Page 32 of Get Even

“Ah yes,” Professor Dick’s eyes lightened as they took in Ryan, “likewise. I’ve heard good things about you from Deborah King, the Psych department?”

Ryan laughed and nodded, “I’m glad. I’m the co-captain of the football team too.”

I nudged him in the ribs, not sure if Davis liked jocks, but Professor Dick smiled, “Ah, brains as well as brawn then.” Right. It was just me that he hated. I bit my tongue in frustration and smiled politely as his eyes flicked back to me and his expression soured. “Well, do enjoy the mixer. You never know when you might need to rely on a new connection.”

The threat was clear. He wasn’t impressed and he was watching me closer than ever, desperate to get rid of me. I didn’t like people! So sue me. But just because I didn’t really know the names of many (or any) of my classmates didn’t make me a bad student. Maybe a bad human, but this wasn’t a philosophy major so why should Davis have cared?

I gave him a stiff nod and moved past him to where Nick and Xander were watching by the canapes. Nick winced as I got close enough to smack his arm. “You little traitor.”

“I’m sorry Jay, the vibes between you guys were… nasty,” Nick shuddered and Xander nodded solemnly while I rolled my eyes.

“Whatever, this fucking sucks, my shoes are hurting my feet and my bra is too small,” I whined rubbing the center of my chest, hidden by the high neck on the dress I’d borrowed.

“Why is your bra too small?” Ryan asked, looking perkier now that the conversation revolved around my breasts.

“Because I borrowed it from Liv, I didn’t have anything strapless for this dress.” Ry looked mystified and I just waved a hand at him in agitation.

“How is Olivia?” Xander asked, his low voice taking me aback for a moment. “We spoke to Billy after you left and he kicked that guy out, Max stayed with me to report what happened. Nice guy.” Xander spoke in clipped sentences that felt vaguely threatening despite his relaxed posture. I’d thought he was broody before but maybe he was just serious. I shot Ryan a quick look but Xander continued talking. “Did you know he was a record producer?”

“He what?” My mouth fell open and Xander looked away uncomfortably as all the attention was diverted to him. Oh mygod.Max had to be button-down. Which meant that button-down was a record producer. Arecord producerhad liked my voice!

“Who is this Max guy? What are you guys talking about?” Ryan frowned, his smile fading as he looked to Nick who shrugged back.

“The Box,” Xander supplied. “I went there for a date on Wednesday night and saw some asshole grab Olivia by her hair.”

“What?” Ryan and Nick both gaped and I winced. “Why didn’t you say anything?” Ryan asked, brows pulled together as his hands found my arms again, running his fingers up and down until I caught them in my own to avoid the tendrils of heat he was stirring.

“I didn’t think it concerned you,” I said casually and Ryan’s face darkened in a way that had my mouth drying and heart skipping.

“It definitely,” he said leaning in close to my ear, “concerns me.”

I swallowed hard, “Well, I’m fine and Liv is fine. I’ll tell her you asked about her, Xander.”

He nodded his thanks and Nick cleared his throat.

“What?” I asked with a sigh and he pouted.

“Why wasn’t I invited? Did it not occur to you that most drunk guys won’t mess with you if there’s a guy around?”

I rolled my eyes but smiled a little, “You have a standing invitation, doll. And I don’t need you to protect me.” One of the things I liked most about Nick was that he didn’t beat around the bush and he didn’t let grudges fester – he was honest and upfront and I appreciated that a lot.

Nick looked slightly mollified but I narrowed my eyes when Xander snorted a laugh, “I’ll say. You should have seen the way she charged in and stepped on that guy’s in-step.” Ry’s jaw tightened and I widened my eyes at Xander, but he obviously didn’t understand or didn’t care about the daggers I was shooting his way because he continued, “If you’d just checked you would have seen me coming over to help, but nope! Honestly it’s a wonder he still had a working foot afterwards because damn those heels were big–”

Ryan’s patience snapped and he took my arm in his hands, gently but firmly tugging me away, the look in his eyes warning me not to argue.

“What?” I hissed at him when he finally stopped in the slightly darker corridor leading to the restrooms.

“I don’t like the thought of you getting hurt,” he said, blue eyes absolutely serious for once, “I especially don’t like the thought that you didn’t tell me about any of this.”

“You’re not my keeper,” I said, folding my arms across my chest and taking a step back from him. Ryan followed until I was pressed to the wall and his chest was flush with mine, his arms rising to pen me on either side.

“Maybe I want to be,” he whispered and I closed my eyes, as if when I opened them his words wouldn’t still be lingering in the air between us. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked quietly and I bit my lip.

“I just didn’t think to even mention it. I didn’t know you’d care.” God knows I hadn’t told Aaron every detail of my day, let alone my life.

Ry stared at me blankly and then pushed away from the wall, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Okay,” he said slowly. “So, I’m thinking about getting a coffee.”

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