Page 59 of You Were Never Not Mine

But here I am, helping Sin out with the loser Tim. He’s sending glares that if looks could kill, I’d have a cut across my face with little bleeding. Meaning the guy is relatively harmless, but I don’t think Sinclair believes that. She looks ready to run far and fast from him, even though I doubt he’d do much to her.

“We’re good, prez,” Tim finally says with a short nod. “Just about to walk Sinclair back to her dorm building.”

“Oh.” I can feel her watching me and fuck if I like it way too much. “That’s funny because that’s what I was just about to do too.”

Tim frowns. “Really? You walk?”

“Well, no. I’m driving her.” I pull my car keys out of my sweats pocket, turning to look at Sin. “Ready to go?”

She nods, her eyes flashing at me before she turns to Tim. “That’s what I was trying to tell you.”

“Oh. Yeah. Sorry. I guess I didn’t…” Tim squints at us. “Are you two together?”

I chuckle. Sinclair full-blown laughs.

“No,” I snap, my chuckle dying.

“Absolutely not,” Sin agrees.

“Are you ready to go?” I offer her a baring of teeth because no, I’m not smiling at her. Not tonight and hopefully never again. “The car awaits.”

“Perfect. Bye, Tim.” She sashays in front of me toward the door, the hem of my hoodie swaying back and forth and maybe if I tilt my head just right, I might see her bare ass. But, no. I’m wrong.

Such a pity.

The moment we’re outside she’s turning on me and I steel myself, fully prepared for her to blast me for whatever false grievance she might have against my heroic act. Instead, she surprises me.

“Thank you for offering to take me back to my dorm.” Her voice is small and she wraps her arms around her middle, a shiver visibly moving through her. “He was getting a little pushy.”

“He was?” Pure hatred for Tim runs through my veins and my hands are clenched into fists. “Want me to take care of him?”

Her head jerks up, her eyes full of surprise at my offer and Isuppose I deserve that. I’m surprised too, that I would make the offer.

“No. Please don’t hurt him. It’s just—he’s not worth it.” She’s hanging on my arm, sending me a pleading look and I gaze into her eyes for a beat too long, drowning in their depths.

Fuck, she’s beautiful and I despise it. There is no reason this woman has such a chokehold on me yet here I am standing in the front of the frat house on a Saturday night clad in just my sweats and a T-shirt that is—I glance down at myself—yep, inside out. Eager and ready to drive her back to her dorm room.

“Does your offer still stand?” she asks, after waiting me out to see if I’ll say anything.

“What offer?”

She rolls her eyes, full of sass. “That you’ll drive me back to my dorm building.”

“Let’s walk.” When she starts to protest, I talk right over her. “It’s not that far. And I’m not going to make you go alone.”

“You’re not?” She peers at me from beneath her thick eyelashes.

“I’m not a complete animal,” I mutter as I start walking. She doesn’t move and I get at least fifty feet away from her before I glance over my shoulder and say something. “Are you coming or what?”

“Yes! Oh my God.” She’s running in those horrible heels and somehow manages to stay upright, catching up to me with ease. “Thank you.”

I say nothing in return. I don’t deserve her thanks. I’m a dick who’s only got one thing on his mind and that’s how soon can I taste her delicious pussy again.

Wait. That’s not necessarily true. I’m also thinking about what an asshole Tim is and how he can’t pick up on her signals that he makes her uncomfortable. Or how many times she has to turn him down and he still doesn’t get it. Is he purposelyobtuse or just a complete dumbass? I still haven’t figured him out. I don’t think she has either.

We’re quiet for most of the walk and I’m cold because I’m the idiot who only wore a T-shirt outside and it has to be fifty degrees, tops. That and the Gucci slides on my feet, which make me feel tacky because come on. They’re Gucci, and I’m not a fan.

I’m a label snob. Sue me.

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