Page 90 of Eat You Alive (Court Legacy 4)

And let’s not even talk about the job he was doing on my heart.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

Fawn

“The drinks have arrived.” Thatcher Reed had his beefy arms lined with beers. He handed mugs off to Wolf’s friends one by one, and apparently, the student rec center didn’t mind selling to the underaged.

But I guess when one was Legacy…

Wolf and his friends really did do what they wanted around here. Dorian, Sloane, and Wells crowded Thatcher. They got their beers, but when Thatcher tried to hand one off to me, I passed.

“No, thanks,” I said, and when I did, Wolf raised a hand too.

“I’m good,” he stated, looking delicious in a pair of black jeans and a gray shirt that hugged his muscular frame. He’d changed before going out, a visual feast, and I tried not to notice just like the fact that we hadn’t had any kind of talk. We walked over to the student union from the dorm but strode in silence for the most part.

I’d liked it that way.

Thatcher shrugged after Wolf gave him permission to basically take two beers. He offered Wells the other, and with their newly acquired bounty, they certainly didn’t linger on the fact that both Wolf and I refused to drink.

I faced Wolf. “You didn’t have to do that.”

He obviously picked up on what I’d done, and he did know my history with drug and alcohol abuse. I’d gotten really into the party scene after my dad had died, and though this wasn’t something I’d been forthcoming about, it seemed I didn’t have to.

Wolf’s refusal on my behalf said as much, and my stupid heart pattered at his solidarity with me, his support. We both lounged against a high-top table, and his big shoulders bumped. “It’s not a problem. I got used to not drinking anyway last year.”

Oh, right. With his cancer. My hands touched the table. “Did you have to like get chemo or anything?”

I said it low. Dorian, Sloane, Wells, and Thatcher were chatting, and even though we were only here with his friends, I was sure it was a tough subject to talk about.

Wolf noticed my resistance, as well as my wandering gaze to the others around us. He barked a laugh. “You don’t have to talk about it like it’s taboo, Red.”

I mean, well, didn’t I? I chewed my lip. “Sorry. Just didn’t know if you wanted all that out there.”

He angled forward, his shoulder brushing mine. A harsh heat touched my body, and my stupid heart shot up in beats again.

Cool it.

I really needed to. I was acting so weird with him now, and I didn’t like it. I was always aware of Wolf. But these days…

“I appreciate that, but I did tell you about it.” He smiled a little. “Because I did, I’m open about it, and no, I didn’t have to have chemo.”

I figured as much. I didn’t know a damn thing about cancer but I’d seen his chest and hadn’t noticed any kind of port.

“Gratefully, the surgery took care of it,” he continued, his gaze suddenly taking the table. He stood. “Anyway, let me get you a soda or something since you’re not having a beer.”

He started to walk off, but I pinched his shirt between two fingers. “I’m okay. You don’t have to.”

I liked him here anyway.

Wolf’s tongue ran across his lip, an action that never ceased to bring a dance to my stomach. “Okay, cool.”

His attention lingered on my fingers. I did like him close and hadn’t let go.

“So that talk,” he said, my stomach dancing for a different reason now. It was more like a twitch, a twist. His dark eyes found mine. “I was thinking we could go for a walk. Just when we get a moment. Or…”

He might have said something else, but his sister came over. And God, I’d never get over how tall she was. Really, any of his friends. Sloane’s shoulders alone were like well above mine, but the guys had shoulders above her. It was crazy. She tossed long arms across both Wolf and myself. “Talked with the guys, and we’re thinking guys against girls,” she stated, grinning at me. “We obviously have an odd number, though, so Fawn and I get Thatcher.”

She pointed at him, and Thatcher’s grin was so cocky behind his beer mug. Wells Ambrose was standing next to him, and the stark-white blond tucked hands under his thick arms.

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