The Deal

“Allie, get your cute ass over here!” Sean shouts from the Ping-Pong table. “I need my pong partner!”


A pretty blush blooms on her cheeks. “Wanna watch us kick some beer pong butt? Minus the beer,” she adds quickly. “Sean knows I’m not drinking tonight.”

I’m hit with another jolt of guilt. “That’s no fun,” I say lightly. “You’ve gotta have the beer to play the pong.”

She firmly shakes her head. “I promised you I wouldn’t drink.”

“And I’m not planning on sticking around for much longer,” I counter. “So there’s no reason for you not to get your buzz on.”

“But I want you to stay,” she protests.

“How about this? I’ll stay for another half hour, but only if you allow yourself to have some actual fun. I know we made a deal in freshman year, but I’m not holding you to it anymore, A.”

I mean every word, because I really do hate that she has to babysit me every time we go out. It’s not fair to her. And after two years at Briar, I know it’s time for me to lower my guard, at least a little bit.

“Come on, I want to see you show off those mad beer pong skills.” I link my arm through hers, and she laughs as I drag her over to Sean and his friends.

“Hannah!” Sean says in delight. “You playing?”

“Nope,” I reply. “Just cheering on my bestie.”

Allie joins Sean at one end of the table, and for the next ten minutes, I watch the most intense beer pong match on the planet unfold. But the entire time, I’m wholly aware of Justin, who’s chatting with his teammates across the room.

Eventually, I wander off because I finally do need to use the restroom. There’s one on the main floor near the kitchen, but the line is crazy long and it’s ages before I get a turn. I quickly do my business, then walk out of the bathroom—and slam into a hard male chest.

“You should really watch where you’re going,” a husky voice remarks.

My heart stops.

Justin’s dark eyes twinkle with humor as he places his hand on my arm to steady me. The moment he touches me, heat sears my flesh and unleashes a flurry of goose bumps.

“Sorry,” I stammer.

“No worries.” Smiling, he pats his chest down. “I’m still in one piece.”

I suddenly notice that there’s no one waiting to use the washroom anymore. It’s just Justin and me in the hallway, and God, he’s even better looking close up. He’s also much taller than I realized—I have to tilt my head to meet his eyes.

“You’re in Ethics with me, aren’t you?” he asks in that deep, sexy voice of his.

I nod.

“I’m Justin.”

He introduces himself as if there might actually be someone at Briar who doesn’t know his name. But I find his modesty is adorable.

“I’m Hannah.”

“How’d you do on the midterm?”

“I got an A,” I admit. “You?”

“B minus.”

I can’t hide my surprise. “Really? I guess we’re the lucky ones, then. Everyone else bombed it.”

“I think it makes us smart, not lucky.”

His grin makes me melt. Seriously. I’m a puddle of goo on the floor, unable to look away from those magnetic dark eyes. And he smells fantastic, like soap and lemony aftershave. Would it be inappropriate if I pressed my face in his neck and inhaled him?

Uh…yeah. It would.

“So…” I try to think of something clever or interesting to say, but I’m too nervous to be witty at the moment. “You play football, huh?”

He nods. “Wide receiver. Are you a fan?” A dimple appears in his chin. “Of the game, I mean.”

I’m not, but I suppose I could lie and pretend to like his sport. Except that’s a risky move, because then he might try to talk “shop” with me, and I don’t know enough about football to carry a whole conversation about it.

“Not really,” I confess with a sigh. “I’ve seen a game or two, but honestly, it’s too slow for my liking. Seems like you guys play for five seconds, and then someone blows a whistle and you stand around for hours before the next play starts.”

Justin laughs. He’s got a great laugh. Low and husky and I feel it right down to my toes. “Yeah, I’ve heard that complaint before. It’s different when you’re playing it, though. A lot more intense than you’d think. And if you’re invested in a team or certain players, you pick up the rules a lot faster.” He slants his head. “You should come to one of our games. I bet you’d have fun.”

Holy shit. He’s inviting me to one of his games?

“Uh, yeah, maybe I will—”

“Kohl!” a loud voice interrupts. “We’re up!”

We both turn as a blond behemoth pokes his head out of the living room doorway. It’s one of Justin’s teammates, and he’s wearing a look of extreme impatience.

“Coming,” Justin calls back, then gives me a rueful smile as he takes a step toward the bathroom. “Big Joe and I are about to kick some ass in pool, but I’ve gotta hit the can first. Talk later?”