Page 12 of Tempting the Player
“What are you doing here?” His brow knits in confusion and then his eyes widen with excitement. “Do you want to party?”
“I think you partied enough for the both of us. I’m your sober ride.”
“Somebody looking for a sober ride?” The guy leaning on his Jeep asks, looking up from his phone.
“I’ve got them,” I call over my shoulder, sending him a glare. Fucking sober driver taking pulls from a flask? Real nice.
“Ah, you’re no fun anymore.” Arch reaches over and rubs his hand over my hair, attempting to mess it up like I’m a kid. “You used to be way cooler.”
“I’m sure I did.” I tilt my head toward my truck. “Let’s go. I’m blocking the street.”
“Ah shit.” Brogan pats his front jeans pockets, then his back. “My phone is inside. Two minutes. I know right where I left it.”
“Hurry,” I say. “I’ll get Arch in the truck.”
He takes off and I focus on getting my very drunk, very heavy brother into the passenger seat of my truck.
“How did you get this plastered?” I ask as he attempts to pull off his sweatshirt and gets himself all tangled up.
“Alcohol. Lots and lots of it.”
I free him from the sweatshirt, and he leans back in the seat and closes his eyes.
“Buckle up,” I say as I pull the belt and nudge him with it. Reluctantly, he takes it and buckles before I shut the door. As I’m rounding the back of my truck, I come up short when I see her. She walks in a way it’s hard not to notice her. Long legs and that confident, bouncy stride.
Jane’s steps slow when she sees me. Her long blonde hair is pulled up into a ponytail, the green ends swaying around her shoulders. Bright pink lips pull into a wide smile. “I’m starting to think you’re following me.”
“Hey,” I say, trying out a smile.
“Are you just getting here?”
“Kind of.”
She waits for me to elaborate. I’ve never been a real talkative guy, but with her I struggle to keep my answers short and precise. No more information than absolutely necessary.
“I’m playing designated driver for my brother and his friend.”
The corners of her lips pull higher. “You have a brother at Valley U too?”
I nod at the same time Brogan jogs up to the truck holding his phone. “Sorry. Got it.”
Jane glances at him and then back to me. Brogan does the same thing, looking between us.
“Brogan is your brother?” she asks.
He grins and tosses an arm around my neck. “I’m hisfavoritebrother.”
“He’s not my brother,” I say, then feel like shit when Brogan’s smile slips. He might not be a brother by blood, but he has been a part of our family for a long time.
Brogan regains his cocky smile. “How do you know Henny?”
“We keep bumping into each other.” Her green eyes flash with amusement under the streetlights.
The three of us continue to stand there as a car squeezes past my truck going the opposite way.
“Are you heading out?” I ask her, realizing she’s going to be alone out here when we get in the truck. Where are her friends? Or those idiots from last night?
“Yes. I have a French test in the morning, so I’m going to catch a sober ride.” She points to the red Jeep.
