Page 58 of Lilies in Autumn

“Grey, man. How are you? I was just telling this bitch to watch where the fuck she’s going. You feel me?” The obliviousness of this guy is nearly comical. Nearly, because according to him, I’m a bitch, slut, and a whore.

Grey’s arm wraps around me, guiding me back against him. I could fight him right now, fight against him and demand that he listen to my rule about waiting until Monday to publicize our relationship. But at this moment, with my top see-through and insults coating me like the cheap beer on my clothes and skin, I don’t have the will or inclination to struggle. Instead, I sink into his body and grab his arm, pulling him closer to me. If he’s surprised, he doesn’t show it, just flexes his arm at my contact.

“If you ever talk to my girlfriend like that again, I will beat the fucking shit out of you.” Grey’s voice is so cold and detached, completely at odds with the heat of him against my back. “And make sure all your soccer buddies know that if anyone speaks to her the wrong way, looks at her with anything less than the utmost fucking respect, I’ll make sure everyone knows about the little coke problem their beloved captain has.”

“Greyson, my man. I didn’t know it was like that. You’d snitch for a piece of ass?” This guy is a damn moron.

“Say one more word, one more fucking word, and I’ll have the cops here so fucking quick. I’ll make sure they know exactly which rooms to search. Do you feel me? Now get the fuck out of my face before I do something my girl won’t like.” The threat of police must have been enough to put sense into his thick skull because he all but runs out of there.

Tilting my head to the side, I ask, “Girlfriend, huh?”

“Damn right, you are.”

I step out of his embrace and turn on him. “What happened to waiting until Mon—?” My words are cut off as Grey whips off his Henley shirt and tugs it over my head. “What the hell are you doing?” I mumble through the fabric.

“Vixen, you’re pretty pink nipples are on full display. I told you that no one is allowed to see that but me.” Working my arms through the sleeves, I’m swimming in his shirt, and suddenly, the comments, the ruined outfit, and the pressure to keep us hidden become too heavy, and I feel tears well in my eyes.

Grey, who thankfully wore an undershirt, sees my tears and pulls me back into his arms. “Baby, you didn’t think I’d stand by and let someone speak to you like that, did you? He walked into you, purposely tilted his beer on your tits for a free show, and then spewed that shit. You’re my girl; there’s no fucking way I’d let that shit fly.” I nestle my face into his chest, not caring if my bronzer gets all over him. “Let’s get out of here, go back to my house, yeah?”

“My sister is here,” I say against his chest. “I can’t leave her and her horrible friend here alone.”

A soft chuckle leaves his lips. “Vixen, she’s not alone. Linc’s looking at her like she’s his next meal.” I jerk back and follow Grey’s line of sight. Just like he said, Lincoln is looking at her with a hunger in his eyes that I do not like at all. Though she’s talking to CeCe and Serena and gesturing wildly toward me, Sera’s profile is in clear view of Lincoln, and he’s observing her with an intensity that does not bode well.

“Greyson, she is eighteen and too fucking young for him. She’s still in high school. My mother will kill me.”

“Relax, vixen. He knows better than to get involved with someone in high school. But he’ll make sure they get back safe, either to the house or to your dorm.”

“Fine, but I need to speak with her.” I turn from Grey but pause when his hand intertwines with mine. I look up at him, frowning.

“Vixen, I just claimed you as mine to every person in this room. Soon, every damn person at this school will know that I belong to you. Hold my damn hand, woman.” I roll my eyes but don’t pull away. He’s not wrong, as annoying as that is to admit. Ignoring the shit-eating grin on his face, I tug him toward my sister and friends.

Interrupting the gesticulating arms and hand motions of Sera, and shooting a scowl at Lincoln’s watchful presence, I offer a chagrined smile.

“You have been holding out on me and B, you little liar.”

“I have no idea what you mean.”

“Really?” She raises an eyebrow at me. “First, we get here and a sorority girl on speed verbally attacked you, prompting Celeste to declare nuclear war on her and her house in retaliation. Then, your Nordic god over here”—she waves her hand toward Grey—“undresses you with his eyes from across the room. Andthensome douche throws a beer at you and the Nordic god rushes over and declares that you’re his girlfriend. So, tell me again that you have no idea what I mean.”

“Oh, that.”

“You have some explaining to do.”

“And she’ll tell you about it over breakfast at the house tomorrow morning, right, Linc?” Grey responds for me.

“Yeah, we’ll make breakfast for our girls,” he adds eagerly. Did he just say, “Our girls?” What is with the damn possession in this group? I shoot him another look and mumble, “She’s eighteen, asshole,” under my breath.

Grey continues, “Serena, have Dylan bring you by, too.”

“Oh, that’s okay. CeCe is spending the night so that Sera and her friend can have her bed.” I look toward Dante at Serena’s comment, noting he looks like a puppy that just had his favorite treat taken away.

“Sera, do you want to come back with me? And where the hell is Hyacinth?” I look around, realizing that she hasn’t been part of this conversation and isn’t even in the room with us.

“She texted me and told me that she was sick of CeCe giving her shit, so she texted her cousin that goes here and got an Uber back to her dorm.” She shrugs her shoulders as if it’s no big deal that her friend just freaking left her. “But it’s fine, I shouldn’t have brought her anyway. Safe to say that it’s the last time we’ll ever hang out.”

“Thank fuck for that,” CeCe calls out.

Ignoring CeCe’s outburst, I tell her, “I can come back with you. I just need to leave; my shirt is ruined, and I have more beer on my body than I’d like to think about. Let me just call a car and we’ll head out.” Sera grabs my arm and shakes her head, glancing up at Lincoln before settling her gaze on me again.

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