. I don’t BS with the women. I make my intentions clear.Except with Harper. Damn it, I have a guaranteed spot in Hell.

“You didn’t answer the question. Which is it, yes or no?”

Harper heads our way with food. Another server follows close on her heels with a second tray. Yeah, the guys and I arefamished.

“Anything else I can get you?”

“You can answer a question.” Jake pierces her with one of his winning smiles.

I cut into my medium-rare steak. The steak bleeds, and blood stains my rice pilaf.

“What we’d like to know is if there’s something going on with you and Ryker here.”

Jake throws his thumb my direction. I stick a big piece of steak in my mouth, chew, and wait for Harper’s response. I couldn’t care less what she says. No matter her answer, there’s a dime a dozen just like her on campus.

She slopes her head to the side, like she’s studying Jake under a microscope. Her high ponytail swings.

“Ryker’s my boyfriend.”

Jake chokes on his beer. Joey and Cameron take turns pounding on his back.

“How long have you two been dating? He said you met at last week’s party.”

She shrugs. “A week. Love at first sight.”

“That’s not like Ryker. You know he’s known for nailing and bailing on the girls he sleeps with, right?”

“He gave full disclosure.”

I rack my brain for whether I did or not. The days blur together, my lack of sex affecting my thinking.

“So you two are exclusive?”

Man, Jake ispersistent.

“Isn’t that what it means when two people decide to be boyfriend-girlfriend?”

“He didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

Aw, damn, here comes thefulldisclosure.

“Any exclusive relationship Ryker’s in, he likes them to beopenrelationships.”

Her eyes narrow. She looks from Jake to me. Shit, does she believe him? I wait. Her small shoulders rise and fall.

“Then Ryker will have to decide how much and how often he’s willing to share me with other guys.”

And . . . she walks away, oblivious to five guys gaping after her.

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